The Story Best of 2025: Romance fraud: the cost of loving
Dec 29, 2025
Join scams expert Alexis Conran and actress Mary Chater as they delve into the murky waters of romance fraud. Conran explains how scammers exploit trust and emotions through carefully crafted scripts. He reveals the organized nature of these scams and the methods used to isolate victims. Chater shares her personal journey, detailing the emotional grooming that led her to trust a scammer. They provide practical tips on spotting red flags to protect loved ones. Discover the psychological tactics that make romance fraud so devastating!
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Emotion Is The Real Target
- Romance scams exploit deep emotional trust rather than simple transactions.
- Alexis Conran says scammers weaponise private intimacy to extract large sums.
Scams Operate Like Call Centres
- Scams start on any digital platform and can be highly professional operations.
- Conran explains many are run from organised scam compounds resembling call centres.
Take Conversations Off Apps Carefully
- Remove conversations from dating apps quickly to avoid monitoring or flagging.
- Challenge isolation tactics and involve friends or family early to counter manipulation.