Romance Scam Rebellion
The Romance Scam Rebellion is a bold, experience-led podcast that exposes the dark tactics behind online relationship scams and empowers targets to fight back. Hosted by a real life survivor, each episode breaks the silence around digital deception, shares insider knowledge from lived experience, and dismantles the shame that scammers count on. Whether you're reeling from betrayal, questioning red flags, or ready to reclaim your power, this is your battleground for truth and recovery.
Episodes
Too Smart to be Scammed?
Send us Fan MailI used to believe that when somebody wanted to connect with me online, they actually were who they presented themselves to be.This is my fractured fairytale. What's yours?In this Season 3 finale of Romance Scam Rebellion, I take a closer look at the beliefs we carry about scams, vulnerability, intelligence, love, and trust—and how those beliefs can leave us more vulnerable tha
Forced to Scam: Shadrack's Story
Send us Fan MailThere is an uncomfortable truth we may not want to consider, but it's very much a reality for many.In this powerful episode of Romance Scam Rebellion, Shadrack shares his extraordinary story of being trafficked from Uganda to Cambodia after accepting what he believed was a legitimate IT job.Instead, he was drugged, taken to a remote scam compound, and forced to participate in
Inside Bitcoin ATMs_Fraud Prevention or Fraud Pipeline_A Conversation with Byte Federal
Send us Fan MailAre Bitcoin ATMs helping stop scams—or helping scammers get paid?In this episode of Romance Scam Rebellion, I sit down with Paul Tarantino, CEO of Byte Federal, to hear the case for Bitcoin ATMs from someone in the industry.We talk about fraud prevention, scam warnings, wallet screening, AI, refunds, fees, regulation, and the claim that Bitcoin ATMs primarily serve the unbanked and
Justice After A Romance Scam? The Heather Rovet Story, Part Two
Send us Fan MailLast episode, Heather Rovet told us how Jace, the man she thought she'd build a life with, turned out to be a career con man and criminal, living a double life under her own roof. In part two, the story gets even more unbelievable.We pick up as the Canadian justice system moves at a maddening crawl, as Jace vanishes to move in with his next target just weeks after leaving Heat
Not Every Romance Scam Starts Online | The Heather Rovet Story Part One
Send us Fan MailA chance meeting. An instant connection. A relationship that felt good, and real.In Part One of this two part conversation with Heather Rovet, Heather shares the remarkable true story behind the documentary Rom Con: Who the F**k is Jason Porter? What began as a whirlwind romance with a charming, successful man slowly unraveled into a web of deception, manipulation, and betrayal.Hea
I didn't look like a Scam Victim...Until I Was One. The Tracy Hall Story
Send us Fan MailWhen most people picture a romance scam, they imagine fake profiles and strangers hiding behind a screen. Tracy Hall's story is different, and in some ways more terrifying. The man she knew as "Max Tavita," a charismatic chief investment officer, was real. He met her in person, spent nearly two years building a relationship with her, took vacations with her, met her
She Refused to Stay Silent: Kathy Waters and the Fight Against Romance Scammers
Send us Fan MailWhat started as one woman's effort to protect her mother's friend turned into a decade-long fight against romance scammers on a national and international scale. In this episode, Kathy Waters, co-founder of Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS) shares how a stolen military photo led her to uncover an entire network of fake profiles, and how that discovery reshaped h
Erin West's War on the Global Scamdemic
Send us Fan MailRomance scams, pig butchering (we agree to disagree on this term), cryptocurrency fraud, and transnational organized crime have become a multi-billion-dollar global industry. But one former prosecutor has made it her mission to fight back.In this episode of The Romance Scam Rebellion, I sit down with Erin West, former Deputy District Attorney and founder of Operation Shamrock, to d
Pause. Reflect. Protect - AARP's Fraud Whisperer
Send us Fan MailI'm calling her AARP's Fraud Whisperer, and for good reason. Kathy Stokes, Senior Director of Fraud Prevention Programs at AARP's Fraud Watch Network, has spent years on the front lines helping everyday Americans recognize, resist, and report scams before it's too late. In this episode, Kathy walks us through the fraud tactics targeting people right now — from p
Inside The Scam Factories
