Scammer Stories
73 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 82 ratingsScammers are targeting you and your loved ones. I know all too well. My mother spent $350,000 on a man she believed was her soulmate right before her death. The only way we can fight back is to arm ourselves with information. Scammer Warriors unite! These stories are from victims and their families. The details are so shocking that they're hard to believe.
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Episodes
Scammer uses fake $8 million savings account to lure in victim
March 13, 2024 20:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBThis 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...
Romance scams wreak havoc on families
February 22, 2024 01:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBA 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 show Support the show
Financial accountants are joining the fight against romance scams
January 17, 2024 02:00 - 25 minutes - 17.3 MBThe 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. Click HERE to donate $1 a month to help continue to spread the message. Or click t...
Woman executive on Wall Street takes her romance scammer to court
November 28, 2023 00:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBDonna 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.distinguishe...
Psychology behind romance scam victim shaming
September 26, 2023 00:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBTherapist 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. Click HERE to donate $1 per mon...
I paid my romance scam victim mother to talk right before her death
August 12, 2023 19:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBAs 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. Click HERE to spend $1 per month to help keep the podcast going to spread the message...
Banker answers burning questions that we all have in the romance scam world
July 20, 2023 01:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBFINALLY! 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. Support the show
Son of a therapist takes care of his dying mother after discovering she was taken for nearly $1 million in a romance scam
May 14, 2023 23:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBRory 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. Click HERE to spend $1 a month to help keep the sho...
PART TWO: Jeff takes his romance scam victim mother to court
April 10, 2023 00:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBJeff 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. Support the show
PART ONE: Dedicated son does everything in his power to stop his mother’s romance scam
March 19, 2023 23:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBJeff’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. Support the show
"Real man" suspected of scamming multiple women in California
February 18, 2023 01:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBThe 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 one time donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Family gets a financial conservatorship for romance scam victim
February 01, 2023 00:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBEver 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. Support the show
There's a new type of scam that even confuses me
January 07, 2023 03:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBAccording 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 ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podc...
Woman victimized in romance scam carried out by dangerous mafia group
October 16, 2022 20:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBA 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 Garren ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Have a story to share? Contact April at scammerstoriesp...
Daughter outlines long list of steps she took to try and stop her mother’s romance scam
August 25, 2022 03:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB“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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. If you have a story to share, or have questions, email me at scam...
Daughter outlines long list of steps she took to try and stop her mother’s romance scam
August 25, 2022 03:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB“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 [email protected]
Journalist outlines long list of steps she took to try and stop her mother’s romance scam
August 25, 2022 03:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB“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 [email protected]
Man Turned Dating and Scam Expert talks Do's and Don'ts
July 07, 2022 01:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBDaniel 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 Please click HERE to check out my favorite bra and co...
Man turned dating and scam expert talks do's and don'ts
July 07, 2022 01:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBDaniel 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 ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this po...
Man turned dating and scam expert talks do's and don'ts
July 07, 2022 01:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBDaniel 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 Please click HERE to check out my favorite bra and co...
Scam victim’s daughter confronts the scumbag in an epic phone call
May 13, 2022 00:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBKaitlyn’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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
New kind of scam infecting love search online
March 23, 2022 03:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBNothing 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.
Puppy scam hits hard for people looking for new furry friend
March 23, 2022 03:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBNothing 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Romance scam therapist lays out steps to recover for victims and families
February 28, 2022 00:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBFinding 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...
Romance scam victim takes the bold move of publishing her embarrassing story to help others
January 18, 2022 01:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBDorothy 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! ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. ...
Romance scam victim describes trying to overcome the addiction
December 20, 2021 03:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBChloe 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Family of romance scam victim holds an intervention
October 27, 2021 01:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBFamily 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Single man survives a romance scam that started as an online game
August 19, 2021 01:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBLike 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Romance scam victim sends a scumbag TO PRISON!
May 28, 2021 03:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBA 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
FIGHTING BACK: One scam victim hires a detective to track down a scumbag, another plans a documentary
April 21, 2021 01:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBEvery 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 [email protected]. If you'd like to reach me, email [email protected]. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Su...
Mother lives to tell about her daughter's kidnapping scam
February 25, 2021 00:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBThe daughter was supposed to be safe at school when the mother got the phone call that sent her into a tailspin. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Romance scam money mules face jail time as FBI closes in on the crime
December 29, 2020 02:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBThe 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
FBI veteran reveals details on the biggest money making scam of all time, odds are you're a target
November 24, 2020 02:00 - 38 minutes - 26.1 MBHave 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Military veteran shares bleak social media vision after scumbags use his photo for romance scams
October 02, 2020 01:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBThis 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 ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support th...
