Episodi

  • The Architect Who Loved Twelve Women At Once

    The Architect Who Loved Twelve Women At Once
    Sep 28 2026
    The Architect Who Loved Twelve Women At Once

    Discover the chilling reality of a man who ran twelve simultaneous courtships, meticulously crafting a system that mimicked love while exploiting the vulnerabilities of women like Kimberly Simmons. What hidden room held the secrets of his deception, and how did a simple flower expose a sophisticated romance scam?

    In this episode, we delve into the intricate details of a long-running operation in Dunbar, Virginia, where a man used a template of emotional precision to ensnare multiple victims. We explore the small, methodical cracks that ultimately brought light to a system designed to pass for genuine affection.

    Person: Kimberly Simmons
    Location: Dunbar, Virginia
    Date: Summer 2019
    Platform: HeartBridge
    Alias: Norman Reed

    - A pressed marigold, grown in a woman's garden, was found in a back room with prepaid phones and laptops.
    - Kimberly Simmons, 44, lost her teaching position of 19 years and finalized her divorce in 2019.
    - The scammer's profile claimed he was Norman Reed, 51, a deaf architect from Portland, Oregon, working in Edinburgh, Scotland.
    - The profile photo was of Douglas Fitch, a real architect in Boise, Idaho, who was unaware his image was being used.
    - A waitress noticed a man ordering coffee by sliding a note, a detail that later became significant.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    24 min
  • The Engineer Who Built a Lover From Three Strangers

    The Engineer Who Built a Lover From Three Strangers
    Sep 27 2026
    The Engineer Who Built a Lover From Three Strangers

    Imagine finding a pink envelope on a park bench, containing a photograph of a smiling couple, only to realize the man in the picture is a face you just saw on the news. This discovery launched a 14-month investigation into a romantic scam that forced an unsettling question: how does someone construct a person from three strangers and make that person feel like love?

    In this episode, we delve into the meticulous construction of a romantic deception, starting with a seemingly ordinary woman named Karen Becker. We explore how a practical, spreadsheet-organizing billing coordinator, who read four reviews before buying an appliance, came to wire nine thousand dollars to a man she had never met in person.

    Person: Karen Becker
    Age: 28
    Location: Crestfield, Ohio
    Investigator: Ross Vickers
    Duration of investigation: 14 months

    - Karen Becker lived on Whitmore Avenue for three years and updated her budget spreadsheet every Sunday evening.
    - She met "Philip Mueller" in September 2018 on a dating platform she had used casually for about a year.
    - The profile photograph of "Philip Mueller" belonged to Tom Hale, a 36-year-old civil engineer in Spokane, Washington.
    - The backstory "Philip" offered Karen came from the Facebook profile of Craig Petersen, a schoolteacher from Indiana.
    - Karen wired nine thousand dollars to the man she knew as Philip Mueller.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    22 min
  • The Silk Rose He Left Was a Lie

    The Silk Rose He Left Was a Lie
    Sep 26 2026
    The Silk Rose He Left Was a Lie

    Imagine finding a silk rose woven into your trellis, a romantic gesture from a man you've fallen for online, only to discover he doesn't exist. This chilling detail marks the beginning of a romance scam that left a grieving woman heartbroken and financially exploited. How did a seemingly thoughtful gift become proof of a devastating betrayal?

    In this episode, we uncover the story of Tracy Gray, a 56-year-old licensed practical nurse from Kellerton, Ohio, who found solace in an online grief support community after her husband's death. We explore how a meticulously crafted fake identity, built over eight months, led her to believe she was falling in love, culminating in a series of financial transfers and a final, deceptive gift.

    Victim: Tracy Gray
    Location: Kellerton, Ohio
    Scammer's Fictional Identity: Curtis Bauer
    Scammer's Real Identity: Marcus Tilley
    Total Amount Transferred: $14,300

    - Tracy Gray was 56 years old in 2022 and worked as a licensed practical nurse in Kellerton, Ohio.
    - Her husband, Dennis Gray, died in March 2019 from sudden cardiac arrest.
    - Tracy joined the online grief support community Solace Circle in October 2021.
    - Marcus Tilley, 44, from Findlay, Ohio, created the fake identity of Curtis Bauer, a 61-year-old civil engineer from Portland, Oregon.
    - Tracy transferred $14,300 across six transactions by the end of June 2022, with the first transfer being $2,000 in April 2022.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    21 min
  • The Notebook: How He Studied Her Grief to Steal Everything

    The Notebook: How He Studied Her Grief to Steal Everything
    Sep 25 2026
    The Notebook: How He Studied Her Grief to Steal Everything

    Imagine receiving flowers for your "future wife" from a man you've never met, paid for with your own money, just as your grandmother is dying. This is the chilling reality Marcia Meyer faced, a meticulous 22-year-old who unknowingly became the target of a romance scam designed to exploit her deepest vulnerabilities. How did a civil engineer from Scotland, who didn't exist, manage to steal not just her money, but her most private memories?

