The Greeting Card That Unmasked a Double Life

Imagine finding a cryptic greeting card in a zip-lock bag, its eight words hinting at a double life and a shocking deception. This discovery on a lake's edge would unravel a romance scam that quietly accumulated $71,000 in losses. What hidden truths can a single card reveal about a meticulously crafted fraud?

In this episode, we delve into the story of Nicole Vogel, a precise bookkeeper from Millhaven, and her online relationship with "Vicki Callahan," a structural engineer supposedly working in Scotland. We uncover how a seemingly genuine connection, built on detailed messages and video calls, masked a sophisticated romantic scam operating much closer to home.

Person: Nicole Vogel
Location: Millhaven, Harmon County
Date: June 2019
Amount Lost: $71,000
Online Platform: ConnectTrue

- Paula Hunt found a greeting card sealed in a gallon zip-lock bag in a willow branch on Lake Carver.
- The card contained eight words: "All the transfers were real. Vicki was not."
- Nicole Vogel, a 48-year-old bookkeeper, used a paper ledger for her household expenses.
- "Vicki Callahan" claimed to be a structural engineer working a contract in Aberdeen, Scotland.
- The photographs used in "Vicki Callahan's" profile belonged to Christine Novak, a structural engineer from Portland, Oregon.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].

The Garden of Lies: How a Widow's Heart Was Plotted

Uncover the chilling truth behind a meticulously planned romance scam that began with a laugh and ended with a widow's heart plotted for inheritance. How did a borrowed dog and a stolen identity lead to a man's entire estate being rewritten?

In this episode, we delve into the methodical deception that targeted Harold Aldgate, a precise machinist whose life was upended by a woman named Debra Donnelly. Discover how a seemingly innocent encounter escalated into a calculated financial manipulation, leaving his daughter and a veterans' organization disinherited.

Person: Harold Aldgate
Location: Cutter Mill Road, Harmon County
Date: May 2019 (discovery of new garden)
Amount stolen: $61,000
Total estate value: $340,000 plus house

- Harold Aldgate was 78 years old when he died, approximately six weeks before the new garden was discovered.
- His will, last updated in 2013, divided his estate between his daughter Nancy Aldgate-Pruitt and a local veterans' organization.
- Debra Donnelly, 32, worked at Brightpath Services in an administrative role for four years.
- Between September 2018 and February 2019, $61,000 was transferred from Harold's accounts to Debra's.
- Harold's new will, signed in September 2018, directed 80% of his liquid assets and his house to Debra Donnelly.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].

The Watch on the Porch: He Left It For Her

Imagine finding a blood-stained watch, deliberately placed on your porch, engraved with a cryptic message. This wasn't a random act; it was a calculated move in a romantic scam that had already cost one woman $61,000. What dark secret did this watch reveal about the man she thought she knew?

In this episode, we uncover the chilling details of a romance scam that began with a calming voice and ended with a shocking discovery. Learn how a seemingly ordinary woman, Cynthia Harris, was drawn into a web of deceit by a man named Wade Bauer, and how a single framed photograph exposed the true identity of her tormentor.

Person: Cynthia Harris
Date: April 2019
Location: Aldermoor, Ohio
Amount: $61,000
Item: Seiko dress watch

- Judith Barnes found a blood-stained Seiko dress watch on Cynthia Harris's back porch on a Tuesday morning in April 2019.
- The watch's caseback was engraved with "W.R.B. - Thirty Years of Service - Crestline Mutual."
- Cynthia Harris, a 52-year-old billing coordinator, sent $61,000 to Wade Bauer over fourteen months.
- She first matched with Wade Bauer on ConnectLink in the third week of February 2018.
- Detective Patricia Sawyer found a stack of wire transfer receipts for $61,000 and a framed photograph of a man who was not Wade Bauer on Cynthia's kitchen counter.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].

He Proposed With Six Rings. Only Two Are Missing

Imagine finding a ring in the mud, twelve feet from the waterline, with no footprints nearby. This discovery by Eugene Weber, a man who walked the Aldermoor Reservoir every Tuesday for eleven years, was just the beginning of a romance scam investigation that would uncover a web of deceit. How did a single ring lead detectives to a man who proposed with six?

In this episode, we delve into the intricate details of a romance scam that targeted Angela Reed, a licensed occupational therapist, and Susan Polk, a trained accountant. We explore how a con artist, Glenn Tate, used stolen identities and carefully constructed narratives to manipulate his victims, and how a detective pieced together the clues, starting with a single ring.

