The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams

Michael B

The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams examines how long-term, attachment-driven deception operates beneath what are commonly called “romance scams.” These scams don’t begin with money—they begin with trust, emotional connection, and carefully constructed relationships that evolve over time. This series breaks down how those connections form, how trust is manipulated, and how the impact unfolds across emotional, relational, and financial dimensions. Based on lived experience and structured analysis, each episode focuses on a specific component of the process—helping listeners understand not just what happens, but how it happens. The goal is simple: increase awareness, restore clarity, and help strengthen prevention. For a deeper, firsthand account of how these scams unfold step by step, the book can now be found on Amazon.  Please search  "Ding — “Hello Dear, How Are You?”  

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 35 - The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams || When Someone You Love Will Not Believe You

    First of all, thank you for listening in. Hoping this helps individuals and families understand romance scams. If you have questions or want something to be discussed specifically, please comment or go to my website michaelbreinig.com to privately message me. All the best to you... What do you do when someone you love is caught in a romance scam—but they refuse to believe it? In Episode 35, I am speaking directly to the husbands, wives, sons, daughters, family members, and friends watching someone they care about become emotionally attached to a person who may not even exist. Romance scammers follow a deliberate playbook: build familiarity, mirror interests, create intimacy, encourage secrecy, and eventually introduce money. By the time family members recognize what is happening, emotional attachment may already be stronger than evidence. This episode explores why confrontation often fails, why victims continue defending the relationship, and how families can fight for the person they love instead of against them. Because sometimes exposing the scam is only the beginning. The harder challenge is helping someone you love believe the truth.    This is an ongoing podcast series that explores the anatomy of modern romance scams and introduces practical tools designed to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from these crimes.  The AOM Framework™ Your Personal Rulebook — Gave a foundation for this, but please, build your own personal rules to recognize danger, make better decisions, and protect yourself before a scam ever takes hold.  Always validate. The Scammer's Playbook — Learn how scammers build trust, create dependency, and manipulate their victims. The Four S's — Secrecy. Silence. Shame. Seduction. The 15/30 Rule — Stop. Step back. Evaluate before you act. Pattern Recognition — Recognize where the scam is going before it gets there. DBW: Delete. Block. Walk. — Protect yourself. Walk away.  This is critical. Learn More: Books available to read, keep, or pass on. 📘 DING... "Hello Dear, Did You Miss Me?" https://a.co/d/0eaBEMlu  📗 The Reality Behind Romance Scams: The Playbook https://a.co/d/0aV7btcS 🌐 Website: michaelbauthor.com 🎥 Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzbubG0gxfo If these episodes helped you, please follow, and share them with someone you care about, and help spread awareness. Until next time... Delete. Block. Walk. And al...

  2. Aug 8

    Episode 34 - The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams | Four Messages - One Script

    First of all, thank you for listening in. Hoping this helps individuals and families understand romance scams. If you have questions or want something to be discussed specifically, please comment or go to my website michaelbreinig.com to privately message me. All the best to you... This week I received four unsolicited conversation starters—two on Facebook and two on LinkedIn. LinkedIn blocked the one user and conversation.  They said something explicit.  The other, I kept going for one reason - I wanted to see whether the scammers' playbook had changed. It hadn't. The friendly conversation. The request to exchange photos. The move to another messaging platform (Telegram, WhatsApp or Signal...my choice of course.) Questions about my age and personal life. And finally... "Would I like to learn about cryptocurrency investing?" Different platform. Same script. It reinforced one simple truth: Delete. Block. Walk. Remember it and use it...because it works. In the second half of this episode, with her permission, I share my interview with fellow podcaster Nicole Ringgold.  Where she invites me to discuss my personal story, the psychology behind romance scams, and the lessons I wish I had understood before my own life changed forever. Please find it here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/michael-breinig-delete-block-walk/id1893797968?i=1000778099801 If you take only one thing away from this episode, let it be this: Fifteen seconds. That's all it takes to Delete, Block, and Walk away. Those fifteen seconds may save you from thirty years of consequences. Resources: Nichole Ringgold's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/michael-breinig-delete-block-walk/id1893797968?i=1000778099801 My Website: https://michaelbauthor.com Books: https://amazon.com/author/michael-bAlways Validate Delete. Block. Walk Always Always...Stay Safe This is an ongoing podcast series that explores the anatomy of modern romance scams and introduces practical tools designed to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from these crimes.  The AOM Framework™ Your Personal Rulebook — Gave a foundation for this, but please, build your own personal rules to recognize danger, make better decisions, and protect yourself before a scam ever takes hold.  Always validate. The Scammer's Playbook — Learn how scammers build trust, create dependency, and manipulate their victims. The Four S's — Secrecy. Silence. Shame. Seduction. The 15/30 Rule — Stop. Step back. Evaluate before you act. Pattern Recognition — Recognize where the scam is going before it gets there. DBW: Delete. Block. Walk. — Protect yourself. Walk away.  This is critical. Learn More: Books available to read, keep, or pass on. 📘 DING... "Hello Dear, Did You Miss Me?" https://a.co/d/0eaBEMlu  📗 The Reality Behind Romance Scams: The Playbook https://a.co/d/0aV7btcS 🌐 Website: michaelbauthor.com 🎥 Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzbubG0gxfo If these episodes helped you, please follow, and share them with someone you care about, and help spread awareness. Until next time... Delete. Block. Walk. And al...

