We like to think that we’re too smart to be taken advantage of by a scammer, but some are willing to invest a tremendous amount of time and effort for a payout. Many do not come forward because of the fear, shame, and victim-blaming, but that’s not true with today’s guest.

Today’s guest is Ayleen Charlotte. Ayleen was one of the women featured in the Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler. She made a radical choice between victimhood or becoming a beacon of female empowerment. After what became five years of misery, she decided not only to tell her story, but to make a lifelong entrepreneurial dream come true.

Show Notes:

• [1:20] - When Ayleen contacted, there were already other women victimized, but Ayleen was a big part of the Tinder Swindler’s arrest.
• [2:49] - She had three goals that participating in the documentary helped achieve.
• [4:27] - Ayleen met this scammer five years ago and started a relationship with him.
• [5:19] - Because he claimed to have many enemies, he moved in with Ayleen and used her money and credit cards to “stay under the radar.”
• [6:58] - The lavish lifestyle he lived made sense with the story he provided to the women he victimized.
• [8:15] - One indicator that something was wrong was that money given back to her in the form of a check would never go through.
• [9:40] - He always had an operation to start and Ayleen took several personal loans to help with these endeavors.
• [11:27] - He laid a foundation of trust with the small things.
• [13:15] - Ayleen says that in the beginning, he really made her feel special. The development of the relationship was going well and very believable.
• [14:18] - There is a big difference between this situation and other types of fraud, as there was a real relationship built.
• [16:15] - The Tinder Swindler used the same stories over and over again with every victim.
• [17:08] - Even when he had “interactions” with enemies, he would show up with real injuries.
• [18:15] - Some of the people on his team did not know they were part of this, although Ayleen says his bodyguard and his right-hand were aware.
• [19:51] - An article was released about him and Ayleen saw it and immediately knew.
• [21:18] - Ayleen lists some of the reasons he gave for the article being released. In this instance, Ayleen trusted the article over him.
• [22:43] - When he continued to ask for money, Ayleen was in contact with the police. She wound up tricking him and, in a way, taking some of her money back.
• [25:58] - If Ayleen didn’t give him money, he made it clear that she would be in danger from his enemies.
• [27:18] - If someone is asking you for money and trying to push you, take a step back, shut down your phone, and think about it for a few days.
• [28:38] - Over time, Ayleen saw a change in character, especially when she stopped sending him money.
• [30:44] - The Tinder Swindler started his fraud schemes at the age of 15 and did not only target women. He swindled men as well as organizations and charities.
• [32:26] - He is not able to get a real job or career at this point. This is the only thing he can do and he will continue. He is still out there, living in Israel.
• [33:50] - The documentary has helped in slowing his scam.
• [35:39] - Ayleen’s trust of other people has not been impacted. She knows that she has experienced the worst already.
• [37:29] - Ayleen says the best thing you can do in a situation like this is to talk about it.

Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. 

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