Podcasts about romance scams

Welcome Back From The Weekend!!!! We Talk About The Best & Worst Parts, Tormenting Kids, Package Thieves, Droning While Drunk, We Talk To An Awesome Listener, Jeff Hensley Stop By, & Romance Scams!!!

This conversation with Brad Beeler about his new book Tell Me Everything (grab your copy: https://a.co/d/0187Wj1M) is crucial for understanding law enforcement techniques and effective crime prevention strategies. Stay informed and protect yourself from cyber crime.CHAPTERS00:00 Meet Brad Beeler: 25 Years Secret Service & Human Behavior Expert02:05 Confirmation Bias Explained: How Your Brain Locks In First Impressions04:21 Biker Gang Case: When the Little Guy Is the Killer07:17 Romance Scams & Pig Butchering: How Criminals Groom Victims09:33 AI Phishing Attacks: Why Old Detection Rules Are Dead11:05 How Scammers Hijack Your Brain With Cortisol and Dopamine12:17 The Trust Bank: Words, Tone, and the Music Video of Communication14:05 Fake Investment Portals: The Psychology Behind Pig Butchering Wins16:10 Secret Service Counterfeit Training: Study the Real to Catch the Fake18:13 Micro vs. Macro Expressions: What Actually Reveals Deception20:05 Why Your Limbic Brain Ignores Language and Reads Everything Else22:06 Active Listening Secrets: The 500-Word-Per-Minute Advantage24:00 Should Polygraphs Be Admissible in Court? A Trained Examiner's Take26:17 How Polygraphs Catch Child Predators: 60% Admission Rate RevealedQuestions? Text our Studio direct. We read these and when helpful we give a special shout out for those to contact us.I wrote Moving Target because overconfidence is the enemy. Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and more. Season 9 is officially here — and it's the most unhinged, hilarious, and dangerously educational season we've ever done. Join us! SUBSCRIBE  Roll out AI the right way. Contact NetGain today at 844-777-6278 or reach out at DMauro@NetGainIT.com or find more at www.NETGAINIT.com   Support the showNew Exclusive Offers for our Listeners! New non-fiction Book Series is out! Moving Target: The Art of Online Camouflage drops April 14.Moving Target: The Obedient Machine drops April 21.Book 3 -- Ghost and the Machine -- out soon!

Matt & Tom unpack the wild true story of “Dr. Love,” a teenage fake doctor whose crimes spiraled until he faced the consequences and was forced to confront the path that nearly destroyed his life.⁣ ⁣ Tom's links⁣ https://www.instagram.com/simoninvestigations/?hl=en⁣ https://www.tiktok.com/@simoninvestigations⁣ https://www.youtube.com/@simoninvestigations⁣ https://www.simoninvestigations.com⁣ ⁣ Do you want to be a guest? Fill out the form https://www.insidetruecrimepodcast.com/apply-to-be-a-guest⁣ ⁣ F*%k your khakis and get The Perfect Jean 15% off with the code COX15 at theperfectjean.nyc/COX15 #theperfectjeanpod ⁣ https://theperfectjean.nyc⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Get 10% sitewide for a limited time. Just visit https://GhostBed.com/cox and use code COX at checkout. ⁣ ⁣ Send me an email here: insidetruecrime@gmail.com⁣ ⁣ Do you extra clips and behind the scenes content?⁣ Subscribe to my Patreon: https://patreon.com/InsideTrueCrime ⁣ ⁣ Check out my Dark Docs YouTube channel here -⁣ https://www.youtube.com/@DarkDocsMatthewCox⁣ ⁣ Follow me on all socials!⁣ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidetruecrime/⁣ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matthewcoxtruecrime⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Do you want a custom painting done by me? Check out my Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/coxpopart⁣ ⁣ Listen to my True Crime Podcasts anywhere: https://anchor.fm/mattcox ⁣ ⁣ Check out my true crime books! ⁣ Shark in the Housing Pool: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0851KBYCF⁣ Bent: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV4GC7TM⁣ It's Insanity: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KFYXKK8⁣ Devil Exposed: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TH1WT5G⁣ Devil Exposed (The Abridgment): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1070682438⁣ The Program: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0858W4G3K⁣ Bailout: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bailout-matthew-cox/1142275402⁣ Dude, Where's My Hand-Grenade?: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXNFHBDF/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1678623676&sr=1-1⁣ ⁣ Checkout my disturbingly twisted satiric novel!⁣ Stranger Danger: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSWQP3WX⁣ ⁣ If you would like to support me directly, I accept donations here:⁣ Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/MattCox69⁣ Cashapp: $coxcon69⁣ ⁣ CHAPTERS:⁣ 00:00 - The Shocking Rise of “Dr. Love”⁣ 08:10 - FBI Agent Tom Simon Explains the Sentencing Game⁣ 12:55 - The Fake Offshore Bank CD Scam Exposed⁣ 23:05 - Romance Scams, Money Mules & Bitcoin Fraud⁣ 33:35 - The Stolen Antique Violin Heist⁣ 40:35 - Rugby Crypto Mining Ponzi Scheme Collapses⁣ 01:05:45 - Pipe Standoff & a Story of Addiction⁣ 01:12:15 - How Prison Became “Crime Grad School”⁣ 01:14:00 - Using a Teenager in an Armed Bank Robbery⁣ 01:21:30 - FBI Investigates Assault on a Spirit Airlines Flight⁣ 01:30:45 - Murder-for-Hire Plot Unraveled by the FBI⁣ 01:39:45 - The White Supremacist Influencer Taken Down Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have been watching a new series on Hulu on Romance scams - Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam.  As I am watching this series it reminds me of teh Tinder Swindler. What perplexes me is that people are afraid to meet in person, over a quick cofee or drink at a public place but there are enough people in the world that are willing to "fall" for someone online and never meeting that person or havinga  video chat with that person and then agree to send that person money - Seriously? Yes I have had people ask me to send them gas money to meet (they always start off with a small amount to send them), have aksed me to sign onto other sites, or other APPS like WhatsApp and I never do, once they ask I immediatley block abnd repoort them and YOU should do the same.Here is more information on this scam and where youy can report this to the authorites:Romance scams involve criminals creating fake online identities to gain victims' trust and affection, ultimately manipulating them into sending money, cryptocurrency, or personal information. These scammers often operate on dating apps and social media, creating "too good to be true" scenarios and avoiding in-person meetings. [1, 2, 3, 4]Common Red Flags & TacticsRapid Affection: Scammers profess love quickly, aiming to establish a deep emotional connection early.The "Never Meet" Promise: They create elaborate excuses (e.g., working on oil rigs, military, doctor, international projects) to avoid meeting in person.Requests for Funds: Common excuses for needing money include, medical emergencies, hospital bills, travel expenses, or investment opportunities, particularly in cryptocurrency.Using Fake Photos/AI: Scammers may use AI-generated images or stolen photos to build their profile.Steps to Take If TargetedStop All Contact: Cease communication immediately.Report the Scam: File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.Notify Platforms: Report the profile to the social media site or dating app used.Contact Financial Institutions: Alert your bank to secure accounts and try to stop transactions.Use Reverse Image Search: Search profile pictures to see if they belong to someone else. 

