The UN Beret and the $203,000 Ghost

Imagine finding a silver picture frame on a frozen fence post, containing a man in a UN beret, with a chilling message on the back: "January 4th - the day he said he'd be home." January 4th had passed three weeks prior, and no one had returned. This isn't a crime scene, but a story of a quiet, methodical romantic scam that cost one man $203,000. How did a seemingly competent and isolated individual fall victim to such an elaborate deception?

In this episode, we explore the story of Eric Cole, a 31-year-old farmer who inherited his family's land and cattle, and the calculated targeting that led to his financial ruin. We delve into the subtle vulnerabilities exploited by a scammer who built a detailed map of Eric's life, leading to a series of requests that began with small favors and escalated into a devastating loss.

Person: Eric Cole
Loss: $203,000
Location: Hartwell County
Date: January 2019 (discovery)
Topic: Romantic scam

- Jessica Farrell discovered a silver picture frame on a fence post on the third Tuesday of January 2019.
- The message on the back of the frame read: "January 4th - the day he said he'd be home."
- Eric Cole lost $203,000 to someone he never met or saw over six months.
- Eric inherited 112 acres and 60 head of cattle after his parents' deaths.
- The first request from the scammer was for $41, then $412, for shipping costs on an undelivered package.

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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 Chess Game That Stole Everything You Had

A 53-year-old algebra teacher wired $16,000 to a man he'd never met, leaving a note that read "For Glenn - you already won." This was the culmination of a meticulously crafted romantic scam, built over five weeks of daily chess games. How did a genuinely careful person fall victim to such a sophisticated fraud?

In this episode, we uncover the elaborate architecture of a scam designed to exploit one man's habits and longings. Discover how a seemingly innocent chess challenge evolved into a series of urgent financial requests, each calibrated to feel real and different from the last.

Person: Wayne Fitzgerald
Age: 53
Location: Harwick, Minnesota
Amount Wired: $16,000
Date: December 7, 2019

- Wayne Fitzgerald was an algebra teacher at Lakewood Preparatory in Harwick, Minnesota.
- He lived alone in a two-story craftsman on Birchwood Lane.
- He visited his 79-year-old mother, Vivian, every Thursday.
- He wired $11,000 in early November and $14,000 three weeks later before the final $16,000.
- The scam involved five weeks of daily chess contact before the first financial request.

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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 Dog, The Laptop, and The Love Scam

Imagine a beagle mix named Pepper, refusing to budge on a Tuesday morning in November 2014, only to lead his owner to a silver laptop in a drainage ditch, still powered on and displaying a Facebook group called Survivors Walk Together. This isn't just a strange discovery; it's the opening scene of a chilling romance scam that targeted vulnerable individuals. How did a dog's discovery expose a predator preying on cancer survivors?

In this episode, we uncover the story of Cheryl Vogel, a 44-year-old cancer survivor who, after beating stage three breast cancer and a painful divorce, found herself entangled in a sophisticated online deception. We explore how a seemingly innocent support group became a hunting ground for a scammer, and how one piece of evidence, found by chance, connected everything.

Date: November 2014
Location: Harwick, Indiana
Person: Cheryl Vogel
Object: Silver laptop
Group: Survivors Walk Together

- A beagle mix named Pepper found an 11-inch silver laptop in a drainage ditch off County Road 18.
- The laptop battery read 14 percent and displayed a Facebook group for cancer survivors.
- The hard drive had been partially wiped, but forensic technicians recovered a map.
- The map led from a budget motel on Route 9 to the home of Cheryl Vogel.
- Cheryl Vogel was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in spring 2013 and joined the Facebook group in January 2014.

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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 Shoebox, The River, And His Unsent Letters

Imagine discovering a shoebox on a log in a river, perfectly dry, containing 112 handwritten letters that reveal not love, but a meticulously crafted blueprint for a romantic scam. What hidden truths about trust and deception could such a discovery expose?

In this episode, we delve into the story of Kent Vogel, a 28-year-old receiving clerk whose reliability was weaponized against him in a sophisticated fraud. We explore the three inexplicable elements of this case-the shoebox, a rented room with unsent letters, and a mysterious rubber stamp-that ultimately connect to reveal a chilling narrative of manipulation.