Clinical geropsychologists discusses his research on brain function in elderly scam victims
September 06, 2020 23:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBDr. 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 [email protected] ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. ...
Romance victim's daughter goes to great lengths to stop the cycle
July 31, 2020 00:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBI 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
FBI veteran reveals how to avoid ATM and gas pump scammers
June 16, 2020 01:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBRetired 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Scam fighter shares what she's learned over the last decade
May 28, 2020 00:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MBOne 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/ ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensi...
The "Original Internet Godfather" describes his life of crime and how he turned it all around
April 24, 2020 01:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBBrett 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter Support the show
Scam victim escapes from man arrested for forcing women to have sex
March 29, 2020 01:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBAlex 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
My mother the romance scammer money mule reveals secrets before her death
March 14, 2020 03:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBMy mom spent the last days of her life sending money to her romance scammer. I even found out later that she was moving money around for the scumbags. She never met him in person, but he promised a life full of love and wealth. She turned into a woman I didn’t recognize. My mother even skipped Thanksgiving and Christmas with me and my brother for years because her scammer promised to come be with her. I didn’t know then what I know now. Romance scams are an addiction… just like a drug addict...
Romance scam survivor recovers after losing more than $1 Million
January 25, 2020 02:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBDebbie 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. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
SCAM ALERT: A female doctor is duped by a suspected immigration scammer
January 08, 2020 02:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBA Canadian doctor gets stuck in the Middle East after moving her family there to take care of a sick loved one. She thought she found the right person to help her family return. She ended up without enough money to do anything with thoughts of suicide. Fortunately, she found the right woman for the job and it didn't cost anything. This episode sponsored by Best Fiends. Have a story to share? Email Scammer Stories at [email protected] ***Please consider a onetime donation to kee...
Three different types of scams take aim at innocent victims
December 27, 2019 02:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBScammers are getting better at their job. No one is immune. In this episode, we delve into three different lives to see how scammers can get their hooks into anyone. Felicia fell victim to a rich woman at a glamorous hotel. Greg lost his home in a mortgage scam. And an Army veteran, from New York, deals with scammers stealing his pictures and trying to steal his life. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://p...
SCAM ALERT: Julie started helping victims in all types of scams after she was the victim of a product scam years ago.
December 02, 2019 01:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBJulie started Scam Alert, which now hows 14,000 followers. There isn't a scam she won't fight. She's helped men and woman all over the world and has big plans to help future victims.
SCAM ALERT: Julie started helping victims in all types of scams after she was the victim of a product scam years ago.
December 02, 2019 01:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBJulie started Scam Alert, which now hows 14,000 followers. There isn't a scam she won't fight. She's helped men and woman all over the world and has big plans to help future victims. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Woman gives up home before figuring out she was the victim of a scam
November 17, 2019 03:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBChris is starting over after falling victim to a romance scammer from Nigeria. Her story has a twist that we haven't heard before on Scammer Stories. She was on the way home from work when she got a message that would send her world into a spiral. If you have a story you want to share, email [email protected]. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Nigerian scammer reveals why he admitted the con to his victim
November 07, 2019 00:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBA Nigerian scammer (we'll call Ray) says he actually fell in love with his American victim. Ray called her one day and said, "I have something to tell you. Promise you won't be mad." He laid it all out there.. his real picture and everything, hoping to win her love. If you have been scammed, you can email me at [email protected]. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Supp...
Scam victim contemplates suicide and explains why victims lie to family members
October 27, 2019 23:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBDiane survived brutal beatings from her first husband that landed her in the hospital. She says that was nothing compared to the emotional pain she felt after being scammed by a man she was in love with online. Email me at [email protected]. Listen to the first episode of Fool Me Twice. ***Please consider a onetime donation to keep this podcast going. It's just me and it's expensive. Send donations https://paypal.me/Scamfighter. Support the show
Love scam victim survives an assault after a trip to another country to meet a man
October 12, 2019 02:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBJules Hannaford was a single mother, who moved to Hong Kong for work, and had a tough time finding love there. Jules thought she met the love of her life online. She packed a back and headed to the U.K. to meet the man of her dreams. The trip quickly turned into a nightmare. Since then, she wrote a book called Fool Me Twice and started a podcast to help inform other women before they fall victim to scumbags online. Here's the link to her book. You can also find her podcast Fool Me Twice on ...