When Anola returns home from a picture-perfect trip to France, she finds an unexpected flirtation with a man who reaches out to her on LinkedIn. He showers her with love and attention, and over time, he steals thousands from her.  When she discovers the deception, Anola reaches out to the real man behind the photo the scammer used, drawing her into a second betrayal. Criminals have figured out how to hack our brains, bypassing the rational and going directly for the emotional response. Austin Cusak, an expert in behavioral science at the FDIC, joins host Bob Sullivan to discuss the phenomenon known as "amygdala hijacking."

"Scammers rely on emotion. If they can catch you in that half second of panic, then they might be able to get you to do something." 41% of American adults have lost money to scams. And that's only those who reported it. Our hosts, Stephanie McCullough and Kevin Gaines, are back to talk all about money scams because the problem keeps growing, and because the scammers, as Kevin puts it, keep learning. The core mechanism hasn't changed either. Scams are all about manufactured panic. Whether it's a Social Security alert, a fake IRS demand, or a "computer security team" that called out of nowhere to say you've been hacked, the goal is to knock your skepticism offline before it fires. According to behavioral science, acute panic literally impairs the higher-order reasoning you'd need to catch the trick. The antidote is AARP's three-step model: pause, reflect, protect. The research behind it illustrates that awareness of a specific scam makes you 80% less likely to fall for it. Their free Fraud Watch Network sends alerts several times a month, and Stephanie suggests that even skimming the subject lines is protective. As Kevin likes to say, "Always independently verify." If someone sends you a phone number to call, that number is already suspect. The best long-term defense isn't paranoia but connection. That means staying in regular contact with people who aren't in panic mode when you are.   Key Topics: AARP Fraud Watch Network and the 80% Awareness Effect (04:29) Why Smart People Still Get Caught (06:08) The IT Support Scam (13:05) IRS Impersonation and the Tax Season Warning (19:00) "Pause, Reflect, Protect" in Practice: Charity Call Story (21:48) Romance Scams, Friendship Scams, and the Loneliness Factor (24:53) Final Tip: Make More Friends, Call Your Mother (28:51)   Resources: Take Back Retirement Ep 74: https://takebackretirement.com/podcasts/taking-charge-carol-maraks-strategy-for-solo-aging-and-retirement-planning/ Take Back Retirement Ep 83: https://takebackretirement.com/podcasts/combatting-fraud-and-protecting-your-financial-future-with-aarps-kathy-stokes/ AARP Link: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/ "Pause, Reflect, Protect" Article: https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/sponsored/train-your-brain-to-spot-scams-before-they-strike   If you like what you've been hearing, we invite you to subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Tell us what you love about this episode! Or better yet, tell us what you want to hear more of in the future. stephanie@sofiafinancial.com   You can find the transcript and more information about this episode at www.takebackretirement.com.   Follow Stephanie on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.  Follow Kevin on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

The Chief Executive of Capita Public Services has apologised for the serious delays thousands of civil servants are facing simply to get paid their pensions. Richard Holroyd was speaking to MPs on the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday when he admitted his service was "overwhelmed" when it took over the running of the civil service pension scheme in December. We'll get reaction from people affected and hear from Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Conservative Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.Love might be in the air for some today - but with the roses and candlelight, comes a warning about criminals working in the shadows to trick people into giving away their money. Romance scams are types of fraud when a scammer pretends to be in a relationship with someone to gain money or personal information from them. They often start online or on social media. More than twenty million pounds was lost to romance scams in the first half of last year, up more than a third compared to 2024. We'll hear from one listener who says he lost £30,000 to a romance scam.How will a planned replacement to the Lifetime ISA work and what will it mean for people who've already got one? And what to do if you think you might be eligible for the Warm Homes Discount this winter but haven't had the payment yet.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Jo Krasner and Niamh McDermott Editor: Jess Quayle Senior News Editor: Sara Wadeson(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 14th February 2026)

Israel has launched waves of airstrikes in retaliation for a barrage of Hezbollah rockets and missiles. Hezbollah is still believed to have thousands of missiles. Charlie D'Agata reports. Some airports are warning travelers to allow extra time as TSA experiences staffing shortages again due to a spike in sick calls. It's the first pay period TSA officers will not get a paycheck due to the partial government shutdown. Kris Van Cleave reports. For years, the U.S. government has doubted the stories of those suffering from AHI, commonly called Havana Syndrome. Now, victims hope that reports of a newly discovered weapon will finally vindicate them. A plaque honoring police officers who responded to the Capitol on Jan. 6 went up over the weekend, three years after a federal law mandated it be displayed. Scott MacFarlane reports on the years of pushback by some of President Trump's supporters. New data from AARP reveals nearly one in 10 adults over the age of 50 has experienced an online romance that ultimately led to a request for money or encouragement to invest in crypto currency. Candace Dellacona, an estates and trusts lawyer, explains steps to take to protect your loved ones. Daryl Hannah, who dated John F. Kennedy Jr. in the 1990s, criticized the series "Love Story" and its portrayal of her. The FX series is about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, focusing on their courtship and marriage, which began after Kennedy's relationship with Hannah. In The New York Times, Hannah said the portrayal of her is "not even remotely accurate." Texas state Rep. James Talarico, who won the Democratic primary for Senate last week, tells "CBS Mornings" "people across the political spectrum are deeply worried about another forever war in the Middle East" as strikes continue in the Iran war. He speaks about the war's potential impacts and what he thinks voters in Texas are looking for this November. In this week's "Beg-Knows America," CBS News contributor David Begnaud highlights three inspiring stories of everyday Americans: a priest who has found a second calling as a repairman, a cancer survivor who surprised his donor in-person on his wedding day and two former waitresses who are working to show their appreciation for the service industry. Matthew Fox, who starred in the hit series "Lost," talks about being part of the cast for the new Paramount+ show "The Madison." He describes how he relates to his character, why he decided to return to Hollywood and working with Kurt Russell again. David Pogue, an author and correspondent for "CBS Sunday Morning," talks about covering the rise of Apple over his career as the company is set to turn 50 next month, and his new book, "Apple: The First 50 Years." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Romance scams aren't just something that happens to “other people.” They are a growing, modern-day epidemic - and they can devastate entire families.In this episode of Comfort Food, Kelly sits down with her sister Kristin Rizzo to talk about how romance scams really work, why they're so effective, and the very real emotional and financial damage they can cause. Kelly shares a deeply personal story about how a romance scam played a major role in destroying the marriage and life of a close family member, and how the fallout affected everyone around them.Together, Kelly and Kristin break down what romance scams actually look like, why smart, capable people fall for them, and why victims often stay even when red flags start to appear. They talk about shame, secrecy, manipulation, and the psychological tactics scammers use to build trust and dependency.This episode also offers practical, matter-of-fact guidance — how to spot warning signs, what to do if you think you or someone you love may be involved in a scam, and how to approach these situations with compassion rather than judgment.This conversation is personal, educational, and meant to help protect others from going through the same kind of loss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year alone, over 3,200 romance scams were reported by Australians, resulting in losses of more than 23 million dollars. Three experts explain how scammers operate, the red flags to watch for, and what to do if you're the victim of a romance scam. - ပြီးခဲ့တဲ့ တစ်နှစ်ထဲမှာပဲ ဩစတြေးလျနိုင်ငံသား အယောက် ၃၂၀၀ က အွန်လိုင်းပေါ်က ချစ်သူအတုကြောင့် ဒုက္ခရောက်ခဲ့ရတယ်လို့ တိုင်တန်းကြပြီး ငွေကြေးပမာဏ ဆုံးရှုံးမှုက ဒေါ်လာ ၂၃ သန်း ရှိခဲ့ပါတယ်။ လူလိမ်လူညာတွေဟာရဲ့ ချည်းကပ်ပုံ ချည်းကပ်နည်းလမ်းတွေဟာလည်း ပိုပိုပြီး အဆင်မြင့်လာနေတဲ့အတွက် အချစ်ကို ရှာဖွေနေတဲ့ လူတွေက လူလိမ်လူညာတွေရဲ့ သားကောင်ဘဝကို ရောက်ရှိသွားခဲ့ရပါတယ်။