  3. Aug 2

    Episode 33 - The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams | Thank You

    First of all, thank you for listening in. Hoping this helps individuals and families understand romance scams. If you have questions or want something to be discussed specifically, please comment or go to my website michaelbreinig.com to privately message me. All the best to you... Some episodes teach. Some episodes explain. This one simply says thank you. In this deeply personal episode, I reflect on the messages, stories, and encouragement I've received from listeners around the world. Your courage to speak openly about one of the most painful experiences of your lives has reminded me that none of us walks this journey alone. We share a common bond—not because we wanted to, but because we understand what emotional manipulation, betrayal, and loss truly feel like. Together, we continue moving forward one day at a time. I also discuss why victims should never allow shame to define them, why your stories remain sacred, and why every act of sharing helps someone else recognize the warning signs before they become the next victim. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for reminding me why this podcast exists. You now have the Scammer's Playbook. You now have Your Personal Rulebook. Use them well. Delete. Block. Walk. This is an ongoing podcast series that explores the anatomy of modern romance scams and introduces practical tools designed to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from these crimes.  The AOM Framework™ Your Personal Rulebook — Gave a foundation for this, but please, build your own personal rules to recognize danger, make better decisions, and protect yourself before a scam ever takes hold.  Always validate. The Scammer's Playbook — Learn how scammers build trust, create dependency, and manipulate their victims. The Four S's — Secrecy. Silence. Shame. Seduction. The 15/30 Rule — Stop. Step back. Evaluate before you act. Pattern Recognition — Recognize where the scam is going before it gets there. DBW: Delete. Block. Walk. — Protect yourself. Walk away.  This is critical. Learn More: Books available to read, keep, or pass on. 📘 DING... "Hello Dear, Did You Miss Me?" https://a.co/d/0eaBEMlu  📗 The Reality Behind Romance Scams: The Playbook https://a.co/d/0aV7btcS 🌐 Website: michaelbauthor.com 🎥 Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzbubG0gxfo If these episodes helped you, please follow, and share them with someone you care about, and help spread awareness. Until next time... Delete. Block. Walk. And al...

  4. Jul 30

    Episode 32 – The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams | Scammers Are Still Trying — Why Delete. Block. Walk. Matters!

