Romance Scam Rebellion

Anola Johnson
  • 4.7 (13)
  • Documentary

The Romance Scam Rebellion is a bold, experience-led podcast that eposes 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.  No sugar coating.  No victim-blaming.  Just raw stories, real strategies, and rebellious self compassion.

  1. 1d ago

    Not Every Romance Scam Starts Online | The Heather Rovet Story Part One

    Send us Fan Mail A 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. Heather recounts how they met, why she trusted him, the subtle warning signs she couldn't yet see, and the shocking discoveries that changed her life forever. Her story is a powerful reminder that romance scams don't just happen online, and that anyone can become the target of a skilled predator. If you've ever wondered how intelligent, successful people become victims of deception, this episode is for you. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me:  You can donate at:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.

    Not Every Romance Scam Starts Online | The Heather Rovet Story Part One

  2. Jul 28

    I didn't look like a Scam Victim...Until I Was One. The Tracy Hall Story

    Send us Fan Mail When 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 daughter... and turned out to be someone else entirely. His real name was Hamish McLaren, one of Australia's most notorious career con men, a serial fraudster who spent roughly three decades and stole an estimated $70 million from victims around the world under a series of fabricated identities. Tracy learned the truth the same way the rest of Australia did: watching a Crime Stoppers video of his arrest. She lost her life savings of $317,000, and became the final victim in a criminal case involving 15 people and $7.6 million. In this conversation, Tracy shares how the relationship was built slowly and deliberately over 18 months, how Hamish mirrored her values and interests to seem like the perfect match, how her retirement savings were siphoned into an account that was never actually in her name, and the massive gaps she discovered in victim support once financial crime, unlike violent crime, offered her almost no assistance to recover. We also talk about what it means that Hamish's prison sentence which ended in July 2026.  What she's doing now as one of Australia's leading voices in fraud prevention, and the very real threat of teenage sextortion she's since uncovered while trying to protect her own daughter online. Tracy's book, The Last Victim, is now available in the US — link below. 📖 Get the book: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Victim-betrayal-unbreakable-relationship-ebook/dp/B0CS9JG381 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Last-Victim-Audiobook/B0CWB6FPC1?srsltid=AfmBOopSUsJgBeTCdE9o3hp5fPEgavDKuvEoUxH1z96pqRAG9SCOljYh  🔗 Follow Tracy: LinkedIn / Instagram: https://tracyhall.com.au/instagram  🎧 Related: "Who the Hell is Hamish?" podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/who-the-hell-is-hamish/id1451470931 https://open.spotify.com/show/1NpAwUFhZUsO8FkifAxgWt Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me:  You can donate at:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.

    I didn't look like a Scam Victim...Until I Was One. The Tracy Hall Story

  3. Jul 21

    She Refused to Stay Silent: Kathy Waters and the Fight Against Romance Scammers

    Send us Fan Mail What 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 her life. Kathy talks about tracking down the real man behind the stolen photos, meeting with lawmakers in Washington D.C., speaking before the United Nations, and helping launch World Romance Scam Prevention Day,  all while working a full-time job. We dig into why social media platforms keep failing to remove fake accounts, the fight to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, and why survivors are so often blamed instead of believed. This is a conversation about persistence, compassion, and what it really takes to hold powerful platforms accountable. Resources mentioned: Learn more or find support at AARS' website: advocatingforu.com Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me:  You can donate at:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.

    She Refused to Stay Silent: Kathy Waters and the Fight Against Romance Scammers

  4. Jul 14

    Erin West's War on the Global Scamdemic

    Send us Fan Mail Romance 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 discuss the criminal networks behind today's most sophisticated scams—and what it will take to stop them. We explore how organized scam syndicates operate across international borders, why cryptocurrency has become their preferred payment method, and how law enforcement, financial institutions, and the private sector are beginning to work together to disrupt these criminal enterprises. We also discuss: How scam compounds operate Why victims should never be blamed The role cryptocurrency plays in modern fraud How Operation Shamrock is bringing global partners together What governments, banks, and technology companies can do to better protect consumers Practical steps everyone can take to avoid becoming the next victim This isn't just another conversation about scams—it's about understanding the global ecosystem that allows them to thrive and the people working tirelessly to dismantle it. If you or someone you know has been affected by a scam, you're not alone. Education is one of the most powerful tools we have, and conversations like this are an important step toward protecting others. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone you care about. Together, we can make it harder for scammers to succeed. Erins podcast:  https://www.operationshamrock.org/podcast/stolen  Operation Shamrock web page:  https://www.operationshamrock.org/ Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me:  You can donate at:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.

