Romance scams are one of the fastest-growing and most emotionally devastating forms of fraud today. No one thinks it will happen to them, yet Americans lose more than $1 billion every year to criminals posing as romantic partners.

This episode of Happy Money exposes how these schemes really work - from the psychological manipulation scammers use to the subtle red flags many victims miss until it’s too late.

Joining host Julia Dennison is Amy Nofziger, Senior Director of Victim Support at the AARP Fraud Watch Network, part of AARP. She shares frontline insights into how scammers build trust, who they target, what warning signs to watch for, and exactly what to do if you - or someone you love - becomes a victim.

Because romance scams don’t look like scams at first.

They look like relationships.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The biggest red flags of romance scams
• The most common tactics scammers use to hook victims
• Early warning signs that an online relationship may be fraudulent
• Why intelligent, cautious people still fall prey
• How criminals use social media, dating apps, and even professional platforms to build trust
• The psychological manipulation behind romance fraud
• How scammers pressure victims into sending money or cryptocurrency
• Practical steps to protect yourself and your family
• Where to get help if you suspect a scam
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For more information and support:

• womansworld.com
• aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork

Watch or listen on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify — and share this episode with someone you care about today.

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