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Elly van Driel

Goodreads Author

Website

https://www.ellyvandriel.nl

Genre

Nonfiction

Member Since

February 2021

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Hello, my name is Elly van Driel. I am a Dutch author, living in the South of France. Traveling the world is one of my many passions in life.

In spring of 2018 I decided to travel to Argentine with my daughter Amber. We had a marvelous time together but after a few weeks Amber had to return to her duties at home. I had decided to continue my adventure alone after her return, traveling to Paraguay, Uruguay, again to Argentine (but now on my own), Chili, Isla de Pascua, Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands and Colombia.

I had traveled on my own before (unfortunately my soulmate & husband Theo had died in 2014) because in spite of the hurting and loneliness life still goes on. And my life motto has always been to seize the day, because you never kn Hello, my name is Elly van Driel. I am a Dutch author, living in the South of France. Traveling the world is one of my many passions in life.

In spring of 2018 I decided to travel to Argentine with my daughter Amber. We had a marvelous time together but after a few weeks Amber had to return to her duties at home. I had decided to continue my adventure alone after her return, traveling to Paraguay, Uruguay, again to Argentine (but now on my own), Chili, Isla de Pascua, Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands and Colombia.

I had traveled on my own before (unfortunately my soulmate & husband Theo had died in 2014) because in spite of the hurting and loneliness life still goes on. And my life motto has always been to seize the day, because you never know how much time you have left on this beautiful earth! So, on to South America I went!

You must know I consider myself to be very sensible woman. I have worked all my life,
I have encountered many problems and setbacks in my personal life and have always managed to surface from it all stronger than before. I know how the world works. Or do I?

Considering my age, people are often a mix of amazed and impressed at what I still manage to do (and on my own). I am also very active on Social Media. This is not to brag, but to give you an idea how awkward it is, what happened to me nonetheless.

While on my four month holiday, touring South America, I was contacted by a male who called himself George, via PM on Facebook. I was instantly wary, having heard and read al the stories of “little old ladies like me”, being robbed of their life savings by internet scammers. Such a thing was never ever going to happen to me, right?

Wrong. Well, almost. Because at first, for the first few – let’s say six – weeks, George never even hinted at wanting my money. Now, my excuse is that (and I’m sticking to that 😉 ) I was feeling alone (well, I wás alone of course after Amber had left) and feeling quite melancholic, somehow. George got to me. He was sweet, kind and seemed like the perfect gentleman. And he was someone to come home to every night after my many adventures during daytime. Even if it was virtually; online. I grew fond of him.

I told my friend Alexandra, who I am in contact with daily, about George almost immediately. She warned me. I told her not to be silly. We made jokes about online romances. She let me be. So I kept confiding in her and somehow she kept seeing red flags all over the place, even though George had not even mentioned anything even close to money. Until he did. Of course.

What happened consequently is something you can read in “Hello Honey, are you there?” Since this is the one line George always started his conversations with me with it had to be the title of my book. It has been a roller coaster, I can tell you. I am still here;
I managed to get rid of George in the end. What it cost me? Find out for yourself.

My story is a warning. Because to me and friends who know me well (and who said this could never ever happen to little old me) this is an almost unbelievable story. Because no person in his or her right mind would fall for such scams and false promises, right?
I am telling you to think again. Because sometimes life is indeed stranger than fiction.

My story, originally written in Dutch, has been translated in English and is now available as an e-book / e-pub. And it’s also being translated in French. If you love travel stories but at the same time want to educate yourself on what it’s like to be the victim of a scammer, I urge you to read my book. And I would, of course, love to hear what you think of it after reading.
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Elly van Driel’s books

Average rating: 3.97 · 37 ratings · 18 reviews · 2 distinct works

	Hello Honey, are you there? 4.10 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Aangespoelde verhalen by Elly van Driel (Goodreads Author), Esther van der Ham (Goodreads Author), Marianne Leerkes 3.50 avg rating — 8 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Elly Driel has read Het mysterie van de 100... by Rob Bakker	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 03, 2024 08:40AM · like

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