Send us Fan MailWhat if the person sending you those messages wasn't a willing criminal at all?For years, we've been told to picture online scammers as heartless fraudsters sitting behind computer screens, stealing life savings without remorse. But the truth is often far more complicated.In this gripping episode of The Romance Scam Rebellion, S. Clariba shares his extraordinary story of
Kidnapped into a Scam Compound
Send us Fan MailHe thought he was accepting a job opportunity that would help support his family.Instead, he was trafficked into a scam compound, stripped of his freedom, and forced to scam strangers online under the constant threat of violence.In this powerful episode of *The Romance Scam Rebellion*, our guest shares his firsthand account of recruitment, captivity, survival, and escape from one o
Two Women One Mission: Exposing Romance Scammers and Protecting Victims
Send us Fan MailThey say laughter is the best medicine. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop romance scammers—but it certainly helps expose them.In this episode of *The Romance Scam Rebellion*, I sit down with author, scam baiter, and professional destroyer of fraudsters' dreams, Becky Holmes and fraud prevention advocate Anna Rowe.We begin with Becky's remarkable journey from trolling ro
The Face That Launched A Thousand Scams
Send us Fan MailFor more than a decade, one military veteran has been living a nightmare he never signed up for.His photographs have been stolen and used by romance scammers around the world. Day after day. Week after week. Year after year.Thousands of women have been led to believe they were in a relationship with him.Many reached out believing they had found love. Others were heartbroken to lear
The Scam that Broke My Family
Send us Fan MailApril Helm — Journalist & Host of the podcast "Scammer Stories"Some scams don't just steal money. They steal relationships, fracture families and leave wounds that no amount of recovery can fully heal.April Helm is a journalist and the host of Scammer Stories — a podcast dedicated to exposing the devastating reality of fraud through the voices of those who have l
When Swiping Right Goes Wrong
Send us Fan MailAfter a divorce and years of rebuilding her life, Beth Hyland thought she had finally found someone who truly understood her. What began as a promising Tinder match quickly evolved into a sophisticated romance scam built on emotional manipulation, love bombing, fake promises, and cryptocurrency fraud.But this episode is not just about the scam.It’s about what happens when a survivo
Season 3 - Romance Scam Warriors
Send us Fan MailSeason 3 begins with a look at the journey since the close of Season 2 — the advocacy, the conversations, and the growing movement determined to confront the scam epidemic head-on. This season is dedicated to the warriors, whistleblowers, survivors, advocates, and experts who refuse to stay silent. Through powerful interviews and real conversations, Romance Scam Warriors shines a s
The Stolen Face: A Romance Scam Victim Speaks Out - Season 2 Finale
Send us Fan MailThe man I thought I loved was real — just not the one talking to me.In this episode, I unpack the emotional aftermath of discovering that the identity behind my romance scam belonged to an innocent man whose photos were stolen and used to defraud women worldwide. This is the story of the “other victim” — the ghost unknowingly woven into my story — and the complex grief of letting g
Seven Deadly Signs You're in a Romance Scam (Or About to Be)
Send us Fan MailWhat if the person you’re falling for… was never real?In this urgent, reality-check episode, Anola walks listeners through the seven most common psychological and behavioral signs of a romance scam — the same playbook used on her and millions of others worldwide.This isn’t theory. It’s a diagnostic test.From unsolicited messages and tragic backstories… to sudden work deployments, f
Testify - Life After a Romance Scam
Send us Fan MailTwo years after the scam, I'm 69 with 27 years left on a mortgage I almost owned outright. My professional reputation is damaged. My retirement is gone. And the systems that could help? Silent.This is what life after a romance scam actually looks like—and why I'm still fighting back, even on the days I wonder if it matters. The alternative is letting the scammers win. And
Seen. Chosen. Scammed. Viola's Story
Send us Fan MailScammers don’t target a type — they target vulnerability. Gender, age, education, politics, religion, or sexual orientation don’t matter. The tactics are the same.In this episode, I sit down with Viola Barker, a 68-year-old woman from Ohio who had just come out later in life and was beginning again after a decades-long marriage. What followed was not a random encounter, but a textb
Scammed Twice: Crypto ATM's Part 2 - Who Profits When Victims Pay
