This article is too late for our home. DH's mother lives with us because of several of these. The worst part is DH's brother is part of one of the scams, and continues to convince her that the deal that he is working on is just a slow process. She lost her saving, trust, and home while paying for him to live the life he wanted while the deal was in the works. But now she gives him her social security money, because he foisted her on us where she can live for free, so he can have her only remaining income. Not happy about having a 85 year old dependant who complains of having no money because she gives her's all away. DH, the sweetest most patient man, told her she could still live here but was going to have to live off her social security, we are not giving, or 'loaning,' her any money, nor are we going to 'invest' so this can be finalized quicker. No matter how many times we talk to her about it she knows loser son is just a great business man who has more business sense than all the others and the big payoff is only 10 more days away. I would feel sorry for her if she wasn't so stupid. No business transaction takes 20+ years to come to fruition, and where one of the key partners hasn't had a job since 1990.
