Pretty good scam if you ask me.

Has he ever asked for financial help, or linked a go fund me?

If so, here’s the con. Sign up to as many online “hobbies” “enthusiasts” “collectors“ forums as possible. Mustang club, pinball forum, badminton enthusiasts, pastel painters united... everything you can. Log in once an a while posting random crap, so that people begging to notice you. Once you get the “one of us” Feeling from the group, you suddenly have some hardship or issue that you have to ask your new found “friends” to help you with. (A couple bucks here or there to help out a fellow in head is nothing)

If this guy isn’t asking for money, then he’s the most unlucky guy I’ve ever met.

I didn’t see your post as I was typing my previous post.

Sorry for your loss and difficulties. It’s ok to ask for support from friends, you never know where good advice comes from. But asking money from strangers gets weird.