Scammer Stories

Send us a textNate Cram talks about everything he did to try and convince his mother that she was talking to a scammer. He used to work in a sheriff's office... and you'd think if anyone could stop the scam, he could. Click HERE to watch Nate's mother on Social Catfish.Support the show

Send us a textRenee thought her worst nightmare was the day she found out her mother had lung cancer. She had no idea that things were about to get so bad that she would have to worry about her own future.  Renee is in trouble. She was diagnosed with a debilitating disease as a child, and then multiple serious health setbacks as an adult. She depended on her mother a lot for her day-to -day care. Her future was left in question when her mother died and left her nothing.Click HERE to support Renee's GoFundMe.Support the show

Send us a textTracey spends most of her time trying to help romance scam victims and their families end the nightmare. She talks to victim daily and she's seeing an alarming rise in sextortion cases related to romance scams.Click HERE to reach Tracey.Click HERE to join her Onlinesafe group.Click HERE to reach Anna with Love Said.Click HERE to reach Kathy with Advocating Against Romance Scammers.Support the show

Send us a textPig butchering scams grew by 40% in 2024 and it only started a few years ago. The scam is named in reference to the practice of fattening a pig before slaughter. The numbers have now far surpassed the typical romance scam.... and by some accounts the theft rivals money made by drug lords worldwide. Thankfully, people like Jackie Crenshaw are willing to come out of the shadow to show their face and fight this disgusting crime.Click HERE to donate to Jackie's gofundme to help her recover and continue her fight. Click HERE to read Jackie's story.Click HERE to see the TV story.Support the show

Send us a textMoney mules aren't just used in romance scams and police departments all over the country are starting to notice. Lt. Andrew Weeden says his department has started to track them down after showing up at homes in his area. Click HERE to see the pictures of the suspected money mules discussed in this episode.Click HERE to see news story on the suspected elderly money mule who was attacked at a mall.Email questions to scammerstoriespodcast@gmail.com.Support the show

Send us a textThe political donation scam is something I didn't see coming. I had one friend contact me concerned about her mother who believes she's working on President Donald Trump's campaign…. and then another friend reached out with the same story about her mom! I've since learned that this is happening to multiple women in my area alone. Click here to learn more about political donation scams. Support the show

Send us a textThis podcast started years ago because, at the time, there was very little information online and I needed to understand what happened to me and my family. In the beginning, trying to find people to interview was tough. Now all of the friends in my circle have a family member who has been scammed. If you have a story that you'd like to share, email me at scammerstoriespodcast@gmail.com. If this podcast is helpful, please consider supporting the show. I don't get paid and that's alright with me. This is my community service. Stay safe scammer warriors.Support the show

Send us a textWe spend a lot of time on this podcast talking about romance scam victims, but there's another victim in this nightmare. The adult children of romance scams never asked for this. Sons and daughters are never the hero in the victim's mind. They're actually the enemy. If you have a story you'd like to share, contact April at scammerstoriespodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow April on TikTok and Facebook.Support the show

Send us a textDebbie is one of the rare romance scam victims who let a TV reporter interview her on camera… knowing she would get some hate. She's now decided that she's going to delve into the world of advocacy after she was able to find a detective who took the time to learn how to trace crypto. Her bravery could help so many future victims.Support the show

Send us a Text Message.A veteran ended up destitute and lonely after spending so much of his life serving his country. It wasn't a foreign war that ended up leading to his death. It was a romance scam... even though his dedicated niece tried everything in her power to save him. Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.A Wyoming woman was the victim of a romance scam, turned pig butchering scam, long before most people knew anything about either scam. Her daughter discovered her mother living in a mobile home without electricity and running water. The scam ended up indirectly taking the victim's life.For more resources on how to spot scams click HERE to learn more from AARS.Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.The scammer in this story told the victim that he was country music star Vince Gill and that he needed money because he was being accused of rape. This victim's daughter tells the story of the one picture she spotted on her mother's social media account that led to the discovery that her mother had lost everything.Click HERE to contact April about your loved one.Click HERE to donate $1 a month to help continue to spread the message.Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.Every family member of a romance scam victim dreams of being able to give the scumbag a piece of their mind. This woman actually did it… and it's flawless. I wish I was able to handle my mother's scammer like this when I got him on the phone, but I was too afraid to upset my mother.Click HERE to contact April about your loved one.Click HERE to donate $1 a month to help continue to spread the message.Support the Show.

Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine in this dark terrible world of romance scams. A Michigan woman used her humor, her acting skills and advice from an amazing financial advisor to come out on the other side. She still has bad days, but she's decided to join the fight... instead of letting the scam ruin her life.  Click HERE to contact April about your loved one.Click HERE to donate $1 a month to help continue to spread the message.Support the Show.