Send us Fan MailIn Part 1, I exposed how Bitcoin ATMs take 30-40% of scam victims' money through hidden markups. In Part 2, I investigate who's profiting from this system.Meet Brandon Mintz—Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, CEO of Bitcoin Depot, operator of 8,000+ Bitcoin ATMs across North America. When confronted with evidence that 98% of his Iowa customers were scam victims, here's what
Scammed Twice: Part 1, The Crypto ATM Gets Its Cut
Send us Fan MailIn Part One of Scammed Twice, we move past the emotional manipulation and into the machinery that quietly profits from it. This episode exposes how cryptocurrency ATMs have become a critical—and largely unregulated—link in the scam pipeline.I walk you through exactly what happened when I was directed to a Bitcoin ATM, how much these machines take from victims in fees, and why scamm
Your Cruelty is Their Business Model S2 E4
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I confront the cruel comments often directed at romance scam survivors — calling them stupid, desperate, or deserving of what happened. These reactions aren’t harmless opinions. They actively protect scammers.When the criminal is visible, we aim our outrage at them. When the criminal is invisible, that anger gets redirected toward the victim.Through real public com
Jennifer French Tomasic MSc on Coercive Control S2 E3
Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of The Romance Scam Rebellion, Anola sits down with Jennifer French Tomasic MSc, a psychologist and expert in coercive control, to explore one of the most insidious psychological dynamics behind manipulation and abuse.Jennifer shares her deep expertise — rooted in both academic study and lived experience — including her MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Con
The Manipulation Playbook. S2 E2
Send us Fan MailRomance scams don’t happen by accident. They follow a script.In this episode of The Romance Scam Rebellion, I'll break down the exact psychological playbook scammers use worldwide to brainjack trust, attachment, and decision-making—tactic by tactic, step by step.What feels like love… What feels like destiny… What feels deeply personal……is actually engineered.Drawing from my ow
Brainjacked: The Dopamine Trap S2 E1
Send us Fan MailIn the Season 2 opener, Anola exposes the hidden psychological mechanism powering nearly every modern romance scam: love bombing. This isn’t just cheesy sweet talk — it’s a deliberate strategy built to overwhelm your emotions and chemically hijack your brain. Using her own experience with “Pedro,” she illustrates how scammers identify emotional vulnerabilities, flood victims with a
Episode 13 — 🌊💥 Aftershocks: The Ripple Effects 💔🔍
Send us Fan MailSeason finale. After the initial shock of a romance scam, the damage doesn’t stop — it ripples through every part of your life. From identity theft to fake crypto schemes, government inaction to emotional and physical fallout, this episode breaks down the lasting aftershocks that survivors face every day.I share my personal story of betrayal, not only with my scammer, but also with
Episode 12 — 🔄🎭 Oops, I Did It Again! The Search for Closure 🎭🔄
Send us Fan MailAfter my first disaster, I needed more than closure — I needed the truth. This episode follows my painful journey chasing the “real man” behind a fake profile, hoping to find answers and redemption.But chasing closure led me into a second scam, where the same patterns played out again — the lies, the manipulation, the gut-wrenching betrayals. I recount my cautious attempts to conne
⏰ Episode 11 - The Wake up call - The day my fantasy died 📲
Send us Fan MailThis episode is deeply personal. It’s about betrayal, financial trauma, and the painful moment when denial breaks — when the fantasy shatters and harsh truth takes hold.Despite growing doubts, desperation pushed me forward. As suspicion grew, so did the distance between us. Love messages faded, replaced by transactions and demands.Then came the moment that changed everything: an un
🔥 Episode 10: Ember to Inferno Part 2: The Five-Alarm Meltdown 🔥
Send us Fan MailWhat started as emotional kindling erupts into a full-scale inferno.In this second half of Ember to Inferno, I take you into the fire — where emotional manipulation turns into financial devastation. From credit lines and wire transfers to maxed-out credit cards, crypto ATMs, and even sending cash through the mail — this is the unraveling of a scam in real time.This isn’t just about
🔥 Episode 9: Ember to Inferno Part 1– The Five-Alarm Meltdown 🔥
Send us Fan MailWhat starts with a spark of affection can ignite into a full-blown inferno of deception. In this first half of a two-part episode, I walk you through the slow burn of how trust, love, and hope get weaponized — one calculated move at a time.From promises of meeting, to a “dream job” offer, to diamond rings and love notes from afar, this is the story of how I was emotionally conditio
