💰 The $3M catfish

When something big happens, I let you know. This is one of those times. Please read and share with someone you care about.

This alert is sponsored by NordProtect. It’s the identity theft protection service I use. Right now, save 72%, only $3.79 a month for peace of mind.*

A woman in Florida spent six years pretending to be a man online. She walked away with $3 million from people who thought they were in love.

Christina Jane Julian, 56, was recently arrested in Craven County, North Carolina. One of her victims, an elderly woman, wired her $139,900 in a single month. She believed she was helping a man she cared about get back to the United States.

That man never existed. So sad.

Romance scammers don’t rush. They’re playing the long game.

They find you on dating apps or Facebook. They’re sweet. They listen. They remember your dog’s name and ask about your sister’s surgery. They text you good morning and good night like clockwork.

Then the story kicks in. They’re overseas. Stuck on an oil rig. Deployed somewhere they can’t say. Something always stops them from meeting you in person.

Then comes the ask. Medical emergency. Plane ticket to finally see you. Customs fees. A problem only your money can fix.

You send it. Because why wouldn’t you help someone you love?

The FTC says romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2023. That’s only what got reported. Most victims never say a word because they’re embarrassed.

Loneliness. That’s it. 

These scammers target widows, divorcees and people who need or want connection. They study your social media and mirror back exactly what you want to hear.

AI is making it worse. Scammers clone voices and fake video calls. That man on your screen might not be a man at all.

They dodge video calls. Or the audio never quite syncs up. They fall for you fast. Way too fast. Talking about a future together before you’ve ever shared a cup of coffee.

They ask for money. Gift cards. Wire transfers. Crypto. Always something hard to trace. They want secrecy. They don’t want you telling friends or family. That’s not romantic. That’s isolation.

What to do

Here’s what nobody talks about. 

Romance scammers don’t just want your cash. They want everything you gave them along the way. Your full name. Your address. Your birthday. Your Social Security number if they can get it.

That information ends up on the dark web, sold to the next criminal in line. Suddenly, you’re not only heartbroken, you’re dealing with stolen credit, drained accounts and years of cleanup.

This is why I use NordProtect. It monitors your personal info across data breaches and the dark web. If something shows up where it shouldn’t, you get an alert fast. And if someone does steal your identity, you get up to $1 million in insurance and a team to help you fix it.

Scams hurt twice. Once when they take your money. Again when they take your identity. Protect both.

My deal: Right now you can get NordProtect for just $3.79 a month. That’s 72% off.*

Photo credit(s): Gemini

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