Person: Kent Vogel
Location: Goreville, Illinois
Date: October 2022
Object: Shoebox with 112 letters
Duration: Two and a half years

- Duane Casey found the shoebox on a log eight feet off the bank in the Tanner River.
- The shoebox contained 112 handwritten letters, neatly bundled and bound with a rubber band.
- Kent Vogel, a 28-year-old receiving clerk, lived alone at Forty-four Harwick Lane.
- Kent volunteered at the Hardin County Food Pantry every Tuesday evening for 34 months without missing a shift.
- The letters began in February 2020, sent through the legitimate nonprofit Correspond Across Borders.

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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 Badge in the Rosebush: He Was Inside

Imagine finding a laminated badge for a man you've never met, wedged in your rosebush, and realizing it's the first clue in a calculated romantic scam. This seemingly ordinary discovery on Dunmore Lane in Harwick, Ohio, would unravel a system of deception far more intricate than a simple fraud. What was this badge doing there, and who was Gregory Schmidt?

In this episode, we delve into the story of Shannon Gardner, a retired schoolteacher who, at 54, was open to something new when she matched with an architect named Gregory online. We explore the meticulous methodology of a man who preyed on vulnerabilities, and how a single mistake-a badge in a rosebush-exposed a network of victims.

Person: Shannon Gardner
Location: Harwick, Ohio
Date: Spring 2019
Status: Victim of romantic fraud
Object: Laminated badge

- The badge was for Gregory Schmidt, A.I.A., with the seal of the Harwick Planning Office.
- Shannon Gardner retired in spring 2018 after 27 years teaching sixth graders at Harwick Planning School.
- She gave Gregory her address on Dunmore Lane in July, and transferred $4,000 to him in August.
- Gregory claimed to be deaf due to bacterial meningitis in his thirties, communicating only by text and relay services.
- Another victim, Debra Winslow, a retired librarian from Dayton, had already sent $11,000 to the same account.

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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 That Unlocked Her Invisible Stalker

Imagine finding a watch still ticking beside a septic riser, its second hand sweeping in perfect arcs, as if just set down. This discovery at 14 Briar Hollow Lane in August 2019 would unravel months of an invisible, methodical romantic scam targeting 22-year-old Dawn Mitchell. What hidden dangers lurked in her seemingly ordinary life?

In this episode, we delve into the elaborate romantic scam that ensnared Dawn Mitchell, a careful and independent woman. We explore how a meticulously crafted online persona, built from a real geologist's life, slowly infiltrated her world, leading to a series of financial requests that seemed legitimate. How did a simple watch expose the man who knew her schedule, her route, and her face, yet whom she had never met?

Person: Dawn Mitchell
Date: August 2019
Location: 14 Briar Hollow Lane, Eastern Tennessee
Status: Romantic scam
Amount: $6,400

- Erin Novak found a steel-cased watch with a dark green dial and unscratched crystal, still running, at 14 Briar Hollow Lane.
- Dawn Mitchell, 22, moved to Briar Hollow in November 2018, working 25 hours a week at a farm supply co-op and studying accounting.
- In February 2019, a fake profile named "Charles Lewis," a geologist, messaged Dawn on her fitness tracking app.
- "Charles" made an initial request for $400 in April, which he repaid with a small extra, a move investigators called the "most important transaction."
- By June, Dawn had transferred $6,400 to "Charles" across four transactions, none of which were repaid after the initial $400.

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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 Wallet, The Dog, and Her Brother's Ghost

Imagine finding a wallet standing upright with $340 cash, a library card, and a photo, but no ID or credit cards. This mysterious discovery quickly links to a missing woman, Melissa Hall, and a man three states away who, by all accounts, had never met her. How did her photograph end up in his pocket, and what role did her grief play in this unsettling connection?

In this episode, we delve into the disappearance of Melissa Hall, a 38-year-old billing coordinator whose quiet life revolved around her home and her golden retriever, Biscuit. We explore the events leading up to her vanishing, including a profound personal loss and her subsequent engagement with an online grief-support community, which ultimately connected her to a man who had been watching her.