    First of all, thank you for listening in. Hoping this helps individuals and families understand romance scams. If you have questions or want something to be discussed specifically, please comment or go to my website michaelbreinig.com to privately message me. All the best to you... Even after everything that happened to me, the scammers are still trying. In this episode, I share three recent scam attempts that reached me through Facebook and text messages, proving that these criminals never stop looking for an opening. I explain why ignoring strangers online isn't rude—it's one of the most important decisions you can make to protect yourself and the people you love. I also talk about encouraging signs that governments and law enforcement are beginning to take romance scams more seriously.   I also introduce my new book: The Reality Behind Romance Scams: The Playbook, and reflect on what I've learned after speaking with dozens of victims and stepping into recovery and perhaps reinvention. One conversation in particular stayed with me—a young man who lost only $1,000, but lost everything that money represented. It reminded me once again that the true cost of a romance scam is measured in far more than dollars. If you're a victim, know that while a scam may forever change your life, it does not get to decide who you become next. Delete. Block. Walk. It really can save your future. This is an ongoing podcast series that explores the anatomy of modern romance scams and introduces practical tools designed to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from these crimes.  The AOM Framework™ Your Personal Rulebook — Gave a foundation for this, but please, build your own personal rules to recognize danger, make better decisions, and protect yourself before a scam ever takes hold.  Always validate. The Scammer's Playbook — Learn how scammers build trust, create dependency, and manipulate their victims. The Four S's — Secrecy. Silence. Shame. Seduction. The 15/30 Rule — Stop. Step back. Evaluate before you act. Pattern Recognition — Recognize where the scam is going before it gets there. DBW: Delete. Block. Walk. — Protect yourself. Walk away.  This is critical. Learn More: Books available to read, keep, or pass on. 📘 DING... "Hello Dear, Did You Miss Me?" https://a.co/d/0eaBEMlu  📗 The Reality Behind Romance Scams: The Playbook https://a.co/d/0aV7btcS 🌐 Website: michaelbauthor.com 🎥 Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzbubG0gxfo If these episodes helped you, please follow, and share them with someone you care about, and help spread awareness. Until next time... Delete. Block. Walk. And al...

  5. Jul 14

    Episode 31 - The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams | A Textbook Romance Scam - It Starts With a Single Text Message

    First of all, thank you for listening in. Hoping this helps individuals and families understand romance scams. If you have questions or want something to be discussed specifically, please comment or go to my website michaelbreinig.com to privately message me. All the best to you... Yesterday, I received a text message from someone named "Teresa Lee." At first glance, it looked harmless. A wrong number. A polite apology. A friendly conversation. But it wasn't harmless. It was a textbook example of how many modern romance scams and pig butchering scams begin. In this episode, I walk through the actual text exchange, explain the warning signs, and show how recognizing the scammer's playbook allowed me to do exactly what should be done.  Something I only wish I had the knowledge of this the first time.  Now, you have that knowledge. Knowledge acquired at a significant cost - is freely shared here. Delete. Block. Walk. If you've ever wondered how these scams REALLY begin, this episode provides a real-world example that happened just yesterday. If it helps one person recognize the pattern before becoming emotionally invested, then this episode has accomplished exactly what it was intended to do. Protect what is yours.  Stay safe... Resources 📘 Book 1: DING! "Hello Dear, How Are You?" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GK8P6TY3 🌐 Website: https://www.michaelbauthor.com 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d5kDcchOTw This is an ongoing podcast series that explores the anatomy of modern romance scams and introduces practical tools designed to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from these crimes.  The AOM Framework™ Your Personal Rulebook — Gave a foundation for this, but please, build your own personal rules to recognize danger, make better decisions, and protect yourself before a scam ever takes hold.  Always validate. The Scammer's Playbook — Learn how scammers build trust, create dependency, and manipulate their victims. The Four S's — Secrecy. Silence. Shame. Seduction. The 15/30 Rule — Stop. Step back. Evaluate before you act. Pattern Recognition — Recognize where the scam is going before it gets there. DBW: Delete. Block. Walk. — Protect yourself. Walk away.  This is critical. Learn More: Books available to read, keep, or pass on. 📘 DING... "Hello Dear, Did You Miss Me?" https://a.co/d/0eaBEMlu  📗 The Reality Behind Romance Scams: The Playbook https://a.co/d/0aV7btcS 🌐 Website: michaelbauthor.com 🎥 Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzbubG0gxfo If these episodes helped you, please follow, and share them with someone you care about, and help spread awareness. Until next time... Delete. Block. Walk. And al...