Looking for love on-line? Be careful! Scammers have stolen $3.8 million from New Mexicans last year alone, and their cons are growing more sophisticated.

Welcome to the Identity Theft Resource Center's (ITRC) Weekly Breach Breakdown for February 20, 2026. I'm Tim Walden, Communications Leader for the ITRC. Thanks to Sentilink for supporting the ITRC and this podcast. Each week, we look at the most recent events and trends related to data security and privacy. Valentine's Day may have come and gone, but for some, Cupid's arrow was carrying more malware than magic. This week, we're talking about romance and relationship scams, the kind that start with sweet messages and end with broken hearts and empty bank accounts. Follow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/idtheftcenter/ Follow on X: twitter.com/IDTheftCenter

Dan Buck delivers a whirlwind “In Other News” segment covering oddities and headlines alike: a federal judge dismisses the Buffalo Wild Wings boneless wing lawsuit, Olympic athletes face condom shortages while competing, Costco rolls out custom cake ordering via app, and Americans lose $672 million to online romance scams. Lindsey Vonn's comeback from injury is also highlighted, mixing quirky, human-interest stories with serious financial and consumer news. Hashtags: #InOtherNews #Olympics2026 #Costco #RomanceScams #LindseyVonn #BuffaloWildWings #ConsumerNews

This special Valentine's Day episode of Cybersecurity Today examines romance scams (often called pig butchering) and how fraudsters exploit trust, vulnerability, and loneliness.  Host Jim Love speaks with McAfee Head of Threat Research Abhishek Karnik  about new findings showing the scale and demographics of these scams, including widespread encounters with fake or AI-generated profiles, frequent financial solicitations, and that men are also heavily impacted.  Cybersecurity Today  would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.  You can find them at Meter.com/cst The episode features survivor Beth Highland's detailed account of being manipulated via Tinder through long-term messaging, an AI video call, forged documents, and a crypto payout scheme that led her to send about $26,000 via Bitcoin ATMs before her financial advisor—trained in romance fraud—helped her recognize the scam and stop further losses, including a demanded $50,000 "activation fee." Beth discusses emotional aftereffects, stigma, reporting, red flags, and her book, "Diary of a Romance Scam:  When Swiping Right Goes Wrong," along with her advocacy work. The conversation broadens to the role of AI in making scams more realistic (deepfakes, voice/video, document generation), the importance of privacy and not overposting, involving trusted family/advisors, institutional training and intervention points along the fraud "kill chain," and using technology and education to detect and reduce scams. LINKS  Beth Hyland's Book - Diary of a Romance Scam: When Swiping Right Goes Wrong https://www.amazon.com/Diary-Romance-Scam-Swiping-Right/dp/1662962843 00:00 Sponsor: Meter's all-in-one networking stack 00:18 Valentine's Day on the dark side: heartbreak meets cybercrime 02:15 Romance scams ("pig butchering") are everywhere—who gets targeted 04:15 McAfee research: fake profiles, AI, and the real victim demographics 07:07 How scammers hook you: profiling, psychology, and long-game manipulation 09:01 Beth's story begins: post-divorce, isolation, and trying Tinder 10:36 The perfect match: mirroring, fast intimacy, and early red flags 14:32 AI video call + the push-pull breakup: emotional control tactics 17:09 The money trap: Qatar story, bank access, and Bitcoin ATM payments 23:34 The $50K "activation fee" and the wake-up call from a financial advisor 26:25 Cutting him off—and getting pulled back in by guilt and gaslighting 30:18 How to help victims: listening, tools, and where to get support 33:17 Turning pain into purpose: Beth's book and grieving a romance scam 34:47 Turning Pain Into Purpose: Supporting Romance-Scam Survivors 35:56 Stop Blaming Victims: Changing the Language Around Scams 38:38 "It Can Happen to Anybody": Why Smart People Get Hooked 40:58 Social Engineering 101: How Scams Exploit Different Emotions 42:14 Why McAfee Is Focusing on Consumer Scams (and the AI Factor) 45:43 AI Deepfakes & Low-Cost Tools: The New Scam Industrialization 49:19 Oversharing, Spearphishing & Replay Attacks: How Victims Get Retargeted 53:24 Practical Red Flags: Meeting in Person, Isolation Tactics, Family Checks 57:08 Training the "Kill Chain": Banks, Cashiers, Advisors & Early Intervention 01:00:33 Tech Fighting Tech: Detection, Identity Protection & Digital Assistants 01:02:57 What's Next: Agentic AI, Bigger Attack Surfaces & Trust-and-Safety by Design 01:08:03 Wrap-Up: Start the Conversation, Resources, and Final Thanks

