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Published by Anola Johnson
The Romance Scam Rebellion is a bold, experience-led podcast that eposes the dark tactics behind online relationship scams and empowers targets to fight back. Hosted by a real life survivor, each episode breaks the silence around digital deception, shares insider knowledge from lived experience, and dismantles the shame that scammers count on. Whether you're reeling from betrayal, questioning red flags, or ready to reclaim your power, this is your battleground for truth and recovery. No sugar coating. No victim-blaming. Just raw stories, real strategies, and rebellious self compassion.
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Send us Fan Mail I used to believe that when somebody wanted to connect with me online, they actually were who they presented themselves to be. This is my fractured fairytale. What's yours? In this Season 3 finale of Romance Scam Rebellion , I take a closer look at the beliefs we carry about scams, vulnerability, intelligence, love, and trust—and how those beliefs can leave us more vulnerable than we realize. After three seasons of speaking with victims, investigators, advocates, prosecutors, psychologists, and even people who were trafficked into scam compounds and forced to deceive others, one thing has become painfully clear: intelligence alone doesn't make us immune to deception. The belief that “it could never happen to me” can be one of the most dangerous fractured fairytales of all. This episode explores why preparedness—not intelligence—is one of our strongest tools against scams , how to recognize our own blind spots, and how we can help protect the people we love. Because maybe the question isn't whether you're smart enough to spot a scam. Maybe the question is: Are you prepared? Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail There is an uncomfortable truth we may not want to consider, but it's very much a reality for many. In this powerful episode of Romance Scam Rebellion , Shadrack shares his extraordinary story of being trafficked from Uganda to Cambodia after accepting what he believed was a legitimate IT job. Instead, he was drugged, taken to a remote scam compound, and forced to participate in romance scams targeting Americans and Canadiana. Shadrack describes the violence, fear, and coercion he experienced—and his eventual escape from the compound. His story challenges what we think we know about the people behind online scams and reveals another layer of human trafficking that is happening inside Southeast Asian scam compounds. This is Shadrack's story. My email: romancescamrebellion@gmail.com Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail Are Bitcoin ATMs helping stop scams—or helping scammers get paid? In this episode of Romance Scam Rebellion , I sit down with Paul Tarantino, CEO of Byte Federal, to hear the case for Bitcoin ATMs from someone in the industry. We talk about fraud prevention, scam warnings, wallet screening, AI, refunds, fees, regulation, and the claim that Bitcoin ATMs primarily serve the unbanked and underbanked. Paul makes some compelling points—but did he change my mind about Bitcoin ATMs? Listen to the conversation and hear my answer at the end. More importantly: did he change yours? #RomanceScamRebellion #BitcoinATM #CryptoScams #ScamPrevention #FraudAwareness Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail Last episode, Heather Rovet told us how Jace, the man she thought she'd build a life with, turned out to be a career con man and criminal, living a double life under her own roof. In part two, the story gets even more unbelievable. We pick up as the Canadian justice system moves at a maddening crawl, as Jace vanishes to move in with his next target just weeks after leaving Heather's home, and as Heather turns amateur investigator, tracking down his other victims and piecing together a pattern of theft, fraud, and manipulation that stretches back decades. Then, just as his criminal trial is finally set to begin, Jace does something so brazen it adds obstruction of justice and jury tampering to his growing list of charges, serious enough to potentially keep him behind bars for years. Heather also opens up about what it took to rebuild: a solo healing trip to Thailand, the moment she watched The Tinder Swindler and vowed to one day meet its subject, and how she's since connected with a growing network of women who've survived men just like Jace — and are done staying silent. This isn't just the rest of Heather's story. It's a case study in how the system so often fails victims of fraud — and what it takes to fight back anyway. 