In this first half of a two-part conversation, Harry sits down with Javier, host of the acclaimed PRETEND true crime podcast, to dissect the decades-long romance scam at the center of The Rachel Cancer Scam. Javier binge-listens to ten episodes in one sitting and comes in hot with the question nobody has asked Harry directly: “Are you still in love with the woman you’re calling a con artist?”

What follows is a raw, investigative breakdown of Rachel – a woman who went from beauty pageants and escort work to becoming a high-level scammer capable of running multiple cons at once:

fake cancer, fake domestic violence, fake suicide attempts, fake friends, fake careers as a lawyer, trauma nurse, and helicopter pilot, and a trail of devastated partners, coworkers, and children.

Harry pulls back the curtain on:

• How “Harry Loves Rachel” began as 80 recorded love letters during her supposed cancer battle – 26 hours of audio that became the emotional backbone of this podcast.
• How a “tough guy” with tattoos, a Harley, and a pit bull got emotionally dismantled by a woman who knew exactly what to say: “It was always you for me. You are the greatest gift of my life.”
• The origin story: meeting Rachel in 2001 through an escort service, crossing the line into a “real” relationship, and the early signs she was already learning to weaponize charm, beauty, and pageant training.
• The 20-plus year saga: marriages, affairs, dormant periods, and the perfect storm in 2021 when she re-enters Harry’s life with a manufactured résumé and an even more dangerous set of lies.
• The setup for the ultimate con: the proposal, the “I’m pregnant and I have cancer” revelation two days later, and how Rachel used fake beatings, fake hospitalizations, and a fabricated “friend” named Laura to keep Harry hooked through sympathy and terror.

Javier and Harry talk like two investigators comparing notes – timelines, receipts, phone records, skip traces. Javier pushes for proof. Harry brings text messages, calls, screenshots, and years of documentation that show Rachel isn’t just a liar… she’s operating at the level of a female Frank Abagnale, running simultaneous scams for attention, control, and status, not just money.

This episode is more than a wild true crime story. It’s a cautionary tale about romance scams, narcissistic abuse, and how even the most self-aware, “street-smart” person can be out-skilled by someone whose entire personality is built around deception.

👉 Watch the video version of this interview on YouTube:

youtube.com/@TheRachelCancerScam

🎧 Listen to Javier’s edited version of this interview on the PRETEND podcast and give him a follow wherever you get your true crime podcasts.

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