Person: Eugene Weber
Location: Aldermoor Reservoir, Harwick County
Date: Mid-March
Victim 1: Angela Reed
Victim 2: Susan Polk

- Eugene Weber found a ring in a shallow depression in the mud, twelve feet from the waterline.
- Angela Reed, 44, was an occupational therapist at the county rehabilitation center.
- Glenn Tate, 51, claimed to be a structural engineer with contracts in West Africa and the Gulf states.
- Susan Polk, 50, an accountant, sent $3,000 to an account in Accra.
- Robert Stine, a real structural engineer from Chattanooga, had his identity stolen for the scam.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].

The Dry Scarf: He Stole Her Trust, Then Her Home

Imagine finding a dry red wool scarf on a snowy porch, untouched by six hours of snowfall. This bizarre detail was the first clue in a romance scam that reached across two states and into the life of a trusting widow. What secret did the dry scarf reveal about a man who called himself Captain Aaron Merritt?

In this episode, we uncover the story of Shannon Berry, a 28-year-old licensed practical nurse from Dellhart, Indiana, who sought companionship on a faith-based dating platform after the unexpected death of her husband. We explore how a man posing as a trustworthy civil engineer overseas meticulously built a relationship with her, ultimately leading to a devastating betrayal.

Person: Shannon Berry
Date: February 11, 2019
Location: Dellhart, Indiana
Platform: Steadfast Hearts
Total Scammed: $1,200

- Diane Stroud, 14, discovered a dry red wool scarf on a snowy porch with 1.5 inches of snow on the ground.
- Shannon Berry, a 28-year-old widow, moved to Dellhart, Indiana, from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, in spring 2017.
- She volunteered at the Kellner Avenue food bank for 22 months, never missing a Tuesday.
- Shannon joined Steadfast Hearts, a faith-based dating platform, in October 2018.
- The scammer, posing as Captain Aaron Merritt, requested $400 for his daughter's school fees and later $800 for unit equipment.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].

The Forty-One Letters and the One That Vanished

Imagine finding 41 handwritten letters, never mailed, addressed to a man who didn't exist, sitting in a snowdrift. This chilling discovery on a Minnesota road reveals a romance scam that cost a methodical structural engineer $63,400 and left him in a cardiac unit with no emergency contacts. What secrets did these letters hold, and who was watching Ross Hicks's life unravel?

In this episode, we delve into the meticulous life of Ross Hicks, a man of precise calculations who fell victim to a sophisticated romance scam. We explore the carefully constructed deception that led him to transfer tens of thousands of dollars to a non-existent structural engineer named Ronald Kowalski, and the subtle signs that a neighbor observed.

Person: Ross Hicks, Ronald Kowalski (non-existent), Amanda Rafferty, Joyce Patton, Linda Osborne, Brian Fetchko, Patricia, Megan
Date: January 14, 2019 (letters found), March 2017 (Ross joined SilverBridge), September 2017 (money began moving)
Location: Briar Siding Road, Dellwood, Minnesota; North Sea offshore platform; Donahue's Family Restaurant; Northland Federal Credit Union
Amount: $63,400
Duration: 16 months (money transfers), 11 years (Ross's divorce)

- Forty-one handwritten letters, never mailed, were found in a cardboard box on January 14, 2019.
- Ross Hicks, 54, transferred $63,400 over 16 months to a non-existent structural engineer.
- Ronald Kowalski's profile photo was stolen from Brian Fetchko, a real structural engineer in Akron, Ohio.
- Ross joined SilverBridge Connections in March 2017 at age 52.
- The first money transfer was $800, framed as an equipment issue on the offshore platform.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].

The AI Voice That Stole Her Savings and Her Trust

Imagine the chilling discovery of a phone propped on a utility pole, playing French verb conjugations for 14 hours and 31 minutes to no one. This wasn't just a strange occurrence; it was the aftermath of a sophisticated AI voice scam that drained a 22-year-old linguist's savings. How could a woman trained to understand the nuances of language be so completely deceived by a machine?

In this episode, we delve into the story of Michelle Harris, a recent graduate with a degree in French and linguistics, who lost $5,800 to an AI voice she believed was a human connection. We follow the trail from Beverly Sharp's discovery to the dedicated efforts of a fraud analyst and a detective, uncovering how a small Wisconsin community rallied to help.