  6. Jul 13

    Episode 30 - The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams | The Weight We Carry After a Romance Scam

    First of all, thank you for listening in. Hoping this helps individuals and families understand romance scams. If you have questions or want something to be discussed specifically, please comment or go to my website michaelbreinig.com to privately message me. All the best to you... What happens after the scam ends? We spend a great deal of time talking about how romance scams begin, how scammers manipulate emotions, and how to recognize the warning signs. But we rarely talk about what comes afterwards. The guilt. The shame. The self-blame. The future that suddenly feels uncertain. In this episode, Michael B. responds to the heartfelt messages he's received from listeners and speaks directly to anyone struggling with the emotional aftermath of a romance scam. This isn't a lesson about cryptocurrency or online dating. It's a conversation about the weight victims carry long after the scammer disappears. If you've ever asked yourself... "How could I have been so foolish?" "Will I ever be the same person again?" "How do I move forward?" This episode is for you, and me... Remember: Responsibility says, "I made a mistake." Shame says, "I am the mistake." Those are two very different conversations. As always...please avoid the 30 rule and heed the 15 second rule. Delete. Block. Walk.  Listeners are doing just that and moving forward.  Congratulations. Thank you for listening and please always remember to --  Stay aware. Stay protected. And always, ALWAYS stay safe. The Book: DING! "Hello Dear, How Are You?" A true story of manipulation, deception, and survival. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GK8P6TY3 🌐 Visit My Website: https://www.michaelbauthor.com 🎥 Watch the Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzbubG0gxfo This is an ongoing podcast series that explores the anatomy of modern romance scams and introduces practical tools designed to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from these crimes.  The AOM Framework™ Your Personal Rulebook — Gave a foundation for this, but please, build your own personal rules to recognize danger, make better decisions, and protect yourself before a scam ever takes hold.  Always validate. The Scammer's Playbook — Learn how scammers build trust, create dependency, and manipulate their victims. The Four S's — Secrecy. Silence. Shame. Seduction. The 15/30 Rule — Stop. Step back. Evaluate before you act. Pattern Recognition — Recognize where the scam is going before it gets there. DBW: Delete. Block. Walk. — Protect yourself. Walk away.  This is critical. Learn More: Books available to read, keep, or pass on. 📘 DING... "Hello Dear, Did You Miss Me?" https://a.co/d/0eaBEMlu  📗 The Reality Behind Romance Scams: The Playbook https://a.co/d/0aV7btcS 🌐 Website: michaelbauthor.com 🎥 Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzbubG0gxfo If these episodes helped you, please follow, and share them with someone you care about, and help spread awareness. Until next time... Delete. Block. Walk. And al...

  7. Jul 7

    Episode 29 - The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams | The Rulebook – 10 Rules That Can Save You from a Romance Scam

    First of all, thank you for listening in. Hoping this helps individuals and families understand romance scams. If you have questions or want something to be discussed specifically, please comment or go to my website michaelbreinig.com to privately message me. All the best to you... Every romance scam begins with a decision. Sometimes that decision takes only a few seconds. In this episode, we talk together about the most important lessons from the first 28 episodes into one practical "Rulebook" designed to help someone recognize manipulation before it becomes financial and emotional devastation. Learn the FBI's rule - Rule #1, the 15/30 Rule, Delete. Block. Walk., the Four S's, and seven additional rules that can help you recognize the warning signs before it's too late. If you've ever received an unexpected message from someone you don't know—or know someone who has—this episode could change how you look at online relationships forever.  Hopefully it does. In this episode you'll learn: • FBI Rule #1  • The 15/30 Rule  • Delete. Block. Walk. (DBW)  • The Four S's: Secrecy, Silence, Shame & Seduction  • Why scammers depend on urgency and emotion  • Ten practical rules that can help protect you and the people you care about One unexpected message. Fifteen seconds. A lifetime of consequences—or a lifetime protected.  You do have a choice. I would also add this to every episode now: You are encouraged to add your own rules to expand this list, but please take caution if you delete any of these. Remember, you do not need all these rules to be broken...just one will suffice. Be safe online.  Protect what is yours and always, always, be safe. Amazon: https://a.co/d/022JDCrG Website: michaelbauthor.com You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelB-Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMichaelB/ This is an ongoing podcast series that explores the anatomy of modern romance scams and introduces practical tools designed to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from these crimes.  The AOM Framework™ Your Personal Rulebook — Gave a foundation for this, but please, build your own personal rules to recognize danger, make better decisions, and protect yourself before a scam ever takes hold.  Always validate. The Scammer's Playbook — Learn how scammers build trust, create dependency, and manipulate their victims. The Four S's — Secrecy. Silence. Shame. Seduction. The 15/30 Rule — Stop. Step back. Evaluate before you act. Pattern Recognition — Recognize where the scam is going before it gets there. DBW: Delete. Block. Walk. — Protect yourself. Walk away.  This is critical. Learn More: Books available to read, keep, or pass on. 📘 DING... "Hello Dear, Did You Miss Me?" https://a.co/d/0eaBEMlu  📗 The Reality Behind Romance Scams: The Playbook https://a.co/d/0aV7btcS 🌐 Website: michaelbauthor.com 🎥 Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzbubG0gxfo If these episodes helped you, please follow, and share them with someone you care about, and help spread awareness. Until next time... Delete. Block. Walk. And al...