This special Valentine's Day episode of Cybersecurity Today examines romance scams (often called pig butchering) and how fraudsters exploit trust, vulnerability, and loneliness.  Host Jim Love speaks with McAfee Head of Threat Research Abhishek Karnik  about new findings showing the scale and demographics of these scams, including widespread encounters with fake or AI-generated profiles, frequent financial solicitations, and that men are also heavily impacted.  Cybersecurity Today  would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.  You can find them at Meter.com/cst The episode features survivor Beth Highland's detailed account of being manipulated via Tinder through long-term messaging, an AI video call, forged documents, and a crypto payout scheme that led her to send about $26,000 via Bitcoin ATMs before her financial advisor—trained in romance fraud—helped her recognize the scam and stop further losses, including a demanded $50,000 "activation fee." Beth discusses emotional aftereffects, stigma, reporting, red flags, and her book, "Diary of a Romance Scam:  When Swiping Right Goes Wrong," along with her advocacy work. The conversation broadens to the role of AI in making scams more realistic (deepfakes, voice/video, document generation), the importance of privacy and not overposting, involving trusted family/advisors, institutional training and intervention points along the fraud "kill chain," and using technology and education to detect and reduce scams. LINKS  Beth Hyland's Book - Diary of a Romance Scam: When Swiping Right Goes Wrong https://www.amazon.com/Diary-Romance-Scam-Swiping-Right/dp/1662962843 00:00 Sponsor: Meter's all-in-one networking stack 00:18 Valentine's Day on the dark side: heartbreak meets cybercrime 02:15 Romance scams ("pig butchering") are everywhere—who gets targeted 04:15 McAfee research: fake profiles, AI, and the real victim demographics 07:07 How scammers hook you: profiling, psychology, and long-game manipulation 09:01 Beth's story begins: post-divorce, isolation, and trying Tinder 10:36 The perfect match: mirroring, fast intimacy, and early red flags 14:32 AI video call + the push-pull breakup: emotional control tactics 17:09 The money trap: Qatar story, bank access, and Bitcoin ATM payments 23:34 The $50K "activation fee" and the wake-up call from a financial advisor 26:25 Cutting him off—and getting pulled back in by guilt and gaslighting 30:18 How to help victims: listening, tools, and where to get support 33:17 Turning pain into purpose: Beth's book and grieving a romance scam 34:47 Turning Pain Into Purpose: Supporting Romance-Scam Survivors 35:56 Stop Blaming Victims: Changing the Language Around Scams 38:38 "It Can Happen to Anybody": Why Smart People Get Hooked 40:58 Social Engineering 101: How Scams Exploit Different Emotions 42:14 Why McAfee Is Focusing on Consumer Scams (and the AI Factor) 45:43 AI Deepfakes & Low-Cost Tools: The New Scam Industrialization 49:19 Oversharing, Spearphishing & Replay Attacks: How Victims Get Retargeted 53:24 Practical Red Flags: Meeting in Person, Isolation Tactics, Family Checks 57:08 Training the "Kill Chain": Banks, Cashiers, Advisors & Early Intervention 01:00:33 Tech Fighting Tech: Detection, Identity Protection & Digital Assistants 01:02:57 What's Next: Agentic AI, Bigger Attack Surfaces & Trust-and-Safety by Design 01:08:03 Wrap-Up: Start the Conversation, Resources, and Final Thanks

Online dating and social media have opened new ways to build meaningful connections. But they can also create opportunities for scams. In this episode of Consumer Connection, host Michelle Escobar sits down with Karen Morgan, Executive Council Member at AARP Maryland, to talk about the rise of online romance scams and how to protect yourself without losing trust in the possibility of a real connection. Together, they explore:The most common red flags in online relationships.How scammers use emotional manipulation to gain trust.Why anyone, at any age, can be targeted. Practical steps to protect both your heart and your finances. Karen also shares guidance for friends and family members who may be concerned about a loved one. Learn how to start supportive, judgment-free conversations that empower rather than shame. This episode is about building awareness and confidence so you can stay connected, stay protected, and recognize the difference between genuine relationships and costly deception. Have a question or suggestion for a future episode? Send an email to consumerconnection@montgomerycountymd.gov.

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Emily Holyoake, a cyber security and intelligence expert who focuses on the human side of scams and exploitation, and has worked directly with both victims and reformed romance scammers in regards to the real scripts and escalation patterns they use. They discuss practical, listener-friendly red flags, how to protect friends/family without triggering shame or defensiveness, and what to do if you suspect you're being targeted by a romance scam.   Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us

Face Plant: The Woman With 1,000 Boyfriends — What's it like to have your image used as the bait in thousands of online romance scams? This is what happened to Janessa Brazil—a cam girl whose image has been hijacked and used to con hundreds, maybe thousands, of lonely people out of hard-earned cash. This is a story of love, lies, and the faces behind a billion-dollar underground industry.Chameleon is a production of Campside Media and Audiochuck.Follow Chameleon on Instagram @chameleonpod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week's episode is a Valentine's Day warning and a cultural temperature check. Romance scams are surging ahead of February 14, so if he says he loves you but needs a wire transfer, please log out. A year into Trump's term, some voters are saying Biden was better, while Hasan Piker sparks debate by saying he would vote third party over a Gavin Newsom versus JD Vance matchup. TMZ reportedly received a second chilling note involving Savannah Guthrie's mom. Canada is reeling after a tragic event at a school and home, and Affirm now wants to offer Buy Now, Pay Later for rent because apparently even survival comes in installments. Gen Z becomes the first generation to score lower on IQ tests than their parents. Super Bowl ratings are strong with a Bad Bunny boost, Britney Spears reportedly sells her entire music catalog, James Van Der Beek passes away at 48 after a cancer battle, and Cardi B steps into her Little Miss Drama era while Stefon Diggs posts cryptic messages after the Super Bowl loss. Love, politics, pop culture, and a gentle reminder to use discernment. IG: itswista IG/Substack: wordswithwista

In this episode of Cybersecurity Today with host Jim Love, we discuss six critical exploited Microsoft vulnerabilities, new phishing tactics using your own servers, and a zero-click vulnerability in Claude's code desktop extensions. We also explore trends in modern romance scams highlighting the younger, tech-savvy adult targets. Tune in for expert insights and practical tips to stay secure. Special thanks to Meter for their support. Hashtag Trending would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale. You can find them at Meter.com/htt 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:45 Microsoft Vulnerabilities: A Growing Concern 02:38 Phishing Attacks Using Your Own Servers 04:16 Zero-Click Vulnerability in Claude AI 06:25 Romance Scams: Not Just Targeting the Elderly 09:14 Conclusion and Weekend Edition Teaser

Valentine's Day is supposed to be a day to open your heart – but it's also a time when cybercriminals are tricking you into opening your wallet. Learn about the latest scams from Visa's Dan Munson, Senior Director of Global Payment Ecosystem, Risk and ControlWhy is ‘Splashtop' considered ‘must have' software on your devices? We're joined by the co-founder and Chief Technical Officer at the company, Philip Sheu.Imagine a canvas on your wall at home, and instead of it displaying the same artwork day in, day out, you can walk up to it and use your voice to ask for something brand-new created for you! Get the skinny on Fraimic AI, i.e. “art that listens,” with company founder Anthony Mattana.Thank you to Visa, Norton, and SANDISK for your incredible support. Get a huge discount on Norton anti-malware at norton.com/techitout

