The Pier Photo That Unmasked Three Imposters

Imagine receiving a goodnight text every night at 9:53 PM, warm and specific, only to discover it was written in shifts by three different men. A 25-year-old woman in South Carolina wired $1,400 to a man who never existed, lured by a carefully constructed persona. How did a single photograph from a pier expose this elaborate romantic scam?

In this episode, we uncover the intricate deception behind a romantic scam that cost one woman her savings and nearly her trust. Learn how a seemingly innocent pier photo became the catalyst for a sophisticated fraud, and the unexpected way the truth eventually came to light.

Person: Karen Underwood
Location: Moorfield, South Carolina
Date: July 2022
Amount: $1,400
Scam Type: Romantic scam

- Karen Underwood moved to Moorfield, South Carolina, 14 months before the scam was exposed.
- She posted a photograph from the Moorfield Fishing Pier in late February 2022.
- The scammer's VOIP number was registered eight days before Karen posted her pier photo.
- The fake Douglas Hunter's profile picture was copied from a real Coast Guard officer named Brian Tennyson.
- Karen had been communicating with the imposter for nearly four months before wiring $1,400.

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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 Carnations on Dennison Road: He Knew Her Secret Home

Imagine finding fresh flowers on a long-vacant, padlocked property-a chilling sign that someone knows a secret about a place no one should visit. This unsettling discovery hints at a deeper romantic scam, where trust is meticulously broken and identities are stolen. What hidden dangers lurk behind a seemingly innocent online connection?

In this episode, we uncover the story of Michelle Barnes, a woman rebuilding her life after a 22-year marriage ends, who finds herself drawn into an online peer support group. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when a private message from a "life coach" named Todd Anderson offers free one-on-one sessions, leading her down a path of subtle manipulation and a shocking revelation about his true identity.

Person: Michelle Barnes
Age: 50
Location: Pelham, Tanner County
Date: June (discovery of flowers)
Profession: Life coach (Todd Anderson, fake)

- A dozen pale pink carnations, wrapped in cellophane, were found on a vacant mailbox.
- Michelle Barnes's marriage ended after 22 years, with her divorce finalized in November.
- She volunteered every Tuesday morning from 7 to 10 at the Pelham Food Shelf for three years.
- "Todd Anderson" claimed to be a life coach in his early fifties from Portland, Oregon.
- A reverse image search revealed "Todd Anderson's" photo belonged to Robert Haines, a retired school principal in Spokane, Washington.

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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 Wet Book That Unmasked a Librarian's Digital Lover

Imagine finding a wet book in an empty house with no power, no running water, and no rain for nine days. This bizarre discovery led to a federal prosecution involving a librarian who sent nearly $6,000 to a man she'd never met. How did a water-damaged paperback expose a sophisticated romance scam?

In this episode, we uncover the story of Julie Myers, a meticulous librarian from West Virginia, who fell victim to a digital lover named "Kenneth Hughes." We explore how a shared passion for rare books and a carefully crafted online persona led her to wire thousands of dollars overseas, and how an unexpected find in an abandoned house brought the truth to light.

Person: Julie Myers
Location: Teller County, West Virginia
Date: May 14, 2019
Amount: $6,000
Status: Federal prosecution

- Janet Fitzgerald found a water-swollen paperback, Anton Chekhov's collected stories, in an empty house on Sycamore Mill Road.
- The house had no power or running water, and Teller County had no rain for nine days prior to the discovery.
- Inside the book's binding, a handwritten note with account routing information and figures was found.
- Julie Myers, a 31-year-old librarian, wired $4,000 from her savings to a bank account in Limassol, Cyprus, on April 19, 2019.
- The online account "Kenneth Hughes" used photographs of Stuart Bonner, a real estate agent in Portland, Oregon, without his knowledge.

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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 Missionary, and $93,800 Vanished

Imagine discovering a storage unit mysteriously open at 6:15 AM, revealing a rectangle of shadow behind a metal door rented under a fake name. This unsettling discovery would unravel 18 months of invisible theft, not from a bank, but from one man's trust. What hidden dangers lurk when a carefully constructed online persona turns out to be a complete fabrication?

In this episode, we delve into the story of Earl Price, a 51-year-old facilities supervisor from Dellmer, Indiana, who became entangled in a sophisticated romance scam. We explore how a seemingly genuine connection on a faith-based social platform led to a significant financial loss, and the meticulous deception behind it.