  8. Jun 22

    Episode 28 – The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams | The 30 Rule: What Happens If You Ignore the Playbook

    First of all, thank you for listening in. Hoping this helps individuals and families understand romance scams. If you have questions or want something to be discussed specifically, please comment or go to my website michaelbreinig.com to privately message me. All the best to you... In Episode 27, we explored the Scammer's Playbook and how to recognize the warning signs of a romance scam before it's too late. We introduced a puzzle concept and when fitting the pieces together, you did not need to see full rendering or picture for a person to simply end the relationship.  Its the 15/30 rule  15 seconds to DBW, or accept the consequences of the 30, which we examine more in detail today.   In Episode 28, we ask a harder question: What happens if you ignore those warning signs? The 30 Rule is more than a pause or a cooling-off period. It is a projection of your future. It asks you to honestly examine what the next 30 years of your life might look like if you continue building a relationship that is not real. This episode explores: • The Four S's: Secrecy, Silence, Shame, and Seduction  • Why intelligent people stay in scams longer than they should and why some never leave  • The hidden costs that continue long after the scammer is gone  • Lost opportunities, damaged relationships, and the loss of peace  • Why victims often lose far more than money The scammer leaves. The invoices stay. If you're involved in a suspicious online relationship—or trying to help someone who is—this episode may be one of the most important conversations in the entire series. If you are currently involved in an online relationship and are questioning whether it is legitimate, listen to Episode 27 and Episode 28 together.  I think it will help you.  Michael B. Website: www.michaelbreinig.com Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/michael-b Book: Ding — "Hello Dear, How Are You?" www.amazon.com/dp/B0GK8P6TY3 Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzbubG0gxfo This is an ongoing podcast series that explores the anatomy of modern romance scams and introduces practical tools designed to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from these crimes.  The AOM Framework™ Your Personal Rulebook — Gave a foundation for this, but please, build your own personal rules to recognize danger, make better decisions, and protect yourself before a scam ever takes hold.  Always validate. The Scammer's Playbook — Learn how scammers build trust, create dependency, and manipulate their victims. The Four S's — Secrecy. Silence. Shame. Seduction. The 15/30 Rule — Stop. Step back. Evaluate before you act. Pattern Recognition — Recognize where the scam is going before it gets there. DBW: Delete. Block. Walk. — Protect yourself. Walk away.  This is critical. Learn More: Books available to read, keep, or pass on. 📘 DING... "Hello Dear, Did You Miss Me?" https://a.co/d/0eaBEMlu  📗 The Reality Behind Romance Scams: The Playbook https://a.co/d/0aV7btcS 🌐 Website: michaelbauthor.com 🎥 Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzbubG0gxfo If these episodes helped you, please follow, and share them with someone you care about, and help spread awareness. Until next time... Delete. Block. Walk. And al...

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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Anatomy of Modern Romance Scams examines how long-term, attachment-driven deception operates beneath what are commonly called “romance scams.” These scams don’t begin with money—they begin with trust, emotional connection, and carefully constructed relationships that evolve over time. This series breaks down how those connections form, how trust is manipulated, and how the impact unfolds across emotional, relational, and financial dimensions. Based on lived experience and structured analysis, each episode focuses on a specific component of the process—helping listeners understand not just what happens, but how it happens. The goal is simple: increase awareness, restore clarity, and help strengthen prevention. For a deeper, firsthand account of how these scams unfold step by step, the book can now be found on Amazon.  Please search  "Ding — “Hello Dear, How Are You?”  

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