🤥 Episode 8 - Excuse Me While I Lie to Myself 🤦♀️
Send us Fan MailWhat happens when the truth stares you in the face — and you still can’t accept it?In this painfully honest episode, I take you back to the moment the fairytale started to unravel. A street sign in Hebrew. A reverse image search. A friend’s warning I couldn’t heed. The signs were everywhere… and I explained them all away.When the heart wants the fairytale, the mind finds a way to
🧩 Episode 7: Rationalization is More Important than Sex 🧩
Send us Fan MailWhen love feels perfect, we don’t question it — we justify it.This episode digs into the emotional contortions we perform to protect a fantasy. From sweet texts to shady investment pitches, you'll hear how scammers exploit our hopes—and how we silence our instincts to keep the dream alive.It’s not just manipulation. It’s rationalization—the scammer’s favorite accomplice.Suppor
💊 Episode 6: Hooked on a Feeling: The Drug and the Digital Fairytale 💊
Send us Fan MailWhat if the love of your life was never real — just a mirror of your deepest longing, designed to hook you like a drug?In this episode of Romance Scam Rebellion, we dive into the emotional heart of digital deception — how scammers use your own dreams, values, and vulnerabilities to build a fantasy that feels tailor-made. You’ll hear how loneliness, algorithmic manipulation, and exp
Bonus Episode - Google Just Handed Scammers a Gift
Send us Fan MailGoogle quietly removed one of the most powerful free tools everyday people had to protect themselves: reverse image search. It helped users spot fake profiles, recognize romance scams, and confirm when something wasn’t right. So why would they take it away?Because awareness costs clicks.In this bonus episode, we dig into how Big Tech profits from your engagement — even when that en
💥 Episode 5: The Digital Ambush 💥
Send us Fan MailWhat if the war for your heart and mind has already begun—and you didn’t even know it?In this chilling episode, we pull back the curtain on a new front in the scam epidemic—one where billion-dollar tech companies are no longer just hosting the deception… they’re creating it.From romance scammers to AI-generated grandpas, we expose how digital manipulation has gone corporate. Featur
🎶 Episode 4 – You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You 💔
Send us Fan MailRemember that old Dean Martin song? “You’re nobody till somebody loves you…”This episode dives into how scammers exploit one of our deepest human needs: the desire to feel wanted, special, and seen. I break down how they mirror your hopes, reflect your values, and use affection as a weapon — until you’re hooked on a fantasy that was never real.We’ll explore the early tactics they u
🎣 Episode 3 – “The Scammer Playbook: Baiting the Hook” 😈
Send us Fan MailThink scammers only find victims on dating apps? Think again. In this episode, we shine a light on the digital traps set across LinkedIn, Instagram, and beyond — I reveal how these emotional predators tailor their stories, gain your trust, and begin the grooming process. From casual conversations to calculated manipulation, I walk you through the early moves in the scammer’s playbo
Episode 2 – 🛠️🧠 Building the Anti-Scammer Playbook 🛠️🧠
Send us Fan MailScammers aren’t sloppy — they’re strategic. In this episode, we trace the roots of deception from ancient Greece to modern-day crypto cons. You’ll learn how scam tactics have evolved into a billion-dollar industry that targets our most human emotions: trust, love, and hope. I break down how age, wealth, and vulnerability are exploited — This episode isn’t just history — it’s a wake
👹 Episode 1: Equal Opportunity Predators 👹
Send us Fan MailNo one is immune. In this opening episode, I pull back the curtain on how modern scams are targeting people across every demographic — smart, educated, successful people who never saw it coming. I explore how these scams operate, why they’re so effective, and what makes us vulnerable, even when we think we’re being careful. This isn't just a cautionary tale — it's a wake-
🔥🚩 Introduction: The Romance Scam Rebellion Begins: Exposing the Silence 🚩🔥
Send us Fan MailWelcome to Romance Scam Rebellion — a raw, honest, and deeply personal podcast about what happens when love turns into betrayal, and how we fight back. I’m your host, and I’m not here to whisper warnings — I’m here to sound the alarm. Through my own experience and the voices of others, we’ll explore how modern scammers operate, why even smart people get pulled in, and what it takes
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