What's it like to have your image used as the bait in thousands of online romance scams? This is what happened to Janessa Brazil—whose image has been hijacked and used to con hundreds, maybe thousands, of lonely people out of hard-earned cash. This is a story of love, lies, and the faces behind a billion-dollar catfishing industry.Chameleon is a production of Campside Media and Audiochuck.Follow Chameleon on Instagram @chameleonpod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send a textIn this intimate solo episode, Andrea Atherton invites listeners into a powerful exploration of embodied self-reflection and the quiet courage it takes to come home to oneself. Drawing from nearly three decades as a psychotherapist and love specialist, Andrea weaves personal story with clinical wisdom, offering a grounded and deeply human look at what it means to release the identities we were handed and reclaim the truth of who we are. This episode is not simply about insight—it is about integration.Through vulnerable reflection and guided inquiry, Andrea explores how attachment wounds, trauma patterns, and the drive to prove our worth can subtly shape our relationships and sense of self. With compassion and clarity, she illuminates how disconnection from the body often keeps us stuck in cycles of overgiving, performing, or striving for love. Listeners will be gently guided toward a more regulated, embodied presence—one that fosters intimacy, self-trust, and authentic connection.This episode offers spacious pauses for reflection, inviting you to slow down and listen inward. Whether you are navigating a transition, healing from relational pain, or feeling called to rediscover your deeper truth, this conversation serves as both mirror and medicine. Andrea's voice is steady and welcoming, reminding you that beneath the conditioning and survival strategies, there is a self waiting to be remembered.30-minute Consultation with Andrea https://www.andreaatherton.com/booking-calendarAndrea Atherton Websitehttps://www.andreaatherton.com/Love Anarchy Websitehttps://www.andreaatherton.com/podcasthttps://loveanarchypodcast.buzzsprout.comLove Anarchy Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/loveanarchypodcast/Andrea Atherton Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/andreaatherton-17/

President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Steve Bernas joins Bob Sirott to discuss an increase in romance scams around Valentine’s Day and fake calls claiming to be from the IRS. He also shares information about lottery scams in Michigan and emails claiming to be from Microsoft.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo speaks about romance scams on the rise and how to avoid being caught up in one full 363 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000 JNrY68WQGX9X0rOjSU5PsYt1rOkvp0dw news,wben,romance scams,michael digiacomo WBEN Extras news,wben,romance scams,michael digiacomo U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo speaks about romance scams on the rise and how to avoid being caught up in one Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False

Cybercrime is growing into a thriving, highly profitable industry, threatening governments, businesses and ordinary people across the globe. 

Stephen Grootes speaks to consumer ninja Wendy Knowler about why romance scams surge around Valentine’s Day, how scammers weaponise emotional vulnerability, and what the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service is warning consumers to look out for. The Money Show is a podcast hosted by well-known journalist and radio presenter, Stephen Grootes. He explores the latest economic trends, business developments, investment opportunities, and personal finance strategies. Each episode features engaging conversations with top newsmakers, industry experts, financial advisors, entrepreneurs, and politicians, offering you thought-provoking insights to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape.    Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Money Show Listen live Primedia+ weekdays from 18:00 and 20:00 (SA Time) to The Money Show with Stephen Grootes broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/7QpH0jY or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/PlhvUVe Subscribe to The Money Show Daily Newsletter and the Weekly Business Wrap here https://buff.ly/v5mfetc The Money Show is brought to you by Absa     Follow us on social media   702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702   CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/Radio702 CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show broke the record for most watched halftime show ever! The United States have won two gold medals in the Winter Olympics! The FBI is warning the public about romance scams. Miami was ranked as the city with the worst drivers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, the National Anti-Scam Centre has released its scams statistics, showing an increase in romance scams. ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe on the tactics scammers use to build trust and steal money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about! What to know about Romance Scams ahead of Valentine’s DayGuest: Paula Fleming - Chief Marketing and Sales Officer Better Business Bureau - Boston 20 worst Valentine's Day gifts you should never giveGuest: Valerie Sokolosky – Etiquette Expert, Author, Master Brand Strategist A new Legal Sports Report and Sports Betting Alliance forecast predicts more than $1.7 billion will be legally wagered on the Super Bowl this year, a record total and a 10.3% increase over last year as more Americans place bets through regulated sportsbooks.Guest: Joe Maloney – President of Sports Betting AllianceDan took a look at Truck Day, and why it's so important.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hackers aren't stealing passwords anymore. They're stealing what makes companies valuable.We cover: • The European Space Agency breach and why even elite organizations aren't safe • Pig butchering romance scams and how social engineering targets human psychology • The Nike data breach where attackers stole intellectual property, not customer data • AI voice cloning, deepfake scams, and real-world fraud attempts • Why modern cybercrime looks more like organized crime than traditional hacking.If you care about cybersecurity threats, ransomware groups, AI scams, social engineering attacks, or how hackers actually operate today, this episode will change how you think about risk.Cybercrime is evolving fast. Most defenses aren't.CHAPTERS00:00 – Hackers stopped stealing passwords and started stealing everything 01:50 – Welcome to Chaos + panel intros 03:40 – Meme culture, cold weather, and why Dino has too much free time 04:25 – European Space Agency hacked twice in one month 06:00 – If rocket scientists can't keep hackers out… 07:10 – Space nerds, Carl Sagan, and stardust detour 08:15 – Romance scams and pig butchering explained 09:20 – “Wrong number” texts and how the scam really starts 10:50 – How victims are slowly manipulated into crypto scams 12:25 – The 764 gang and psychological weaponization 13:40 – The dark twist: scammers as human trafficking victims 16:40 – Luxury lifestyles, urgency, and fake success 18:20 – Why victims don't report scams 23:30 – Fake job offers and too-good-to-be-true salaries 24:20 – Nike breach isn't what you think 25:45 – Why hackers skipped customer data entirely 27:10 – WorldLeaks, ransomware evolution, and pure extortion 28:35 – 1.4TB of stolen intellectual property 30:30 – Stealing what actually makes Nike… NikeQuestions? Text our Studio direct. We read these and when helpful we give a special shout out for those to contact us.Growth without Interruption. Get peace of mind. Stay Competitive-Get NetGain. Contact NetGain today at 844-777-6278 or reach out online at www.NETGAINIT.com Support the show

Tis the season for romance scams! FBI Special Agent Jason Carley shares how you can protect yourself from digital would-be Casanova's or Svengali's and their attempts to seduce your money! If you've been targeted, let the FBI know at WWW.IC3.GOV.