Person: Earl Price
Location: Dellmer, Indiana
Amount Lost: $93,800
Scammer's Real Name: Gerald Mott
Scammer's Fake Name: Dean Hansen

- The scammer, Gerald Mott, used a LinkedIn profile from Omaha, Nebraska, and a photograph from an Arizona contractors' association.
- Earl Price, a facilities supervisor at Linden-Baxter Manufacturing, was divorced and lived in Dellmer, Indiana.
- Mott had prior scam operations in 2016 and 2019, with losses between $30,000 and $60,000 each.
- The first request for $4,000 was for "lumber" for an "orphanage roof," accompanied by a doctored photo from a Sunbridge Ministries newsletter.
- Earl Price transferred the initial $4,000 within 48 hours of the 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 Cat, The Card, and The $22,000 Lie

Imagine finding a Valentine's card and tulips on your porch, only to realize they're part of a sophisticated romantic scam that will cost you $22,000. This isn't just a story of deception; it's a chilling look at how a carefully constructed lie can target the most reliable and unsuspecting individuals. How did a man who never missed his cat's medication fall victim to a scheme designed to exploit his quiet loneliness?

In this episode, we uncover the intricate details of a romantic fraud that ensnared Gordon Reynolds, a logistics coordinator whose life was built on routine and reliability. We explore the seemingly innocuous events that led him into a relationship with a man who didn't exist, and the devastating financial and emotional toll it took.

Person: Gordon Reynolds
Loss: $22,000
Location: Fennel Branch Road
Date: March 2022
Status: Dennis Foley in custody

- Rachel Hensley, a meter reader for eleven years, found the unsealed Valentine's card and tulips at 7:40 AM.
- Gordon Reynolds, 44, had been saving for a trip to Portugal with "Vernon Sawyer" for three months.
- Forensic analysts matched the handwriting on the card to Dennis Foley, who was placed near Fennel Branch Road by cell tower records.
- Brian Feld, Gordon's coworker, introduced him to "Vernon Sawyer" via a photograph of Patrick Dunn, a real structural engineer unaware his image was used.
- Gordon meticulously administered medication to his nine-year-old tortoiseshell cat, Pepper, twice daily for hyperthyroidism.

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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 Coach Knew Her Door. She Never Told Him

Imagine discovering that the person you trusted with your deepest vulnerabilities knew your bus route, your building, and even the exact angle your door swings open-details you never shared. This chilling reality is at the heart of a sophisticated romance scam that unfolded over eight months, leaving a trail of calculated deception. How did a simple health journey turn into a meticulously engineered betrayal?

In this episode, we uncover the methodical unraveling of Diane Draper's trust, starting with a seemingly legitimate search for nutritional guidance that led her to a fraudulent coach. We explore the subtle tactics used to build a false sense of security and the shocking moment when a retired postal worker's single act of restraint began to expose the truth.

Person: Diane Draper
Date: August 2022 - February 2023
Location: Mercer, Ohio
Status: Romance scam

- Diane Draper, a 28-year-old dental hygienist, sought nutritional support for a connective tissue disorder.
- She found "Duane Schmidt" on NutriPath, a platform with 47 reviews and a 4.8-star rating.
- The profile photo used by "Duane Schmidt" belonged to a fitness content creator with 300,000 social media followers in Brazil.
- The certification institute in Austin, Texas, confirmed no graduate named Duane Schmidt existed in their records.
- Wade Riley, a retired postal worker, discovered a third cashier's check for $4,200 wedged in Diane's door frame.

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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 Shadowbox That Exposed His Lie, Not Hers

Imagine finding a mysterious shadowbox containing a man's photo in a UN beret, a woman's face cut out, a dried sunflower, and a chilling note: "He is not who he said he was. I am not the only one." This discovery in a small New Mexico town exposed a romance scam that had not yet been reported to authorities, revealing a meticulously crafted deception. How did this shadowbox become the key to uncovering a fraud that cost one woman $67,000?

In this episode, we delve into the story of Amy Sawyer, a practical and detail-oriented rancher who fell victim to a sophisticated online romance scam after the unexpected death of her husband. We explore the tactics used by "Russell O'Brien," a man who did not exist, and the financial patterns that allowed the fraud to escalate without detection.