Becky Holmes is out with a new book now available in the U.S. that's gaining a lot of traction in the world of romance scams. It's called Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You. The book is informative and delightfully entertaining. Becky took time out for Scammer Stories to have a conversation on how it all started and how it led to finding her new love.  Click HERE to buy the book!Click HERE to contact April about your loved one.Click HERE to donate $1 a month to help continue to spread the message.Or click the link below to make a one-time donation.Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the showSupport the show

This romance scammer created a huge web of lies that ended up putting a woman in the middle of a scam with other victims. We're going to tell you how he was able to get out of the mess and how she got involved in the first place. There was a huge web of lies that a scammer told this victim who we'll call “Laura.” By the time the scam was over, Laura became part of moving money around among scammers and other victims without even knowing it.Click HERE to contact April about your loved one.Click HERE to donate $1 a month to help continue to spread the message.Or click the link below to make a one-time donation.Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the showSupport the showSupport the show

A romance scam doesn't just demolish a victim's life, it ruins life for everyone who touches the scam. Daughters of victims open up about how it changed their lives. Click HERE to contact April about your loved one.Click HERE to donate $1 a month to help continue to spread the message.Or click the link below to make a one-time donation. Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the showSupport the show

The financial industry is a tough nut to crack for people like us when it comes to romance scams.  This is a rare interview with April Devalkenaere, a former law enforcement officer, who now fights financial crimes in court.  She talks about what the direction financial institutions are going to help put an end to scams… especially with the older population.Click HERE to contact April about your loved one.Oh, cough cough. I don't mind spending my money on this podcast to help others, but  a little donation here and there helps.***Please consider a one  time donation to keep this podcast going. Every bit helps!  Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. 

Donna Hayes has quite the story before her scam even got started.  Hayes grew up in poverty in Jamaica and was able to make it to America and make her dreams come true. She thought she met the man of her dreams who ended up stealing from her. However, she was able to actually get SOME of the money back and write a book about her experience.Click HERE for a link to buy her book These Broken Roads: Scammed and Vindicated, One Woman's story.You can also find her for help at www.distinguishedcoaching.com.***Please consider a one  time donation to keep this podcast going. Every bit helps!  Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. 

Therapist Cathy Wilson, with Life Path Counseling, shares similarities between judging a romance scam victim and the victim of domestic abuse. Wilson says victims can be revictimized by harsh questions. Click HERE for the resources Cathy has created, including her book Emotional Impact of Being Scammed and How to Recover. ***Please consider a one  time donation to keep this podcast going. Every bit helps!  Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. 

As many of you know, my mother lost $350,000 in a romance scam while she was battling ovarian cancer. She asked me for $200 to pay a "doctor bill." I knew where the money was going, so I told her I would send her the money if she gave me an interview. She died days later. ***Please consider a one  time donation to keep this podcast going. Every bit helps!  Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. 

FINALLY! I've been trying to interview a banking expert for years... and crickets. "Michelle" works for a major bank in the U.S. and the U.K.  She answers so many questions that I've had for years.***Please consider a one  time donation to keep this podcast going. Every bit helps!  Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. 

Rory MacLeod was off living his best life overseas when he came home for a surprise Christmas trip and found himself in the middle of a nightmare. His mother was a successful therapist for couples. He never thought she would be the victim of a romance scam of any kind... let alone one of this magnitude.  ***Please consider a one  time donation to keep this podcast going. Every bit helps!  Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. 

Jeff had the unimaginable task of facing his mother in court so he could save her. Even after that, he had to chase his mother's scam all over the place. He talked to bank branch managers, lawyers, doctors, credit card representatives and FedEx workers.***Please consider a one  time donation to keep this podcast going. Every bit helps!  Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. 

Jeff's world was turned upside down when he figured out that his mother was involved with a romance scammer. To top it off, his dad was still married to his mom. ***Please consider a one  time donation to keep this podcast going. Every bit helps!  Send donations to https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. 

The cards are stacked against this woman who thought she fell in love with a professional poker player. The justice system has failed her... and other women like her. Investigators believe she gave her money away. There is no crime here right? You decide.***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive.  Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. 

Ever since my mother died, I wondered what would have happened if I would have demanded a financial conservatorship. How do you get one? Do you need a lawyer? Does it work? In this episode, we find out what it does to a victim who is in deep with her scumbag scammer.***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive.  Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, a growing trend in scammers involves  cryptocurrency. Do you know how to spot it? The scam is complicated and growing. The only way to arm everyone against this scam is to educate ourselves. This episode addresses everything you need to know about a cryptocurrency scam.  Are you being scammed? Email me at scammerstoriespodcast.com.More information from the FTC in the link below.CLICK HERE

A very organized, and dangerous, group out of Nigeria nearly ruined a successful career for an interior architect. The victim is still trying to dig herself out of the hole, but is grateful to survive. Click HERE for more on the book “Who Is The Real Man Behind The Screen?” by Diana GarrenHave a story to share? Contact April at scammerstoriespodcast@gmail.com.