Board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Mary Claire Haver breaks down what to know and look out for when it comes to menopause. Also, Alison Oliver stops by to catch up and share details about her role in the highly anticipated new film ‘Wuthering Heights.' Plus, a closer look at romance cyber scams — how to keep your identity safe and what to do if you or someone you know falls victim. And, Craig gets in the kitchen to whip up his delicious, supercharged chili recipe, perfect for a cozy winter night. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This was such a fun episode with Alexandra Potter, it was one of the times I felt like I was just sat down having a cuppa and catching up with a friend. So, I Met This Guy, Alexandra's book that we discuss in this episode is out today and it is such a brilliant read. If you've been experiencing any January Blues this is the one you need to be grabbing.And of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without book recommendations! Here's everything we mentioned, with links to buy:

Initial Stages of Romance Scams [Guest Diary] Romance scams often start with random text messages that appear to be misrouted . This guest diary by Faris Azhari is following some of the initial stages of such a scam. https://isc.sans.edu/diary/Initial%20Stages%20of%20Romance%20Scams%20%5BGuest%20Diary%5D/32650 Denial of Service Vulnerabilities in React Server Components Another folowup fix for the severe React vulnerability from last year, but now only fixing a DoS condition. https://github.com/facebook/react/security/advisories/GHSA-83fc-fqcc-2hmg OpenSSL Updates OpenSSL released its monthly updates, fixing a potential RCE. https://openssl-library.org/news/vulnerabilities/ Kubernetes Remote Code Execution Via Nodes/Proxy GET Permission Many Kubernetes Helm Charts are vulnerable to possible remote code executions due to unclear defined access controls. https://grahamhelton.com/blog/nodes-proxy-rce

What lies behind Romance Fraud? Romance fraud is one of the fastest-growing forms of fraud worldwide, and one of the most emotionally devastating. It's also one of the most misunderstood.On this episode, I'm speaking to Becky Holmes, author of the bestselling book Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love With You. Becky didn't become interested in romance fraud through victimhood or research. She stumbled into it during the pandemic after being approached by scammers online — and instead of ignoring them, she decided to wind them up. What began as a joke — sending absurd messages, inventing ridiculous scenarios, and pushing scam scripts to breaking point — turned into something much more serious. Through humour, Becky uncovered the psychological mechanics of romance fraud: how trust is built, how isolation and gaslighting work, and why believing you're “too smart to fall for it” is often the most dangerous belief of all.In this conversation, we explore why laughing at scammers is not the same as blaming victims, why romance fraud closely mirrors patterns seen in abusive relationships, and why shame — not stupidity — keeps people trapped. We also talk about humour as a gateway to learning, the limits of victim-focused storytelling, and the uncomfortable truth that none of us are immune. This is a funny conversation in places. And then it isn't. This is not the first time the Human Risk Podcast has explored romance fraud. On a previous episode, I spoke with Anna Rowe, a victim of romance fraud, about the profound emotional and psychological impact of being deceived by someone you believed you loved.In this episode, we discuss:Why romance fraud is a psychological scam, not a technical oneHow humour can expose manipulation without mocking victimsThe striking parallels between romance fraud and abusive relationshipsIsolation, gaslighting, and shame as tools of controlWhy “it would never happen to me” is such a dangerous beliefThe role of AI, deepfakes, and evolving scam tacticsWhy fraud literacy matters — and why people don't seek it out until it's too lateThe emotional cost of online exposure and harassmentWhat institutions, platforms, and society still get wrong about fraudGuest ProfileBecky Holmes is an author, speaker, and writer specialising in fraud, online manipulation, and digital harm. Her first book, Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love With You, explores the world of romance fraud through humour, storytelling, and lived experience.Her second book, The Future of Fraud, examines how scams are evolving in a world shaped by AI and digital identity. Links and resourcesBecky's first book Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love With You - https://share.google/fKQ6qCL1l8Ygl1ey2The Future of Fraud her second (out April 2026) - https://share.google/fKQ6qCL1l8Ygl1ey2Becky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckyholmeshatesspinach/Becky on Instagram: Becky Holmes (@deathtospinach)Becky on Twitter/X: https://x.com/deathtospinach?Becky's book agent profile: https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/becky-holmesPrevious Human Risk Podcast episode with Anna Rowe on being a victim of romance fraud: https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/anna-rowe-on-romance-scams/AI-Generated Timestamped Summary00:00 – Why romance fraud mattersChristian explains why the podcast is returning to romance fraud, linking this episode to an earlier conversation with victim Anna Rowe (linked in the show notes).02:00 – How Becky Holmes got into romance fraudBecky describes how being approached by scammers during lockdown — and deciding to wind them up — accidentally turned into deep expertise.05:00 – When jokes expose the scriptAbsurd replies, fake crime scenes, and the moment Becky realised scammers weren't reading messages, just following scripts.09:00 – Laughing at scammers, not victimsWhy humour can highlight manipulation without blaming those who fall victim — and how the book shifts from comedy to something much darker.14:00 – Romance fraud as psychological abuseThe parallels with abusive relationships: isolation, gaslighting, shame, and why people stay, return, or fall again.21:00 – “It would never happen to me”Why believing you're too smart to fall for romance fraud is often the biggest risk of all.28:00 – What the media gets wrongVictim-focused storytelling, ignored systems, and why AI, deepfakes, and scam scripts matter more than headlines.36:00 – Fraud literacy and preventionWhy people don't seek out information about fraud until it's too late — and how humour can be a gateway to awareness.45:00 – The personal cost of online exposureOnline harassment, cyberflashing, and the emotional toll of spending years inside the systems you're critiquing.55:00 – What's next for BeckyUpcoming books, speaking work, and where to find her online.

Matthew Friedman joins Dr. Sandie Morgan as they explore how pig butchering scams work, why they're so effective, and how they're tied to forced labor and human trafficking, while explaining what prevention can look like from personal red flags to safeguards in financial systems.Matthew FriedmanMatthew Friedman is the Founder and CEO of The Mekong Club, a pioneering organization that mobilizes the private sector to fight modern slavery across Asia. A globally recognized expert on human trafficking, Friedman has spent over three decades working at the intersection of business, government, and humanitarian action to combat exploitation and promote ethical leadership. Before founding The Mekong Club, Friedman served as Regional Project Manager for the United Nations International Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP/UNDP), overseeing a six-country initiative spanning China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand. He also served as Deputy Director for the USAID Office of Public Health (Asia Region), managing a $100 million annual portfolio. Friedman holds a Master's degree in Health Education from New York University and is a renowned keynote speaker who has delivered more than 900 presentations in 20 countries, inspiring individuals and organizations to take a stand in the fight against modern slavery.Key PointsPig butchering scams are sophisticated romance scams where criminals build trust over weeks before convincing victims to invest life savings in fake cryptocurrency schemes, with the metaphor referring to "fattening the pig before the slaughter."An estimated 300,000 to 400,000 young professionals have been trafficked into scam centers across Southeast Asia, where they are forced under extreme violence and coercion to run online scams targeting victims in wealthy nations.The Prince Group sanctions marked one of the most significant global crackdowns on forced-labor scam centers, with the UK freezing real estate assets and the US freezing $15 billion in cryptocurrency, signaling increased international cooperation.Financial institutions can help prevent pig butchering by monitoring unusual withdrawal patterns, such as when customers who haven't touched their accounts for 30 years suddenly liquidate everything, and by contacting clients before large transfers are completed.Victims in scam centers face brutal violence including being tasered, beaten, and in some cases tortured to death with videos sold as "hardcore" content, creating a level of violence unprecedented in modern slavery according to Friedman's 35 years of experience.Only 0.2% of the 50 million people in modern slavery receive assistance globally, not because counter-trafficking organizations don't care, but because the $236 billion generated by criminals vastly outweighs the $400 million available to fight it.Public education and awareness are critical for prevention, as people in North America remain largely unaware of pig butchering scams while Asian communities have become more informed through widespread media coverage and victim testimonies.The Mekong Club has developed multilingual e-learning tools including a three-and-a-half-minute video to help raise awareness about both human trafficking into scam centers and the scams themselves, emphasizing that prevention must be widespread.ResourcesThe Mekong ClubThe Mekong Club - Tools & ResourcesValid8 FinancialEnding Human Trafficking Podcast - Episode 269Matthew Friedman on LinkedInContact Matthew FriedmanEnding Human Trafficking Website

