Send us a text

What makes a smart person fall for a romance scam? Start with speed and secrecy. We explore how scammers manufacture intimacy, mirror your interests, and escalate flattery to lower your guard—then trigger a crisis that turns trust into a cash ask. With California reporting thousands of cases in 2023, this isn’t a fringe risk; it’s a mainstream threat that preys on empathy, loneliness, and the pace of modern apps.

I walk through the playbook step by step: the rush to move off-platform, the early “I love you,” the reluctance to video chat, and the carefully crafted emergencies—medical bills, frozen accounts, overseas mishaps. You’ll learn how to spot red flags before money enters the chat, why “you’re the only one who can help” is a manipulation cue, and how scammers use details from your public posts to tailor their stories. We get practical about verification with reverse image search, cross-checking profiles, and pushing for live video. We also draw a hard line on payments: no gift cards, crypto, or wires to someone you haven’t met and verified.

Beyond tactics, we talk about defenses that actually fit real life. Build deliberate friction into fast-moving chats, enlist a trusted friend to sanity-check the vibe, and tighten your privacy settings to limit what strangers can learn about your routines and relationships. The goal isn’t fear—it’s agency. With a few simple habits, you can keep your heart open without leaving your wallet exposed. If this helped, follow the show, share it with someone who could use a safety refresher, and leave a quick review so more people find it. Your awareness could save someone you care about.