“Jenny” is trying to protect both her mother AND father from losing everything. She went through her mother's messages and told her father. She even called police,  the bank and the cell phone store workers at the mall. She's a good daughter with a lot to  share for the rest of us.If you have a story to share, or have questions, email me at scammerstoriespodcast@gmail.com

Daniel Harrold and I both went through painful divorces. We both quickly discovered that scammers are out there. His  pictures were used... my mom was used. In this episode, we talk scams and how to successfully date online. If you are struggling to find a companion, it's ok. Most people are not happy with their dating life Here's the thing. You need a community and it's here. Click on the link below.CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE DATING GROUP

Kaitlyn's mother is now living in a trailer after losing her home in a romance scam. It started after the death of her father two years ago. Her mother was lonely during the pandemic, lost her husband and is now in denial. Click HERE  to check out Magic Mind and use Scammer20 to get a discount.

Nothing is better than a puppy when you're feeling alone. Right?  I've been there. I was so lonely after a horrific divorce that I would have done anything to get my dog. And I did. Teeny and I have now been together for about 13 years, but the rescue group wasn't all about it at first. What if it was a scam? I wanted her so badly.

Finding a counselor who specialized in romance scams was nearly possible... until now. Therapist Cathy Wilson, of Littleton, Colorado, realized there was a huge need and jumped into the challenge with both feet. Wilson takes victims through how they can begin to heal so they can find love again AND how family members can get over the anger. Here's how to find her book The Emotional Impact of Being Scammed and How to Recover:Click HERE!Here's how to find the outline that started the book:Click HERE!

Dorothy worked at a secure military base, and had been educated on scams, when her world was turned upside down by a scumbag. Many romance scam victims are embarrassed to come forward. Even though some of her family members won't speak to her after the scam, Dorothy was brave enough to write a book about her story. The book is called Scammed in America by Dorothy Harding.Buy the book HERE!

Chloe says she started seeing a counselor who referred her to sex anonymous and other groups to get over her scammer. The first night we spoke she had just blocked her scammer for the 16th time. 

Family members of a romance scam victim stage an intervention. It worked, but that's not the only thing they tried. Loved ones need to take multiple approaches to get through to a victim. 

Like so many young people, "John" spends most of his time with friends he's met online. He describes how difficult it is to be a male romance scam victim and how he made it through to the other side of it in tact. 

A Nigerian scam ring was able to milk $4.3 million out of 45 victims in the United States. Now at last one of the scumbags will spend his days paying the money back after he gets out of prison in Wisconsin.   

Every romance scam victim has a different way of dealing with their trauma. This is the story of two women on separate coasts who decided they weren’t going to just sit down and take it.   If you would like to share your story on the documentary, email scammerhealing@gmail.com. If you'd like to reach me, email scammerstoriespodcast@gmail.com. 

The FBI knows very well about money mules. If you think you can't get caught, you're wrong. Some woman are now battling jail time.

Have you ever questioned an email from your boss? You should. The business email scam costs billions of dollars every year. There's a very simple solution. Former FBI agent Roger Campbell is dedicating a lot of his time these days to make sure everyone is aware of the signs... and how to avoid being a victim.

This veteran isn't your typical victim. AJ is actually a published author on how social media could change the future. His insight can help victims, their family members and other veterans who are going through the same nightmare.To read more on AJ, go to www.ArmyVeteranAJ.com. Here's how you can buy the book: www.TacticalPauseBook.com

Dr. Peter Lichtenberg is one of the first board certified experts in the field of elderly mental health. He’s researched the topic for decades. I wanted to know if there was something more to what leads a person to become a victim, other than loneliness and isolation. You can call Dr. Lichtenberg at 313-664-2633. His email is aa2275@wayne.edu

I can count on one hand how many people I’ve interviewed with a story just like mine. Now that my mother has passed on, I often wonder if I should have done more. Here's a story of what happens when a daughter fights her mother's scammers with everything she's got.

Retired FBI Agent Roger Campbell spent years fighting scammers targeting your ATM and credit cards... as well as at the gas pump. In this episode, he reveals how he keeps himself safe and how you can identify skimming devices.

One of the biggest problems in fighting scams in the U.S is the lack of attention by social media giants and the government. So what do they do in any countries? Enter Brownwyn Groot. She’s a one woman scam fighting machine in New Zealand. Her story starts years ago when online scamming wasn’t on people’s minds. Check out a ton of scam fighting information she's compiled at https://cffc.govt.nz/

Brett Johnson got the name Original Internet Godfather after setting up a network of scammers to steal people's money. His story is so unbelievable that it's destined for the big screen. Be sure to check out his podcast called AnglerPhish.

Alex is a young women who was scammed twice. The first scam was kind of the run of the mill that we hear on this podcast. Then, she signed up for Seeking Arrangements. I had a hunch about what actually happened, but wasn't sure until last week. The puzzle was solved with an arrest. See if you can solve the case.

Debbie Montgomery lost her husband suddenly after 26-years of marriage. Her friends encouraged her to go online to find love. She went on a couple of unremarkable dates when she noticed someone who really caught her eye. She never could have imagined how that click would change her life... and not that way she was thinking.*This episode sponsored by Best Fiends