The incidence of catfishing, also known as romance scamming, has dramatically increased over the course of the pandemic. The FBI stated that there were over one billion dollars lost in romance scams last year, and reports of romance fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission rose a whopping 80%.

With scams on the rise, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself— and to know how to recover financially if you do fall victim to a scam. In Money Rehab episodes 329 and 330, Nicole talks to Rebecca, who lost over $100,000 in a romance scam. Rebecca shares the mechanics of her scam, and the financial and emotional toll. 

If you are involved in a romance scam, you can find help here: https://www.facebook.com/SHUisteamwork/ 

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, you can find resources here: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/