Netflix's 'Love Con Revenge' Exposes the Dangers of Romance Scams

Netflix's new six-part docuseries, 'Love Con Revenge,' premiered on September 5, 2025, shedding light on the pervasive issue of romance fraud.

The series features Cecilie Fjellhøy, a survivor of the widely publicized "The Tinder Swindler," who has partnered with private investigator Brianne Joseph. Together, they aim to help victims rebuild their lives and seek justice. Each episode meticulously examines real-life cases, highlighting the profound emotional and financial devastation caused by these predatory schemes.

Romance scams, a growing concern in the digital age, have seen a significant surge with the popularity of online dating platforms and social media. These scams involve criminals creating deceptive personas to foster emotional connections, ultimately exploiting victims for financial gain. Tactics often include "love bombing" and "future faking" to rapidly build trust and emotional dependence. Victims can lose substantial sums of money; in the U.S. alone, reported losses exceeded $1 billion in 2024. The median loss for victims in 2023 was reported at $2,000. Fjellhøy, drawing from her own experience, uses her platform to empower others, stating, "Love Con Revenge is a way for me to use what I've learned to help others heal, reclaim their voices, their power, and their lives."

The series aims to educate viewers on identifying the tell-tale signs of romance fraud, such as individuals who push for private conversations away from dating sites, ask numerous personal questions while revealing little about themselves, or consistently have excuses to avoid meeting in person. Scammers often profess love early in the relationship and may invent emergencies or financial difficulties to solicit funds, frequently requesting payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Beyond financial losses, the psychological toll on victims is immense, with research indicating symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder, alongside feelings of shame, embarrassment, and self-blame.

The series underscores the importance of recognizing these warning signs, reporting suspicious behavior promptly, and maintaining thorough documentation. Between January 2020 and December 2024, nearly 40,000 cases of romance fraud were reported in the UK, with experts believing the true figures are much higher due to underreporting. 'Love Con Revenge' is now available for streaming on Netflix, offering a critical examination of these pervasive scams and a beacon of hope for those affected.