Most people think romance scams are just fake dating profiles and stolen photos. Erin West explains why many modern romance scams are much bigger than that.

In this Dating to Win interview, Matt Russo sits down with Erin West, one of the leading voices exposing romance scams, pig butchering, crypto fraud, scam compounds, and the global criminal networks behind fake relationships and fake investment platforms.

Erin spent more than two decades as a prosecutor before becoming a major public voice on pig butchering and transnational organized crime. In this conversation, we discuss how she got pulled into this world, the cases that shocked her, how scam organizations are structured, what happens inside Southeast Asian scam compounds, how people are trafficked and forced to scam others, how AI is changing online scams, and whether Congress and the Senate may take real action to protect victims.

This episode goes far beyond fake dating profiles. It exposes the organized crime, crypto fraud, money laundering, artificial intelligence, human trafficking, and billion-dollar scam networks behind modern romance fraud.

If you are dating online, using dating apps, talking to someone on social media, or being encouraged to invest in crypto, gold, trading, or passive income by someone you met online, this episode could protect you or someone you love

Subscribe to Dating to Win for real conversations about dating, relationships, romance scams, online safety, red flags, and rebuilding confidence.

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Dating over 50 can get complicated fast — especially when you have to ask: Is this love, or is someone after my assets?

In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo tries something different.

Since starting the romance scam series, Dating to Win has received more emails from viewers over 50 who are dealing with real dating issues later in life — including money concerns, adult children, loneliness, second chances, trust, financial red flags, and whether it is safe to open your heart again.

Today, Matt reads several viewer email questions, but he is not giving his advice yet.

You are.

Listen to each dating dilemma and then share what you would tell them.

Should they stay?

In a future episode, Matt will read some of the audience comments, share the best advice from viewers, and then give his own opinion on what each person should do

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Personality is everything in dating because looks may get attention, but personality creates chemistry, connection, comfort, and real attraction.

In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo talks about why personality matters so much when a woman is deciding whether she feels chemistry with you. Appearance matters. Dressing well, taking care of yourself, and making a good first impression all play a role. But looks are not the whole attraction factor.

A woman is also paying attention to how you make her feel, how you communicate, whether you listen, whether you are present, and whether she feels comfortable, wanted, safe, and connected around you.

This episode is for men who may be shy, not naturally funny, or not the best conversationalists. You do not need to become loud, fake, or someone you are not. You can improve your personality by becoming more confident, more emotionally steady, more curious, more thoughtful, and better at creating real conversation.

In this episode, Matt covers:

0:00 – Why personality is everything in dating

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In this episode of Dating to Win, Jennifer shares the powerful and disturbing story of how a romance scam destroyed her life.

What began as what she believed was a real online relationship slowly turned into emotional manipulation, financial devastation, and the loss of her home. But Jennifer’s story did not stop there.

According to Jennifer, the scammers later tried to use her to move money, bringing the situation into a much darker and more dangerous place. The FBI became involved, and when Jennifer began questioning what was happening, she says the scammers threatened her, her sister, and her nephew.

This episode is not about blaming victims. It is about understanding how romance scammers manipulate trust, loneliness, hope, and love — and how these criminal networks can pressure victims into situations they never imagined.

Jennifer also shares how she later educated herself through cyber training so she could better understand online scams, identify warning signs, and help others avoid becoming victims.

This conversation is a warning for anyone using dating apps, social media, online dating sites, or private messaging platforms where strangers can create fast emotional intimacy and then ask for money, secrecy, bank access, crypto, gift cards, or financial favors.

If someone you met online is asking you to send money, receive money, move money, open accounts, buy gift cards, send crypto, or keep the relationship secret, please stop and get help.

Romance scams are not just fake love stories. In some cases, they can become emotional abuse, financial exploitation, coercion, and criminal manipulation.

You have friends but still feel alone? Here’s why so many people feel lonely even when they are surrounded by people, texts, followers, dating apps, family, and social media.

We live in one of the most connected times in history, but emotionally, many people feel more disconnected than ever. You can have friends, family, coworkers, followers, dating app matches, and people texting you — and still feel like nobody really knows what is going on inside of you.

In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo talks about why having people around you does not always mean you feel truly connected. This is not just about being physically alone. It is about emotional loneliness, shallow conversations, social media attention, dating app burnout, fear of rejection, guarded hearts, and the struggle to find real connection in today’s world.