    Erin West's War on the Global Scamdemic

  5. Jul 7

    Pause. Reflect. Protect - AARP's Fraud Whisperer

    Send us Fan Mail I'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 phone impersonation scams to AI-generated voices designed to sound like someone you trust — and explains why even the most cautious people get fooled. But this conversation goes beyond awareness. Kathy shares the full scope of what AARP is doing to fight back — from pushing for state legislation to ban or regulate crypto ATMs, to advocating for safe, responsible AI that protects consumers rather than exploits them. We also dig into the powerful resources AARP makes available to anyone who needs help — including the free Fraud Watch Network Helpline, confidential victim support groups, and fraud prevention workshops happening across the country. If you or someone you love has ever been targeted by a scam — or you simply want to be better prepared — this episode is for you. Because the best defense starts with three simple steps: Pause. Reflect. Protect.   Here are links of places you can look to for help and education. aarp.org/fraudtips Pause Reflect Protect https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/pause-reflect-protect/ Words Matter https://www.aarp.org/lp/fraud-narrative-change/?cmp=RDRCT-FRD-CONSUMER-NARRATIVE-LP-2024 Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me:  You can donate at:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.

    Pause. Reflect. Protect - AARP's Fraud Whisperer

  6. Jun 30

    Inside The Scam Factories

    Send us Fan Mail What 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 being trafficked from Africa to Southeast Asia and forced to work inside a scam compound. Trapped by organized crime, he was given an impossible choice: scam innocent people or face brutal consequences himself. His story exposes the hidden human trafficking network behind the global scam industry and challenges everything we think we know about who the real victims are. This conversation is not about excusing fraud. It's about exposing the criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable people on both sides of the screen—those who lose everything to the scams and those who are coerced into carrying them out. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of human trafficking, coercion, violence, and psychological trauma. This is not an isolated story. It is part of a rapidly growing pattern of human trafficking that fuels one of the largest criminal enterprises in the world.  If you are able, please consider supporting the work of Action Against Trafficking, please email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com and I'll provide the link where you can contribute. If this episode resonates with you, please like and suscribe so you don't miss any episodes. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me:  You can donate at:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.

    Inside The Scam Factories

  7. Jun 23

    Kidnapped into a Scam Compound

    Send us Fan Mail He 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 of the criminal operations fueling today's global scam epidemic. But escaping the compound was only the beginning. He returned home carrying the invisible wounds of trafficking—trauma, loss, and the challenge of rebuilding a life forever changed. This is a story of deception, exploitation, resilience, and survival. It is also a stark reminder that behind many online scams are victims on both sides of the screen. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of human trafficking, coercion, violence, and psychological trauma. If you are able to help, please consider contributing to his non-profit which is helping other victims who remain trapped.  Here is the link  Voices from the Compounds: https://gofund.me/953cb0769 GOD BLESS AMERICA: A Survivor’s Story of What Happened in the Scam Offices of Park 8 You can buy his new book through this link:  https://a.co/01H9A2Py Thank you for your support Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me:  You can donate at:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.

    Kidnapped into a Scam Compound

  8. Jun 16

    Two Women One Mission: Exposing Romance Scammers and Protecting Victims

    Send us Fan Mail They 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 romance scammers for amusement to becoming one of the UK's most recognizable voices in fraud awareness. We discuss her bestselling books, *Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You* and *The Future of Fraud*, and how a few cheeky exchanges with scammers evolved into a mission to educate the public about one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. Anna shares her own powerful story and the experiences that led her to establish two organizations dedicated to supporting victims and raising awareness: Catch the Catfish and LoveSaid. Together, we explore the devastating human impact of fraud and the urgent need for better education, support, and prevention. Along the way, we discuss the global spread of organized fraud, the industrial-scale scam compounds operating around the world, the alarming evolution of technology, and why virtually no one is immune to manipulation. There are laughs. There are jaw-dropping stories. There are moments that will make you furious. Most importantly, there is a reminder that behind every fake profile, every stolen photograph, and every scam message lies a very real human cost. Whether you're a scam survivor, an advocate, or simply someone who thinks Keanu Reeves might secretly be messaging you at 2 a.m., this episode is for you. Spoiler alert: he isn't. Support the show Romance Scam Rebellion is entirely self funded. If this content has helped you, educated someone you love, or simply made you more aware of these crimes — please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps me continue this work and get one step closer to rebuilding what was taken from me:  You can donate at:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-a-romance-scam-at-69 Email me at romancescamrebellion@gmail.com if you have a story you need to tell.

    Two Women One Mission: Exposing Romance Scammers and Protecting Victims
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4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The Romance Scam Rebellion is a bold, experience-led podcast that eposes 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.  No sugar coating.  No victim-blaming.  Just raw stories, real strategies, and rebellious self compassion.

Information

  • Creator
    Anola Johnson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Romance Scam Rebellion
  • Show Website
    Romance Scam Rebellion

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