Person: Amy Sawyer
Location: Harlan Flats, New Mexico
Loss: Sixty-seven thousand dollars
Scammer's Fictional Name: Russell O'Brien
Scammer's Real Identity: Colin Marsh (image used without consent)

- Patricia Tate found the shadowbox on a Wednesday in the second week of January on the Painted Rock Loop trail.
- The shadowbox contained a photo of a man in a blue United Nations beret, a cut-out woman's face, a dried sunflower, and a laminated card with eleven words.
- Amy Sawyer, 52, owned a 1,200-acre cattle ranch and lost $67,000 to the scammer.
- The scammer's Facebook profile, active for four years, used images of real British aid worker Colin Marsh.
- Amy's first wire transfer was for $4,000, not the requested $6,000, and occurred 19 days after a $22,000 certificate of deposit matured.

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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 King's Gambit: Her Mind, His Con Game

Imagine waking up with no memory of driving seven miles to a creek before dawn to hide an envelope containing a wire transfer for $11,400 to a man who doesn't exist. This isn't just a lapse; it's a chilling blank slate where a critical event should be. How could someone's mind erase such a significant act?

In this episode, we delve into the ten-month psychological manipulation that led Heather Draper to send a substantial sum to a phantom, and how her closest friend, Paul Boyd, began to piece together the unsettling truth. What hidden vulnerabilities did a skilled con artist exploit to achieve such a profound level of control?

Person: Heather Draper
Date: December 4, 2019
Location: Keswick Creek, Millbrook, Tennessee
Amount: $11,400
Method: Wire transfer

- A fisherman found a cream-colored envelope with a wire transfer receipt and a birthday card in frozen mud.
- Heather Draper, 23, worked as a billing coordinator and lived in a Victorian apartment on Caldwell Street.
- Her grandmother, Edna Draper, 81, had moderate dementia but retained a precise memory of chess.
- Heather played chess with her grandmother every Thursday evening at Millbrook Oaks.
- Paul Boyd, Heather's 26-year-old friend, noticed her texts were consistently 40 minutes late on Thursday evenings.

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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].

Still Watching: The $43,000 Ghost in Her Mailbox

Imagine finding a mysterious, unsealed envelope in a vacant house's mailbox, containing a photo and a chilling message: "Still watching." This discovery, made on a cold November morning, would unravel a complex six-year romantic scam spanning four counties in Indiana and two in Ohio. How did a simple letter expose a system so meticulously built it had survived scrutiny for years?

In this episode, we delve into the story of Amy Williams, who, after battling stage two breast cancer, found herself entangled in a sophisticated online deception. We explore how a seemingly innocent Facebook post led her to a private cancer survivor group and into the orbit of "Kevin Walsh," a man who didn't exist, and how she lost $43,000 before the truth began to surface.

Person: Amy Williams
Loss: $43,000
Duration of scam: 6 years
Location: 4 counties in Indiana, 2 in Ohio
Date of discovery: November 7

- The unsealed envelope was found in a house empty for fourteen months, with no electricity or furniture.
- The name "Amy, my darling" was handwritten on the envelope, which contained a laminated photo of a man.
- A yellow Post-it note inside read "Still watching" in the same block print.
- Amy Williams was 34 years old and recently divorced when she moved to Harwick County.
- She was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer at 35 and posted "Just finished chemo" on Facebook after her treatment.

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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 Engineer Who Never Existed: 22 Love Letters, One Lie

Imagine finding a packet of 22 perfectly preserved love letters in a drainage ditch, only to discover they were written to a man who never existed. This chilling discovery in Breckett Township unravels a two-year deception targeting a widow in Dunbar, Ohio. What dark secret did these letters hold, and who was the mastermind behind this elaborate romantic scam?

In this episode, we delve into the story of Marcia Bell, a retired nurse from Dunbar, Ohio, who became entangled in a sophisticated pen-pal romance with a man named Scott Crawford. The narrative traces the evolution of their correspondence, from innocent exchanges to deeply personal confessions, culminating in the revelation of a shocking betrayal.

Discovery Location: Breckett Township
Discovery Date: October 2019
Victim: Marcia Bell
Victim's Age: 63 (when letters began)
Deceased Husband: Dennis Bell

- Angela Fisher found 22 handwritten letters, still in their original envelopes, tied with kitchen twine, in a drainage ditch.
- Marcia Bell, a retired practical nurse, began corresponding with "Scott Crawford" in February 2017.
- The first letter arrived with a Swiss postmark and a return address in Nicosia, Cyprus.
- In August 2018, Marcia received a photograph of "Scott Crawford," who was actually Paul Sievert, a retired hydrological engineer from Flagstaff, Arizona.
- Two months before the photograph arrived, "Crawford" sent a letter warning Marcia about potential online image searches and troubling results.

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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].