Loneliness is not always the absence of people. Sometimes it is the absence of being understood.

If you have ever felt alone in a relationship, alone while dating, alone in a crowd, or emotionally disconnected from the people around you, this episode may hit home.

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loneliness, feeling alone, friends but still feel alone, emotional loneliness, modern dating, relationship advice, dating advice, social media loneliness, emotional disconnection, real connection, emotional availability, dating burnout, self worth, Dating to Win, Matt Russo

Before you give up on your marriage, ask yourself one honest question: is it really dead, or is it just stuck?

In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo talks about how some marriages may not be completely over — they may simply be buried under pride, resentment, stress, routine, emotional distance, and years of conversations that should have happened a long time ago.

This is not a therapist-style checklist. This is a real-life conversation about what happens when two people who once loved each other start feeling more like roommates than husband and wife.

Matt discusses why date nights alone do not fix resentment, why pride can destroy what love could still save, why divorce is not always the clean escape people imagine, and why couples sometimes need to slow down and ask: did we really try?

If you are in a stagnant marriage, feeling emotionally disconnected, or wondering whether your relationship is dead or just stuck, this episode may give you something important to think about before walking away.

Topics covered in this episode:

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Dating scammers are not just asking for money — they are building emotional access first.

In this powerful Dating to Win interview, romance scam survivor and advocate Beth Hyland shares her story and explains how online dating scammers target victims, build fake trust, use emotional manipulation, and pressure people into sending money before they realize the relationship was never real.

Beth explains why romance scam victims should not be blamed, how scammers use love bombing, urgency, guilt, fear, and psychological conditioning, and why intelligent, caring people can still get trapped in fake online relationships.

This episode also covers online dating scams, romance scams, dating app scams, pig butchering scams, Yahoo Boys, victim blaming, scam reporting, emotional manipulation, and romance scam red flags.

If you or someone you love is questioning an online relationship, this conversation may help you recognize the warning signs before more damage is done.

In this episode, we discuss:

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Tired of your situationship and not getting clarity?

In this episode of Dating to Win, we break down the 5 signs you're stuck in a situationship, why they won’t commit, and what you need to do to finally break free.

If you’ve ever asked yourself:

This episode will give you the answer you’ve been avoiding.

👉 Watch the full video version here: https://youtu.be/mxbsp2DdqV8

Dating in 2026 is broken — and these real questions reveal exactly why modern relationships feel confusing, inconsistent, and frustrating.

If you’ve been dealing with ghosting, situationships, emotional unavailability, or mixed signals, you’re not alone. In this episode of Dating to Win, we break down real questions from young adults across the country and give honest, direct answers about what’s really happening in dating today.

Modern dating isn’t failing because people don’t want love…

🎯 WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE

https://youtu.be/JM8NG3rCfas

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I lost half a million dollars to an online dating scam… and it started with a simple connection on Tinder.

In this episode of Dating to Win, I sit down with Sue, who shares her real story of being targeted, manipulated, and financially devastated by a romance scam that began on a dating app.

This is not just a story about money — it’s about emotional manipulation, trust, and how scammers build relationships that feel completely real.

In this interview, Sue explains:

Romance scams and online dating scams are one of the fastest-growing threats in modern dating, especially for people over 50.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans have lost over $1.1 billion to romance scams in a single year — and most cases go unreported.

If you or someone you know is using dating apps, this episode could prevent a life-changing mistake.

💬 This is not about intelligence — it’s about emotional manipulation.

📩 Contact / Coaching:

If you or someone you know has been affected by a dating scam and would like to share your story, reach out confidentially.

🔗 Resources for Romance Scams

If you believe you or someone you know may be dealing with a romance scam, these resources can help with reporting, recovery, and support:

🛑 Report a Scam:

📚 Education & Awareness:

🎥 Support & Recovery:

🧠 Additional Resources: Understanding & Recovery

• Psychology Today – “I Love You, Now Pay”:  

• The Role of Grooming in Online Scams:  

• The Power Behind Saying No Online:  

• Activities to Help After a Scam:  

• Coping with Stress & Tough Times:  

🚨 Immediate Support (Mental Health & Crisis)

If you feel your life is in danger, please call 911.

If you are experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of self-harm, support is available 24/7:

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org  

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If this episode impacted you, please share it with someone who may need to hear it.

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