logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
32m 45s

Romance fraud: the cost of loving

THE TIMES
About this episode

Romance fraud is at an all time high, low-hanging fruit in the growing world of online scams. But what are the methods? Who falls for it? And are there ways we can all avoid it?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests: 

  • Mary Chater, romance fraud victim
  • Alexis Conran, TV and radio presenter

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Edith Rousselot.

Further reading: The justice system is in crisis. We spent a year finding solutions

Clips: The Real Hustle Youtube channel, Still Watching Netflix Youtube channel. 

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
The prison chief linked to organised crime - the Sunday Story
Bobby Cunningham was 31 when he became Head of Security at Wandsworth Prison, Britain’s most notorious jail, where he was tasked with fighting corruption. The Sunday Times's Whitehall editor Gabriel Pogrund reveals his dealings with organised crime.This podcast was brought to you ... Show More
38m 35s
Yesterday
Inside the Church of England's 'sex cult' - the Saturday Story
Chris Brain, the leader of a Church of England ‘sex cult’ known s the Nine O'Clock Service, has been found guilty of 17 charges of indecent assault, three decades after its collapse. Why did the Church fail to learn lessons from the scandal?This podcast was brought to you thanks ... Show More
33m 39s
Aug 22
The Brit standing up to China - can Starmer save Jimmy Lai
Pro-democracy campaigner, media mogul and British citizen Jimmy Lai has been imprisoned in China for five years and on trial for two. As the closing statements are made, what will happen to one of China’s most prominent critics? And can the UK government - or Donald Trump - step ... Show More
29m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
Nice to meet you, I'm a scammer.
On Hacking Humans, Dave Bittner, Joe Carrigan, and Maria Varmazis (also host of N2K's daily space podcast, T-Minus), are once again sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines to help our audience become aware ... Show More
52m 58s
Feb 2024
54: Love and Lies Pt.1: The Disappearance of Sandra Clifton
In 2011, Sanda Clifton found her perfect match on a dating site. Handsome, charming, successful--David Hendy was everything she wanted. The only problem was...David Hendy didn't exist. CW: Emotional abuse Subscribe on Patreon for bonus content and to become a member of our Rogue ... Show More
41m 12s
Jul 20
‘Modern Love’: How to Keep Love Alive, With Rob Delaney of ‘Dying for Sex’
When we meet Rob Delaney’s character, “Neighbor Guy,” in FX’s limited series “Dying for Sex,” he’s scarfing down a burrito in an elevator, dripping food on his face and the floor. But Delaney’s performance reveals that under Neighbor Guy’s messy exterior is a man capable of deep ... Show More
37m 4s
Jan 2025
Despicable donation request scamming.
On Hacking Humans, Dave Bittner, Joe Carrigan, and Maria Varmazis (also host of N2K's daily space podcast, T-Minus), are once again sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines to help our audience become aware ... Show More
44m 47s
Dec 2024
Fraud's festive frenzy.
On Hacking Humans, Dave Bittner, Joe Carrigan, and Maria Varmazis (also host of N2K's daily space podcast, T-Minus), are once again sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines to help our audience become aware ... Show More
47m 45s
Mar 2025
E-ZPass or easy scam?
On Hacking Humans, this week Dave Bittner is back with Joe Carrigan, and Maria Varmazis (also host of N2K's daily space podcast, T-Minus), and they are sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. Joe shares a ... Show More
36m 26s
Jul 2024
Welcome to a new age in digital deception.
This week, Maria Varmazis host of the N2K daily space show, T-Minus, joins Dave and Joe, as they celebrate Maria joining the Hacking Humans podcast every week! Maria's story is on supplement scams, as there has been a significant surge in health-related supplement scams on social ... Show More
37m 37s
Aug 2024
How scammers weave deception into everyday life.
Maria Varmazis host of the N2K daily space show, T-Minus, joins Dave and Joe to share her story on how AI-generated scams have infiltrated the world of crochet and other crafts, selling fake patterns that often result in impossible or frustrating projects. Dave's story is on the ... Show More
47m 2s
Aug 14
This scam is now in session.
This week, our hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dave Bittner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (also host of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠T-Minus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Space Daily show) are back sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishi ... Show More
45m 5s
Dec 2024
The ‘FBI’ called. Then she got scammed.
Americans are being conned every day by increasingly sophisticated scams. Today, we hear the story of one woman who lost her life's savings to a government impersonation scam. Read more: According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans were scammed out of more than $10 billio ... Show More
38m 24s