ROMANCE SCAM PREVENTION

When Grief Meets Deception

Linda lost her husband of 32 years to cancer. Six months later, she met “David” on Facebook—a kind, attentive man who understood her pain.

Three months after that, $180,000 was gone. David never existed.

Linda isn’t desperate. She isn’t naive. She was grieving, lonely, and human.

The Reality

Widows and widowers lose billions to romance scammers who exploit grief and loneliness.

Average loss: $50,000-$200,000. Often the life insurance payout. Sometimes the house.

Victims aged 50-75 are targeted most. The lonelier, the more vulnerable.

Emotional devastation compounds the financial loss. Shame prevents most from reporting.

These aren’t random scams. They’re calculated psychological operations targeting people at their weakest moment.

Why It Works

Romance scammers spend weeks or months building trust. They study their victims. They say exactly what a grieving person needs to hear.

By the time they ask for money, the victim is emotionally invested. They want to believe. They need the connection to be real.

The manipulation is professional. The psychological damage is severe. The shame keeps victims silent.

Your parent, your friend, your neighbor—anyone who lost a spouse is a target.

What We’re Doing

We investigate romance scam operations and create education that protects vulnerable people during their grief.

Investigation: We expose how these scams work, the psychology they exploit, and the warning signs families miss.

Education: We create guides showing the difference between real connection and manipulation.

Reach: We run campaigns targeting recently widowed individuals with protective education—before scammers find them.

Prevention: A widow who learns the warning signs will spot the fake profile. The lies won’t work.

Your Impact

Every dollar you give protects someone during the most vulnerable period of their life.

We don’t help people after they’ve lost everything. We reach them during grief, before the scammer does.

Your donation funds:

• Investigative reports on romance scam tactics
• Educational videos for the newly widowed
• “Is This Person Real?” assessment tools
• Campaigns reaching vulnerable populations

Protection Works

“I met someone online eight weeks after my husband died. Everything felt right—until I saw your warning signs checklist. Every single red flag was there. I would have sent money. You saved me.”
— Susan, 61

“My mom was talking to someone who ‘needed help with medical bills.’ Your guide helped me show her it was fake. She was heartbroken, but her savings are safe.”
— Jennifer, 45

Stop the Next Victim

Someone who just lost their spouse is being targeted right now.

Your support makes sure they see the truth before they lose everything else.