Valentine's Day is coming soon... The time when our thoughts turn to romance - and, for far too many victims, romance scams (at 14:05) --- To Your Health: It's true that vision changes are a normal part of aging, but that doesn't mean they can or should be ignored (at 23:32) --- Around Town: Later this month, the 20th Anniversary of the UF Donnell Broadway Concert Series welcomes a return performance by famed actress and singer Liz Callaway (at 44:04)

Dr Boyce talks about financial romance scams and how they are harmful.

Why modern cybercrime targets trust, urgency, and decision-making instead of systemsDeepfake Attacks, Voice Cloning, and Why AI Social Engineering WorksTraditional fraud used to feel obvious: misspellings, odd links, weird emails. Now? Deepfakes embed perfectly familiar voices and faces into your feed — or your inbox.Listen to Perry Carpenter on this. If you love this topic as much as we do grab Perry's incredible book FAIK available everywhere. Here's a non-affiliated link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/faik-perry-carpenter/1145888787?ean=2940190971293Don't Miss the Deepfake Webinar coming up! You WIll See how you can test out your own deepfake to better understand them.  https://info.knowbe4.com/new-deepfake-training-na?partnerref=blogChapters 00:00 Why the Next Breach Won't Look Like the Last One01:44 Welcome to America in 202603:00 Why Deepfakes Are Exploding Right Now05:20 Yes — A Voice Can Be Cloned in Seconds07:30 What Deepfakes Actually Are (No Hype)09:35 Legitimate Uses vs Weaponized Intent12:45 Why Deepfake Companies Stay Quiet17:05 Faces and Voices Are the New Attack Surface18:30 Stop Asking “Is This Real?” Ask This Instead20:55 Why Spotting Artifacts No Longer Works23:45 The One Question That Cuts Through Deepfakes25:50 What Leaders Should Actually Do Today27:45 Old-School Security Still Wins30:05 Why Detection Tools Are Losing the Race33:10 Romance Scams, HR Fraud, and Deepfake Hiring35:45 10 of 15 Job Candidates Were Fake — Here's Why38:40 Fake Workers, Real Access, Real Damage42:20 Deepfakes as Multi-Stage AttackQuestion? Text our Studio direct.Growth without Interruption. Get peace of mind. Stay Competitive-Get NetGain. Contact NetGain today at 844-777-6278 or reach out online at www.NETGAINIT.com Support the show

In this deeply personal and moving episode of Scam Rangers, Ayelet Biger-Levin sits down with Beth Hyland, a romance scam survivor who has transformed her experience into a powerful mission for advocacy. Beth shares the intimate details of how a sophisticated criminal operation exploited her emotional vulnerability following a divorce, leading to over $26,000 to be stolen from her through Bitcoin ATMs and fraudulent loans.The conversation highlights the terrifying effectiveness of "love bombing" and the psychological "fog" that prevents even highly intelligent, self-aware individuals from seeing the red flags. Beth discusses the critical moment her financial advisor intervened to "break the spell" and how she is now fighting back by testifying before Congress and authoring her book, Diary of a Romance Scam.Key Takeaways: The Vulnerability Window: Beth explains how a period of isolation and the "exhale" after a major life transition made her a prime target for a scammer who mirrored her values of self-awareness and spirituality. Calculated Diversions: The scammer used "diversion tactics," such as staging technical issues during video calls or picking fights to create emotional distance when Beth asked for transparency. The Illusion of Partnership: To build intense trust, the scammer gave Beth his "bank login" information and had her facilitate transfers for him, making her feel like a trusted partner rather than a target. The Power of Professional Intervention: Beth credits her financial advisor for saving her from an additional $50,000 stolen from her. His training in romance fraud allowed him to deliver the news with empathy and provide a "stall tactic" that helped Beth safely exit the relationship. Redefining the Language: Beth advocates for a shift in how society views fraud, moving away from "falling for a scam" to being "manipulated into a crime" and insisting that money was "stolen," not just lost. A Call to Action for Banks: Beth urges financial institutions to move beyond "by-the-way" questions and implement deeper training for tellers to recognize the behavioral red flags of a "worn-out" victim withdrawing large sums of cash.This episode is a vital resource for fraud fighters, legislators, and anyone seeking to understand the devastating emotional and financial toll of romance scams. It serves as a reminder that empathy and education are our strongest tools in the fight against high-stakes emotional manipulation.Follow Beth on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-hyland-06a98876/Diary of a Romance Scam: https://www.amazon.com/Diary-Romance-Scam-Swiping-Right/dp/1662962843

In today's digital world, finding friends, romantic partners, and social groups online is easier than ever but so is falling victim to a scam. Romance scammers prey on emotions, turning affection into financial fraud. In this episode, we'll uncover the common tactics scammers use, the warning signs you need to watch for, and practical steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.

AI Face Swapping Is Exploding Romance Scams by Nick Espinosa, Chief Security Fanatic

Tell me what's on your mind.The basics of romance scams haven't changed all that much. Find someone who is lonely, gain their trust and affection, then bleed them dry of all the money and assets they have.In this update to season one's story, we tell you how scammers are using new techniques and technology to make their efforts more effective and dangerous.

 Last year, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 18,000 reports of confidence/romance scams that resulted in losses of more than $672 million. Perpetrators of romance scams typically find their victims online, often through social media. They use a fake persona to deceive victims into trusting them or believing they’re interested in them romantically while making gradually increasing demands for money, which is usually sent by wire or cryptocurrency. The FBI says there was a record $9.3 billion in losses in the U.S. last year from scams involving cryptocurrency.    Romance scams can be especially costly for victims. The Columbian recently reported that between January 2021 and November 2024, Vancouver residents who were victims of romance scams lost an average of $112,000, according to the Vancouver Police Department. Sgt. Jay Alie, who oversees the VPD’s Property Crime Unit, says that while many romance scam victims are over the age of 60, people in their 30s and 40s have also fallen for them. Alie’s investigations of romance scams have widened beyond Vancouver to reveal other victims across the U.S. who’ve been ensnared in them, acting as middlemen to launder money for scammers they also believed they were in relationships with.   Sgt. Alie joins us for more details about these scams as they grow more sophisticated and shares how to protect yourself or vulnerable loved ones from them.  

