Dear Beau. 100% it is a scam. Much as I wish, for you, it wasnt.
Many many years ago I got chatting 'somehow' to a man who was extremely good looking, working overseas in charge of bridge building in some far flung place (can't remember where now), Anyway after many weeks of chatting and sending of pics and of course the usual how lovely I was, I was his ideal woman etc, I had a message to say that there had been a nasty accident and some of the workers had died and as he was responsible he needed to borrow money for their funerals. So long story short I decided to play along. I said I was a single mum with no money. He asked if I could send him my wages which were due at the end of the month. I said I had tried but the Bank had stopped my payment. I was then asked to max out my credit card to which I said it was already to its maximum and that I had no spare money. My house, I told him was owned by my ex husband. I asked for his address as my neighbour was travelling to where he was and I would arrange for him to meet up and give him some cash. Once he realised there was no money, our romance halted, and I was then subjected to some really nasty words. I told him he was a scammer and after more abuse never heard from him again.
Please be very very careful.