Person: Michelle Harris
Age: 22
Location: Weston Falls, Wisconsin
Amount Lost: $5,800
Date: December 2023

- Beverly Sharp found a phone playing French verb conjugations for 14 hours and 31 minutes on a utility pole.
- Michelle Harris, a linguist, transferred $5,800 of her savings to an AI voice.
- Michelle graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in French and a minor in linguistics.
- She had 14 tutoring students and charged $35 an hour, saving carefully.
- The scam began in late September 2023, with a contact request from "Keith Dixon" for French conversation practice.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].

The Veteran, The Dog, And The Lie He Never Saw

Imagine finding a photograph left for someone named Mark, with a message from "Rob" - a person who doesn't exist. This chilling detail unravels a federal case involving a veteran, $11,000, and a meticulously crafted romantic scam. How did a man who did everything right fall victim to such a precise deception?

In this episode, we delve into the story of Mark Wells, a veteran from Dellmore, Indiana, who found stability after two tours in Iraq, only to be targeted by a sophisticated online fraud. We explore the psychological tactics used to build a false intimacy and the gradual financial exploitation that followed.

Person: Mark Wells
Location: Dellmore, Indiana
Amount: $11,000
Case Status: Federal case
Period: March 2017 - October 2018

- Eugene Brown found a silver-framed photograph on November 9, 2019, in Keswick Park.
- Mark Wells was 38 years old and served two tours with the Army Engineer Corps in Iraq.
- He joined the Veterans in Recovery Facebook group in March 2017, suggested by his therapist Linda Pratt.
- Mark sent $300 to a bank account in Georgia in October 2017, the first of many transfers.
- The largest single transfer was $2,200 for a claimed truck breakdown, wired on a Thursday.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].

The Curator Who Couldn't Authenticate Her Own Love Story

Imagine dedicating your life to spotting fakes, only to fall victim to a deception that costs you everything. A senior collections curator, renowned for her ability to authenticate priceless artifacts, found a single pressed carnation and a cryptic date that would unravel a sophisticated romantic scam. How could a woman trained to detect forgeries miss the signs in her own life?

In this episode, we delve into the story of Sandra Ward, a 62-year-old museum curator in Bellstone, Ohio, who lost $71,000 to a man who never truly existed. We explore the meticulous methods of a professional scammer and the subtle details that convinced an expert in authenticity that she had found a genuine connection.

Person: Sandra Ward
Age: 62
Location: Bellstone, Ohio
Amount Lost: $71,000
Profession: Senior Collections Curator

- Pamela Allen found a pressed carnation and a paper with "August fourteenth" written on it behind an empty house on Crestline Drive.
- Sandra Ward was the senior collections curator at the Harwick Regional Museum of Art and Cultural History for 31 years.
- She inherited $214,000 in a money market account after her mother's death.
- A man posing as a restoration supply contractor, with a temporary vendor badge, had six weeks of legitimate building access to the museum.
- The scammer used the stolen identity of Martin Fosse, a retired civil engineer from Asheville, North Carolina.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].

The Gardener, The Trucker, and The Open Portal

Imagine the chilling realization when a seemingly perfect connection is revealed to be a meticulously crafted deception, designed to exploit your deepest desires. What if the person who understood you best was actually a predator, harvesting your life details from an open portal?

In this episode, we delve into the unsettling story of Jason Griffin, a steady and careful man whose life was meticulously profiled and targeted through a regional dating platform. We explore how a seemingly innocent detail-a money order with an extra twenty dollars-became a crucial part of a sophisticated romantic scam.

Person: Jason Griffin, Kent Miller, Dennis Wallace (alias)
Date: September 19, 2018
Location: Hardin County, Ohio
Status: Ongoing deception
Topic: Romantic scam

- Kent Miller, a volunteer mail driver, discovered an unsealed envelope containing a money order in Jason Griffin's mailbox.
- Jason Griffin, 26, had built a savings account of approximately nine thousand dollars by June 2018.
- The scammer, operating under the alias Dennis Wallace, claimed to be a 34-year-old long-haul trucker from Findlay, Ohio.
- Dennis Wallace's profile mentioned a 9-year-old daughter, Brianna, with a rare clotting disorder requiring biweekly infusion payments.
- The scammer obtained Jason's profile details through an unencrypted administrative portal of the Heartland Match dating platform.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].