The LA Times wrote:
A renowned psychiatrist from UC Irvine was duped into squandering at least $1.3 million of his family's fortune on a Nigeria Internet scam, according to a lawsuit recently filed by his son.
The son, also an Orange County doctor, said his father — Dr. Louis A. Gottschalk — gave as much as $3 million over a 10-year period in response to an Internet plea that promised the doctor a generous cut of a huge sum of cash trapped in African bank accounts in exchange for money advances.
The court documents, filed last month in Orange County Superior Court, allege Gottschalk even traveled to Africa to meet a shadowy figure known as "The General."
Gottschalk — who at 89 still works at the UCI campus medical plaza that bears his name — said in court papers that the losses were caused by "some bad investments."
Guy Gottschalk is asking a judge to remove his father as administrator of the $8-million family partnership that was set up for tax purposes after the death of his mother in 1993. A hearing is set for March 14.
The suit alleges that Louis Gottschalk destroyed bank records to cover up the amount of his losses.
"While it seems unlikely, even ludicrous, that a highly educated doctor like [Gottschalk] would fall prey to such an obvious con, that is exactly what happened," wrote Guy Gottschalk's attorney in court papers.
[...]
According to Guy Gottschalk's account contained in court papers, his father began responding to the solicitations from Nigeria in 1995. A year later, Louis Gottschalk traveled to Africa to meet "The General" and other Nigerians "to show them that he was sincere so he would get the money." Another court document said he also traveled to Amsterdam to meet the Nigerians.
Soon afterward, his son said Gottschalk admitted to him that he had lost $300,000 and that FBI agents concluded that he had been a victim of an Internet scam.
Several family members said that Louis Gottschalk promised to never again give money to Internet solicitors.
According to Louis Gottschalk's declaration, he had lost about $900,000 in "bad investments" by 1999. "I now realize that I was taken advantage of," he said.
But his son said his father kept clandestinely wiring money to the Nigerians at least until last fall.
Guy Gottschalk said that when he confronted his father in October, Louis Gottschalk said, "Don't worry, everything will be all right on Thursday because I will be getting $20 million."
The son said his father also told him he'd get the money this time because these were "different Nigerians."
The son, also an Orange County doctor, said his father — Dr. Louis A. Gottschalk — gave as much as $3 million over a 10-year period in response to an Internet plea that promised the doctor a generous cut of a huge sum of cash trapped in African bank accounts in exchange for money advances.
The court documents, filed last month in Orange County Superior Court, allege Gottschalk even traveled to Africa to meet a shadowy figure known as "The General."
Gottschalk — who at 89 still works at the UCI campus medical plaza that bears his name — said in court papers that the losses were caused by "some bad investments."
Guy Gottschalk is asking a judge to remove his father as administrator of the $8-million family partnership that was set up for tax purposes after the death of his mother in 1993. A hearing is set for March 14.
The suit alleges that Louis Gottschalk destroyed bank records to cover up the amount of his losses.
"While it seems unlikely, even ludicrous, that a highly educated doctor like [Gottschalk] would fall prey to such an obvious con, that is exactly what happened," wrote Guy Gottschalk's attorney in court papers.
[...]
According to Guy Gottschalk's account contained in court papers, his father began responding to the solicitations from Nigeria in 1995. A year later, Louis Gottschalk traveled to Africa to meet "The General" and other Nigerians "to show them that he was sincere so he would get the money." Another court document said he also traveled to Amsterdam to meet the Nigerians.
Soon afterward, his son said Gottschalk admitted to him that he had lost $300,000 and that FBI agents concluded that he had been a victim of an Internet scam.
Several family members said that Louis Gottschalk promised to never again give money to Internet solicitors.
According to Louis Gottschalk's declaration, he had lost about $900,000 in "bad investments" by 1999. "I now realize that I was taken advantage of," he said.
But his son said his father kept clandestinely wiring money to the Nigerians at least until last fall.
Guy Gottschalk said that when he confronted his father in October, Louis Gottschalk said, "Don't worry, everything will be all right on Thursday because I will be getting $20 million."
The son said his father also told him he'd get the money this time because these were "different Nigerians."
Protect the inheritance!