📺 Watch part one: [link] 🎬 Watch the documentary: RomCon: Who the F** Is Jason Porter? On Amazon Prime Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail A chance meeting. An instant connection. A relationship that felt good, and real. In Part One of this two part conversation with Heather Rovet , Heather shares the remarkable true story behind the documentary Rom Con: Who the F**k is Jason Porter? What began as a whirlwind romance with a charming, successful man slowly unraveled into a web of deception, manipulation, and betrayal. Heather recounts how they met, why she trusted him, the subtle warning signs she couldn't yet see, and the shocking discoveries that changed her life forever. Her story is a powerful reminder that romance scams don't just happen online, and that anyone can become the target of a skilled predator. If you've ever wondered how intelligent, successful people become victims of deception, this episode is for you. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail When most people picture a romance scam, they imagine fake profiles and strangers hiding behind a screen. Tracy Hall's story is different, and in some ways more terrifying. The man she knew as "Max Tavita," a charismatic chief investment officer, was real. He met her in person, spent nearly two years building a relationship with her, took vacations with her, met her daughter... and turned out to be someone else entirely. His real name was Hamish McLaren, one of Australia's most notorious career con men, a serial fraudster who spent roughly three decades and stole an estimated $70 million from victims around the world under a series of fabricated identities. Tracy learned the truth the same way the rest of Australia did: watching a Crime Stoppers video of his arrest. She lost her life savings of $317,000, and became the final victim in a criminal case involving 15 people and $7.6 million. In this conversation, Tracy shares how the relationship was built slowly and deliberately over 18 months, how Hamish mirrored her values and interests to seem like the perfect match, how her retirement savings were siphoned into an account that was never actually in her name, and the massive gaps she discovered in victim support once financial crime, unlike violent crime, offered her almost no assistance to recover. We also talk about what it means that Hamish's prison sentence which ended in July 2026. What she's doing now as one of Australia's leading voices in fraud prevention, and the very real threat of teenage sextortion she's since uncovered while trying to protect her own daughter online. Tracy's book, The Last Victim , is now available in the US — link below. 📖 Get the book: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Victim-betrayal-unbreakable-relationship-ebook/dp/B0CS9JG381 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Last-Victim-Audiobook/B0CWB6FPC1?srsltid=AfmBOopSUsJgBeTCdE9o3hp5fPEgavDKuvEoUxH1z96pqRAG9SCOljYh 🔗 Follow Tracy: LinkedIn / Instagram: https://tracyhall.com.au/instagram 🎧 Related: "Who the Hell is Hamish?" podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/who-the-hell-is-hamish/id1451470931 https://open.spotify.com/show/1NpAwUFhZUsO8FkifAxgWt Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail What started as one woman's effort to protect her mother's friend turned into a decade-long fight against romance scammers on a national and international scale. In this episode, Kathy Waters, co-founder of Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS) shares how a stolen military photo led her to uncover an entire network of fake profiles, and how that discovery reshaped her life. Kathy talks about tracking down the real man behind the stolen photos, meeting with lawmakers in Washington D.C., speaking before the United Nations, and helping launch World Romance Scam Prevention Day, all while working a full-time job. We dig into why social media platforms keep failing to remove fake accounts, the fight to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, and why survivors are so often blamed instead of believed. This is a conversation about persistence, compassion, and what it really takes to hold powerful platforms accountable. Resources mentioned: Learn more or find support at AARS' website: advocatingforu.com Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail Romance scams, pig butchering (we agree to disagree on this term), cryptocurrency fraud, and transnational organized crime have become a multi-billion-dollar global industry. But one former prosecutor has made it her mission to fight back. In this episode of The Romance Scam Rebellion, I sit down with Erin West, former Deputy District Attorney and founder of Operation Shamrock, to discuss the criminal networks behind today's most sophisticated scams—and what it will take to stop them. We explore how organized scam syndicates operate across international borders, why cryptocurrency has become their preferred payment method, and how law enforcement, financial institutions, and the private sector are beginning to work together to disrupt these criminal enterprises. We also discuss: How scam compounds operate Why victims should never be blamed The role cryptocurrency plays in modern fraud How Operation Shamrock is bringing global partners together What governments, banks, and technology companies can do to better protect consumers Practical steps everyone can take to avoid becoming the next victim This isn't just another conversation about scams—it's about understanding the global ecosystem that allows them to thrive and the people working tirelessly to dismantle it. If you or someone you know has been affected by a scam, you're not alone. Education is one of the most powerful tools we have, and conversations like this are an important step toward protecting others. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone you care about. Together, we can make it harder for scammers to succeed. Erins podcast: https://www.operationshamrock.org/podcast/stolen Operation Shamrock web page: https://www.operationshamrock.org/ Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail I'm calling her AARP's Fraud Whisperer, and for good reason. Kathy Stokes, Senior Director of Fraud Prevention Programs at AARP's Fraud Watch Network, has spent years on the front lines helping everyday Americans recognize, resist, and report scams before it's too late. In this episode, Kathy walks us through the fraud tactics targeting people right now — from phone impersonation scams to AI-generated voices designed to sound like someone you trust — and explains why even the most cautious people get fooled. But this conversation goes beyond awareness. Kathy shares the full scope of what AARP is doing to fight back — from pushing for state legislation to ban or regulate crypto ATMs, to advocating for safe, responsible AI that protects consumers rather than exploits them. We also dig into the powerful resources AARP makes available to anyone who needs help — including the free Fraud Watch Network Helpline, confidential victim support groups, and fraud prevention workshops happening across the country. If you or someone you love has ever been targeted by a scam — or you simply want to be better prepared — this episode is for you. Because the best defense starts with three simple steps: Pause. Reflect. Protect. Here are links of places you can look to for help and education. aarp.org/fraudtips Pause Reflect Protect https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/pause-reflect-protect/ Words Matter https://www.aarp.org/lp/fraud-narrative-change/?cmp=RDRCT-FRD-CONSUMER-NARRATIVE-LP-2024 Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail What if the person sending you those messages wasn't a willing criminal at all? For years, we've been told to picture online scammers as heartless fraudsters sitting behind computer screens, stealing life savings without remorse. But the truth is often far more complicated. In this gripping episode of The Romance Scam Rebellion , S. Clariba shares his extraordinary story of being trafficked from Africa to Southeast Asia and forced to work inside a scam compound. Trapped by organized crime, he was given an impossible choice: scam innocent people or face brutal consequences himself. His story exposes the hidden human trafficking network behind the global scam industry and challenges everything we think we know about who the real victims are. This conversation is not about excusing fraud. It's about exposing the criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable people on both sides of the screen—those who lose everything to the scams and those who are coerced into carrying them out. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of human trafficking, coercion, violence, and psychological trauma. This is not an isolated story. It is part of a rapidly growing pattern of human trafficking that fuels one of the largest criminal enterprises in the world. If you are able, please consider supporting the work of Action Against Trafficking, please email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com and I'll provide the link where you can contribute. If this episode resonates with you, please like and suscribe so you don't miss any episodes. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail He thought he was accepting a job opportunity that would help support his family. Instead, he was trafficked into a scam compound, stripped of his freedom, and forced to scam strangers online under the constant threat of violence. In this powerful episode of *The Romance Scam Rebellion*, our guest shares his firsthand account of recruitment, captivity, survival, and escape from one of the criminal operations fueling today's global scam epidemic. But escaping the compound was only the beginning. He returned home carrying the invisible wounds of trafficking—trauma, loss, and the challenge of rebuilding a life forever changed. This is a story of deception, exploitation, resilience, and survival. It is also a stark reminder that behind many online scams are victims on both sides of the screen. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of human trafficking, coercion, violence, and psychological trauma. If you are able to help, please consider contributing to his non-profit which is helping other victims who remain trapped. Here is the link Voices from the Compounds: https://gofund.me/953cb0769 GOD BLESS AMERICA: A Survivor’s Story of What Happened in the Scam Offices of Park 8 You can buy his new book through this link: https://a.co/01H9A2Py Thank you for your support Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail They say laughter is the best medicine. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop romance scammers—but it certainly helps expose them. In this episode of *The Romance Scam Rebellion*, I sit down with author, scam baiter, and professional destroyer of fraudsters' dreams, Becky Holmes and fraud prevention advocate Anna Rowe. We begin with Becky's remarkable journey from trolling romance scammers for amusement to becoming one of the UK's most recognizable voices in fraud awareness. We discuss her bestselling books, *Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You* and *The Future of Fraud*, and how a few cheeky exchanges with scammers evolved into a mission to educate the public about one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. Anna shares her own powerful story and the experiences that led her to establish two organizations dedicated to supporting victims and raising awareness: Catch the Catfish and LoveSaid. Together, we explore the devastating human impact of fraud and the urgent need for better education, support, and prevention. Along the way, we discuss the global spread of organized fraud, the industrial-scale scam compounds operating around the world, the alarming evolution of technology, and why virtually no one is immune to manipulation. There are laughs. There are jaw-dropping stories. There are moments that will make you furious. Most importantly, there is a reminder that behind every fake profile, every stolen photograph, and every scam message lies a very real human cost. Whether you're a scam survivor, an advocate, or simply someone who thinks Keanu Reeves might secretly be messaging you at 2 a.m., this episode is for you. Spoiler alert: he isn't. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail For more than a decade, one military veteran has been living a nightmare he never signed up for. His photographs have been stolen and used by romance scammers around the world. Day after day. Week after week. Year after year. Thousands of women have been led to believe they were in a relationship with him. Many reached out believing they had found love. Others were heartbroken to learn the man they trusted never existed. The constant stream of messages, confusion, and accusations took a devastating toll on his personal life. His 26-year marriage ultimately fell apart under the weight of a problem he could not control. He fought back. He reported the fake accounts. He pleaded with social media companies to remove his stolen images. Yet the scams continued. Today, Bryan Denny is the co-founder of AARS (Advocating Against Romance Scammers), where he works alongside Kathy Waters to expose fraud and educate the public. When we talk about romance scams, we usually focus on the people who lose money. But Bryan represents another kind of victim—someone whose identity was stolen, whose privacy was stripped away, and whose life was forever altered by criminals he has never met. He didn't lose his savings. He lost something far more difficult to reclaim: His anonymity. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail April Helm — Journalist & Host of the podcast "Scammer Stories" Some scams don't just steal money. They steal relationships, fracture families and leave wounds that no amount of recovery can fully heal. April Helm is a journalist and the host of Scammer Stories — a podcast dedicated to exposing the devastating reality of fraud through the voices of those who have lived it. She is also a daughter, and watched helplessly as her mother fell deeper and deeper, into the grip of a long term romance scam. April tried to intervene. She recognized the red flags. But her mother, like other victims couldn't see what those on the outside could see clearly. The scammer had done his job well. The emotional bond was too strong. And this started a divide within the family. Then tragedy struck. April's mother passed away — still in the grip of the scam — leaving April not only with grief but with unanswered questions, unresolved heartbreak and a fierce determination that her mother's story would not sit in silence. It is an important and essential episode, because romance scams don't just happen to the person being scammed. They happen to every person who loves them. Join me as April shares the story of her mother, the scam that fractured their family and why she turned her pain into a platform that is helping others recognize the warning signs before it's too late. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail After a divorce and years of rebuilding her life, Beth Hyland thought she had finally found someone who truly understood her. What began as a promising Tinder match quickly evolved into a sophisticated romance scam built on emotional manipulation, love bombing, fake promises, and cryptocurrency fraud. But this episode is not just about the scam. It’s about what happens when a survivor refuses to stay silent. Instead of hiding in shame, Beth chose to fight back. In this powerful conversation, she shares how she transformed one of the most devastating experiences of her life into advocacy, education, and healing. From publishing the actual text messages in her book, Diary of a Romance Scam: When Swiping Right Goes Wrong , to speaking publicly about the psychological tactics used by scammers, Beth is helping expose the machinery behind these crimes while giving other victims permission to speak openly without shame. Together, we discuss trauma bonds, emotional conditioning, crypto ATM fraud, and the devastating psychological aftermath of romance scams — but we also talk about resilience, reclaiming your voice, and the courage it takes to stand in the light after being manipulated in the dark. This is a story about survival, truth, and refusing to let criminals write the ending. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail Season 3 begins with a look at the journey since the close of Season 2 — the advocacy, the conversations, and the growing movement determined to confront the scam epidemic head-on. This season is dedicated to the warriors, whistleblowers, survivors, advocates, and experts who refuse to stay silent. Through powerful interviews and real conversations, Romance Scam Warriors shines a spotlight on the people working tirelessly to expose scams, protect potential victims, and push for real change. The fight is far from over — but no one is fighting alone. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail The man I thought I loved was real — just not the one talking to me. In this episode, I unpack the emotional aftermath of discovering that the identity behind my romance scam belonged to an innocent man whose photos were stolen and used to defraud women worldwide. This is the story of the “other victim” — the ghost unknowingly woven into my story — and the complex grief of letting go of both illusion and reality. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail What if the person you’re falling for… was never real? In this urgent, reality-check episode, Anola walks listeners through the seven most common psychological and behavioral signs of a romance scam — the same playbook used on her and millions of others worldwide. This isn’t theory. It’s a diagnostic test. From unsolicited messages and tragic backstories… to sudden work deployments, financial probing, and love declarations that come too fast — each “sign” exposes how trust is engineered, intimacy is accelerated, and victims are methodically prepared for financial extraction. If you answer “yes” to even three of these signs, you may already be inside the scam. This episode doesn’t just raise awareness — it provides an emergency exit plan. Because the most dangerous scams don’t begin with a request for money… They begin with a request for trust. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail Two years after the scam, I'm 69 with 27 years left on a mortgage I almost owned outright. My professional reputation is damaged. My retirement is gone. And the systems that could help? Silent. This is what life after a romance scam actually looks like—and why I'm still fighting back, even on the days I wonder if it matters. The alternative is letting the scammers win. And I won't do that. If you've been scammed or love someone who has, you need to hear this. We're not alone—and silence is not an option. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
Send us Fan Mail Scammers don’t target a type — they target vulnerability. Gender, age, education, politics, religion, or sexual orientation don’t matter. The tactics are the same. In this episode, I sit down with Viola Barker , a 68-year-old woman from Ohio who had just come out later in life and was beginning again after a decades-long marriage. What followed was not a random encounter, but a textbook romance scam that unfolded exactly the way these operations are designed to work. From an unsolicited message in an online community, to intense mirroring and emotional bonding, to fabricated military service, love bombing, future-faking, and escalating financial demands — Viola’s experience walks us step-by-step through the scammer playbook. You’ll hear how sympathy was weaponized, how isolation crept in, how secrecy was encouraged, and how requests for help turned into crypto ATM deposits, fake inheritances, and an $84,000 “vault” that never existed. As you listen, test yourself. How many patterns do you recognize? How early would you have spotted them? Viola shares not just what happened, but how it felt — the loneliness, the hope, the shame, and the psychological grip that made obvious contradictions easy to explain away in the moment. Her story is a powerful reminder that these scams don’t begin with money. They begin with connection — and they work because they hijack the brain long before logic has a chance to intervene. If you think this could never happen to you, this is the episode you need to hear. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me: You can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.
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Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 14, 2026. Cached outside the daily freshness window; the positions keep the date they were taken on.
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