RomConned

Heather Rovet fell in love with a man she knew as Jace, only to discover he wasn't who he claimed to be. Featured in Prime Video's ROMCON: Who the F**k Is Jason Porter?, Heather joins us to share her experience with deception, secret relationships, and the alleged theft of her mother's jewelry. We explore emotional manipulation, the grief of losing someone who never really existed, and how Heather found the strength and support to rebuild.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for Video / Fear of the Dark by soundridemusic

A new federal law requires dating platforms to warn users when someone they've communicated with has been banned for fraud. But what happens when they're already in love? We examine the Romance Scam Prevention Act, the psychology of romantic exploitation, and why discovering deception doesn't always break emotional attachment. We also explore how romance scams have evolved and what victims and families can do to protect themselves.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for Video / Fear of the Dark by soundridemusic

How did a 77-year-old accountant lose nearly $1 million to romance scammers—and come to see her own family as the enemy? Katharine Tober, author of Losing Margaret, shares her aunt's story, the family's desperate attempts to intervene, and why evidence alone couldn't break the scammers' hold. We explore the emotional manipulation behind romance fraud and the support victims and their families need to recover.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for Video / Fear of the Dark by soundridemusic

What happens when an investigative journalist deliberately enters a romance scam to find out how the deception actually works? Emmy-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller joins Laurel House on RomConned to discuss her National Geographic documentary "Super Scam Me," in which she goes undercover to experience the tactics used to build trust, create emotional attachment, and exploit the desire for connection.   Together, Mariana and Laurel examine what happens inside these relationships before the victim knows the ending, why intelligent people can be deceived, and why romance fraud carries a particular kind of shame. Laurel, a Human Connection Researcher, Relationships and Behavioral Dynamics Expert, and romance scam survivor, brings her own experience and research into the conversation, exploring Ghost Flags, the changing function of relationship behaviors, and #iTrusted—a way to challenge the shame that keeps victims silent. They also confront a disturbing contradiction: when someone is deceived financially, we often blame the scammer. Add the words "I love you," and suddenly we start questioning the person who trusted. What can Mariana's undercover investigation teach us about how these scams unfold, why victims may struggle to recognize or report them, and how we can respond differently? Subscribe to RomConned for investigations into what happens inside relationships—from confusion to crime. Words Inform. Actions Demonstrate. Patterns Reveal.   Watch Super Scam Me on Hulu, Disney+, and National Geographic The investigative documentary special premieres on October 17, airing at 9 pm EDT on National Geographic and streaming the same day on Disney+ and Hulu.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for Video / Fear of the Dark by soundridemusic

Why do we blame victims of romance scams for trusting someone who deceived them? We examine how love changes perceptions of financial exploitation, why shame prevents victims from speaking out, and how hindsight distorts our understanding of manipulation. From romance fraud to sexual assault allegations and #MeToo, we explore why victims are so often scrutinized instead of the people accused of exploiting their trust.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for Video / Fear of the Dark by soundridemusic