Person: Melissa Hall
Date: July 2019
Location: Pelham Reservoir
Status: Missing
Event: Discovery of wallet

- Earl Wilson found a wallet with $340 cash and Melissa Hall's library card on a concrete boat ramp.
- Melissa Hall was 38 years old and lived in Dunmore Township for eleven years.
- Her golden retriever, Biscuit, was seven years old and had a bad left hip.
- Melissa's younger brother, Paul, died at 33 from a sudden cardiac event in November 2017.
- She joined an online grief-support community called Tether in March 2018.

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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 Padlock, The Photo, and The Missing Man

Imagine finding your neighbor's front door secured with a storage unit padlock, a framed photograph on the welcome mat, and the resident, a pipefitter named Curtis Richardson, vanished without a trace. This unsettling scene in Denton, Ohio, marked the beginning of a baffling disappearance that left police and loved ones searching for answers. What could have led to such an unusual and sudden departure?

In this episode, we delve into the life of Curtis Richardson, a recently retired widower who found solace in an online support group, only to encounter a woman named Diana Morel. We explore the meticulous, four-month-long grooming process that preceded her first financial request and the escalating demands that followed, ultimately leading to Curtis's disappearance.

Person: Curtis Richardson
Location: Denton, Ohio
Date: October 2018 (first contact)
Status: Missing
Amount: $63,000

- A 14-year-old paper delivery girl, Laura Bauer, discovered the padlock and photograph at 5:15 AM.
- Officer Dennis Polk arrived within 40 minutes to find no signs of forced entry.
- Curtis Richardson, a 60-year-old retired pipefitter, had worked for 31 years at Harmon Valley industrial park.
- Diana Morel, a civil engineer from Lyon, France, claimed to be working on a water infrastructure project in Ghana.
- Curtis sent $3,200 for surveying equipment customs fees and later $18,000 for project payroll.

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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 Rose Garden's Secret: She Stole His Grief, Then His Life

Imagine finding a day planner with two different handwritings, one belonging to a 79-year-old widower and the other to the woman who systematically dismantled his life. This isn't just a story about a crime; it's about how a climbing rose, planted by a beloved wife, became the most damning evidence in a case of romantic fraud. How did affection become a weapon, and who was watching out for the people no one thought to protect?

In this episode, we uncover the chilling details of what happened over eleven months in Pershing, Indiana, and how a woman targeted a grieving widower. We explore the quiet heroism of a 23-year-old nursing aide whose meticulous notes about dead wives' favorite songs provided crucial insights into a meticulously planned deception.

Person: Bernard Kosch
Age: 79
Location: Pershing, Indiana
Date: May 2019
Crime: Romantic fraud

- A road grader operator found a leather day planner on Millburn Creek Road in May 2019.
- The victim, Bernard Kosch, was a 79-year-old retired grain elevator operator.
- Kathleen Patterson arrived in Pershing in late August 2018, renting a house with a six-month lease.
- Her Social Security number belonged to a woman from Akron, Ohio, who died in 2012.
- A 23-year-old nursing aide, Holly Hunter, kept a notebook with personal details about her patients.

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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 Birthday Card That Hid a Ghost Lover

Imagine finding a birthday card wedged in your garage door for twenty-five days, surviving four rainstorms, only to discover it belonged to a woman who vanished weeks earlier. This wasn't a kidnapping; she walked out on her own, leaving behind a cat, her passport, and an undisturbed car. What could compel a careful, organized woman to disappear from her own life, and how did a simple birthday card unravel the truth of her ghost lover?

In this episode, we delve into the baffling disappearance of Erin Campbell, a senior claims analyst from Ohio, who fell in love with a man who didn't exist. We explore the meticulous system used by a scammer to isolate and defraud her, and the surprising details that kept investigators questioning how someone so connected could vanish without a trace.

Person: Erin Campbell
Age: forty-eight
Location: Keswick Hollow, Ohio
Date: September 2018 - March 2019
Amount: sixty-three thousand and four hundred dollars

- A birthday card remained in a garage door frame for twenty-five days, enduring four rainstorms.
- Erin Campbell, a 48-year-old senior claims analyst, transferred $63,400 to a scammer.
- Her cat was found alive but thin, and her passport was in a kitchen drawer.
- Erin had been in love with a man who did not exist for five months.
- Douglas Patterson, a 52-year-old structural engineer on a dating app, was the scammer's fabricated identity.

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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].