Is there anything real left on the internet? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O'Reilly explore deepfakes, scams, and cybercrime with the Director of Threat Research at Bitdefender, Bogdan Botezatu. ​​Scams are a trillion-dollar industry; keep your loved ones safe with Bitdefender: https://bitdefend.me/90-StarTalkNOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/deepfakes-and-the-war-on-truth-with-bogdan-botezatu/Thanks to our Patrons Bubbalotski, Oskar Yazan Mellemsether, Craig A, Andrew, Liagadd, William ROberts, Pratiksha, Corey Williams, Keith, anirao, matthew, Cody T, Janna Ladd, Jen Richardson, Elizaveta Nikitenko, James Quagliariello, LA Stritt, Rocco Ciccolini, Kyle Jones, Jeremy Jones, Micheal Fiebelkorn, Erik the Nerd, Debbie Gloom, Adam Tobias Lofton, Chad Stewart, Christy Bradford, David Jirel, e4e5Nf3, John Rost, cluckaizo, Diane Féve, Conny Vigström, Julian Farr, karl Lebeau, AnnElizabeth, p johnson, Jarvis, Charles Bouril, Kevin Salam, Alex Rzem, Joseph Strolin, Madelaine Bertelsen, noel jimenez, Arham Jain, Tim Manzer, Alex, Ray Weikal, Kevin O'Reilly, Mila Love, Mert Durak, Scrubbing Bubblez, Lili Rose, Ram Zaidenvorm, Sammy Aleksov, Carter Lampe, Tom Andrusyna, Raghvendra Singh Bais, ramenbrownie, cap kay, B Rhodes, Chrissi Vergoglini, Micheal Reilly, Mone, Brendan D., Mung, J Ram, Katie Holliday, Nico R, Riven, lanagoeh, Shashank, Bradley Andrews, Jeff Raimer, Angel velez, Sara, Timothy Criss, Katy Boyer, Jesse Hausner, Blue Cardinal, Benjamin Kedwards, Dave, Wen Wei LOKE, Micheal Sacher, Lucas, Ken Kuipers, Alex Marks, Amanda Morrison, Gary Ritter Jr, Bushmaster, thomas hennigan, Erin Flynn, Chad F, fro drick, Ben Speire, Sanjiv VIJ, Sam B, BriarPatch, and Mario Boutet for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tilda Swinton is one of the UK's most singular and celebrated performers. Over four decades she has delivered unforgettable and varied screen performances, notably Orlando, The Chronicles of Narnia, Michael Clayton and Asteroid City and collaborated with artists and filmmakers. She joins Anita Rani to talk about a new exhibition in Amsterdam celebrating her work and the enduring relationships that have inspired her.According to the latest data, homelessness is rising. Over 130,000 households were in temporary accommodation in June, up 7.6% from last year. Charities warn that women are underrepresented in the data, as they often face different challenges to men. The Women's Rough Sleeping Census, now in its fourth year, aims to address this. Rebecca Goshawk, Director of Business Development at Solace Women's Aid, joins Anita to discuss it. Named after pioneering racing driver Gwenda Stewart, Gwenda's Garage was a real place: where three female mechanics defied the odds by setting up their own garage in Sheffield in the 1980s. Their inspiring story is now a musical on stage in Sheffield which is based on these true events, of women fighting everyday sexism, homophobia and Section 28. Anita is joined by Roz Wollen, one of the co-founders of the original Gwenda's Garage and Val Regan, the production's composer and musical director.The FCA has called on banks and payment firms to bring in stricter controls protecting customers from romance fraud after a study showed a number of missed “red flags” that led to people losing huge sums of money to people creating fake online profiles. They found that women tended to sustain these relationships for longer which could mean a bigger scam. Anita speaks to Beth Harris, Head of Financial Crime at the Financial Conduct Authority to ask how we can be aware of these scams and avoid them, and what banks should be doing to assist.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

On Today's BEST OF The MJ Morning Show 28 Miracles at 35,000 Feet What Is Recession Hair Morons in the news MJ Morning Show Saving Your Relationship - Never Use This Phrase With Your Significant Other How Fester Got Free Food For A YEAR Receipt - Kitchen Appreciation w/calls MJ Checked in LIVE Celebrity Romance Scams Featuring Calls From Our Listeners Throning/Dating up Middle Of The Night Classified Ad Prank Calls What Are Women Attracted To In Men Concert Economics - How Much Do You Pay Per Song? What Do Employees Steal From Work Classic Crotchety - The Garage Door How Can You Tell That She's Just Not Into You

Do you love a true crime scam documentary? Our latest Happy Place Book Club read is for you! Iconic author Lisa Jewell has written Don't Let Him In, a thriller about a perfect man... who's a fraudulent liar.In this chat with Fearne, live from The Happy Place Festival, Lisa explains how she got into the mind of a psychopath despite being a very honest person herself. They explore how people fall for charming romance scammers, and how Lisa has become a relentlessly happy person.Plus, Lisa's written 24 novels but has given up on trying to be a ‘professional' kind of person – she explains how to sod the rules and build confidence in your own process.If you're new to Happy Place Book Club episodes, don't worry, there are no spoilers here! If you want to join the Book Club, we're on Instagram @happyplacebookclub, and Book Club episodes are released the first Friday of every month!Thank you to Penguin Audio for the use of Don't Let Him In audiobook, narrated by Richard Armitage, Joanna Froggatt, Louise Brealey, Gemma Whelan and Tamryn Payne.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Book Club Meets: Emily Henry Book Club Meets: Lorna Tucker Book Club Meets: Clare Leslie Hall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Kate dives into ROMCON, a true crime documentary that unravels the shocking story of Toronto real estate broker Heather Rovet and her whirlwind romance with “Jace”—a man she would later discover was Jason Porter, a convicted felon with a long trail of romantic fraud. What began as a dream relationship spiraled into a nightmare, as Heather uncovered a pattern of deception, lies, and manipulation affecting women across North America. Heather Rovet joins Kate to share her harrowing journey from victim to investigator, revealing how she risked everything to bring Jason Porter's crimes to light. Later, Kate is joined by Melissa and Mandy, co-hosts of the Moms & Murders podcast, to break down the red flags, the psychology of con artists, and why this case hits so hard in the age of digital dating. Reality Life with Kate Casey What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itskatecasey?lang=en Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/shop/katecasey Like it to Know It: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.