Dating to Win

After losing her husband of 36 years, Delaware County resident Kate Kleinert was targeted on Facebook by a romance scammer posing as a United Nations doctor working overseas. What began with a simple friend request became months of emotional grooming. The supposed doctor contacted Kate daily, discussed marriage and introduced her to two alleged children who began calling her “Mom.” Then the requests for gift cards and money began. Kate eventually lost nearly $39,000—her life savings—to a man who never existed. In this powerful Dating to Win interview, Kate reveals how the romance scammer studied her life, gained her trust and created an entire fictional future. She also recounts the heartbreaking night she dressed for their first meeting, prepared champagne and waited for a telephone call that never came. But Kate’s story did not end with the romance scam. After losing her husband, her financial security and the relationship she believed was real, Kate endured another unimaginable tragedy. A devastating house fire destroyed her home and killed all six of the hospice dogs she lovingly cared for. Somehow, Kate found the courage to rebuild. Today, she is a nationally recognized romance-scam survivor advocate who works to educate the public and help other victims understand that the shame belongs to the criminal—not the person who was deliberately manipulated. IN THIS EPISODE: • How Kate was targeted after losing her husband • The Facebook friend request that changed her life • The fake doctor claiming to work overseas • How emotional grooming creates trust • Why the scammer’s supposed children called her “Mom” • How gift-card requests escalated into a $39,000 loss • The night Kate waited for the doctor to arrive • Grieving a person who never actually existed • The devastating fire that destroyed Kate’s home • Losing all six of her hospice dogs • How Kate became a romance-scam survivor advocate • The Unbreaking Project—Kate’s Hug • Romance-scam warning signs • How families should support suspected victims SUPPORT THE UNBREAKING PROJECT—KATE’S HUG: https://advocatingforu.com/unbreaking-project/ ROMANCE-SCAM HELP AND REPORTING: AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline 877-908-3360 Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Eastern https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/ Report Internet Crime to the FBI: https://www.ic3.gov/ Report Fraud to the Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ WATCH MORE DATING TO WIN ROMANCE-SCAM INTERVIEWS: The Romance Scam That Destroyed Her Life | Jennifer’s Story https://youtu.be/sOrlMvfjBNQ Romance Scam Victim Lost $1.6 Million in Crypto | Lang’s Interview https://youtu.be/xPY_AIc9cWc I Lost Half a Million to Online Dating—Here’s How It Happened https://youtu.be/3WrZM-U6XVA Romance Scammers and Billion-Dollar Criminal Networks | Erin West https://youtu.be/JgR51ZXBWK8 SUBSCRIBE TO DATING TO WIN ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@DatingtoWin25?sub_confirmation=1 CONTACT MATT RUSSO: Podcast interviews, speaking engagements and dating coaching: [email protected] ABOUT DATING TO WIN: Dating to Win presents honest conversations about love, relationships, romance scams, emotional manipulation, recovery and rebuilding your life. Hosted and produced by Matt Russo. Topics covered include romance scams, romance scammers, fake doctor scams, Facebook romance scams, online dating scams, widow romance-scam victims, emotional grooming, catfishing, gift-card scams, elder fraud, scam recovery, Kate Kleinert, Kate’s Hug and the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

Are dating apps helping you find love, or keeping you single, swiping, and paying? Matt Russo sits down with Franz Thiessen, founder of Seen, a new dating app designed to encourage meaningful connections instead of endless swiping. Discover why Seen limits users to three active matches, how Franz plans to address fake profiles and romance scams, and why he believes the online dating industry needs to change. ❤️ Join the Seen waitlist: https://www.datingseen.app/ 🧪 Become a beta tester: https://www.datingseen.app/testers #DatingToWin #DatingApps #OnlineDating #FindingLove

Can Democrats and Republicans date successfully, or have political differences become a dealbreaker? In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo explores what happens when dating, political beliefs, and personal values collide. Can two people disagree about politics and still feel understood and respected? When should you look past a party label, and when does a disagreement reveal a deeper compatibility issue? This conversation is about navigating those questions while looking for a meaningful relationship. Watch the video episode: https://youtu.be/UEb-FcIHr_U What about you: would you date someone from the opposite political party? Tell us where you draw the line. Topics: Democrat vs. Republican dating, dating across political differences, politics and relationships, dating dealbreakers, shared values, relationship compatibility, Dating to Win with Matt Russo. #DatingToWin #DatingAndPolitics #RelationshipAdvice

What women actually want in a man may have less to do with saying the perfect thing and more to do with how he shows up when a relationship gets difficult. On this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo talks with author and relationship coach GS Youngblood about healthy masculinity, attraction, and what helps a woman feel emotionally safe. GS explains the three parts of his Masculine Blueprint: respond instead of react, provide structure, and create safety. He and Matt discuss grounding yourself before responding to conflict, setting boundaries without being controlling, and helping a partner feel heard. They also get practical about modern dating: taking the lead when planning a first date, who pays, asking better questions, and building an emotional connection that goes beyond looks. GS Youngblood is the author of The Masculine in Relationship and The Art of Embodiment for Men. Learn more about GS and his books: https://www.gsyoungblood.com/books Watch Dating to Win on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DatingtoWin25 What do you think matters most in choosing a partner: attraction, emotional safety, communication, or something else? Share your thoughts with us. What women actually want in a man, GS Youngblood, healthy masculinity, emotional safety in relationships, masculine leadership, dating advice for men, relationship advice, attraction beyond looks, emotional maturity, first-date conversations, Dating to Win with Matt Russo. #DatingToWin #GSYoungblood #RelationshipAdvice

Can intelligence and education protect someone from a romance scam? Dr. Jonathan Farley is a Harvard-educated mathematician who earned his doctorate from Oxford. Yet despite approaching love analytically, asking approximately 250 questions, traveling to Siberia, meeting his future wife’s family, and maintaining a three-year international relationship, Jonathan says everything changed shortly after they married. In this candid Dating to Win interview with Matt Russo, Jonathan explains why he searched for love in Russia, how the relationship developed, what made him believe it was legitimate, and why he ultimately came to believe that he had been deceived and lost nearly $50,000. In this episode: Why Jonathan pursued international dating His relationship with a younger Russian woman The approximately 250 questions he asked before marriage Why a three-year courtship made him feel protected What reportedly changed after the wedding How intelligence can create a false sense of security The warning signs Jonathan recognizes today Whether he is finally ready to trust and find love again CONNECT WITH DR. JONATHAN FARLEY Jonathan remains open to meeting someone special. Women who are genuinely interested in introducing themselves and exploring the possibility of getting to know him may contact him directly: https://www.ic3.gov Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360 https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/ DISCLAIMER This interview presents Dr. Jonathan Farley’s personal account, beliefs, opinions, and allegations concerning his former relationship and marriage. References to deception, immigration motives, a scam, or financial loss reflect Jonathan’s account and should not be interpreted as a criminal conviction, judicial finding, or independently established fact. This episode is provided for education, commentary, and public awareness.