    In this episode, we uncover the intricate architecture of a romance scam that targeted Marcia Meyer, a patient reception coordinator from Delphos, Ohio. We explore how a meticulously crafted persona and a spiral notebook filled with personal data were used to build trust through "grief proximity" and extract eleven transfers of money.

    Person: Marcia Meyer
    Location: Delphos, Ohio
    Object: Spiral notebook
    Crime: Romance scam
    First transfer amount: $2,400

    - Marcia Meyer was 22 years old and worked as a patient reception coordinator.
    - The scammer, Wade Mason, did not exist.
    - A spiral notebook found in Shreveport, Louisiana, listed ten women by name.
    - Marcia's grandmother, Edna, had a weekly call ritual with Marcia every Wednesday at 11 PM.
    - Marcia met "Wade Mason" in September 2021 on a dating application.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    23 min
  • The Envelope: He Built Her World Before She Logged In

    The Envelope: He Built Her World Before She Logged In
    Sep 24 2026
    The Envelope: He Built Her World Before She Logged In

    Imagine a world meticulously crafted for you before you even know it exists. A sealed envelope, found by a dog, contained a photograph of an old man and a chilling message: "For when you doubt me - I am real, Nicole. and this is where I live." But the man who wrote it had never met Nicole Dixon, nor the man in the photo. What kind of elaborate deception was this?

    In this episode, we uncover the story of an engineered reality, built not on romance but on calculated transactions. From a reactivated dating profile in 2018 to a clay riverbank in 2019, we explore how one woman's world was constructed, one wire transfer at a time, leading to a total of $41,200.

    Person: Nicole Dixon
    Location: Sutter's Bend, Indiana
    Dating Platform: HarborMatch
    Total Transferred: $41,200
    Period: March 2018 - May 2019

    - An envelope containing 31 handwritten letters, 2 notarized documents, and a color photograph was found sealed in a zip-lock bag.
    - Nicole Dixon, 38, worked for six years as a home care referral coordinator, assessing needs for elderly clients.
    - The first message from "Wayne Price" arrived in March 2018, describing himself as a widower caring for his 78-year-old father, Albert Price.
    - The photograph on Wayne's profile was taken from the private Facebook account of a real 47-year-old machinist named Wayne Price, who had never used a dating app.
    - The first request for money was for $400 for a wheelchair ramp, which Nicole transferred and was repaid 11 days later.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    26 min
  • His Voice Knew Everything: The $31,000 Lie

    His Voice Knew Everything: The $31,000 Lie
    Sep 23 2026
    His Voice Knew Everything: The $31,000 Lie

    Imagine a warm, slightly raspy voice that learns every intimate detail of your life, then uses each one against you in a devastating romantic scam. This is the chilling reality behind a $31,000 loss that began with a dating app profile and ended with a woman's carefully structured life in ruins. How did a seemingly reliable widower become the architect of such a profound betrayal?

    In this episode, we uncover the meticulous construction of a fraudulent identity, the systematic harvesting of a real person's online presence, and the psychological manipulation that led to five separate wire transfers. We explore the evidence that revealed a relationship that never existed and the lasting impact of a voice that knew too much.

    Person: Emily Donnelly
    Loss: $31,000
    Location: Hartsfield, Mercer County, Ohio
    Date: January 9, 2022

    - Carol Boyd found rose-gold reading glasses with the initials 'E.D.' hooked to a trotline stake on Cedar Fork.
    - Emily Donnelly, 61, worked as a medical billing coordinator and lived on Pryor Street in Hartsfield, Ohio.
    - The fraudulent dating profile used the name Wayne Harrison and photos of Robert Fenn, a 57-year-old civil engineer from Columbus, Ohio.
    - The scammer, 54, had three prior fraud charges across two states and operated from a rented room in Ridgeway.
    - Emily made five wire transfers totaling $31,000 between March 19 and April 9, 2022, to a shell entity in Lakewood, Ohio.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    22 min
  • The Engraved Ring: Four Women, One Lie

    The Engraved Ring: Four Women, One Lie
    Sep 22 2026
    The Engraved Ring: Four Women, One Lie

    A solitaire diamond engagement ring, professionally engraved, was found in the dirt of an unoccupied parcel of land. No one in county records reported it missing, yet nine days later, a man was in handcuffs. What shocking romantic scam led to this discovery?

    In this episode, we uncover the intricate web of deception woven around four women in a small community, all connected by a man who doesn't exist. Discover the crucial detail, hidden in phone records, that unraveled the entire scheme.

    Person: Cheryl Morgan
    Location: Pelham Hollow Road, Hardin County
    Date: Second Tuesday of March
    Item: Solitaire diamond engagement ring
    Status: Unreported missing

    - The ring was a solitaire diamond set in white gold, found at the base of a survey post.
    - The engraving inside the band read: "M & W, always."
    - Kevin Slade was arrested nine days after the ring was found.
    - The fake identity, Wayne Donnelly, was assembled using photos and credentials from Paul Henning, a structural engineer from Richmond.
    - Michelle Whitley, 24, was one of four women targeted, all attending Cornerstone Fellowship.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    24 min
  • The Shoebox in the Crawl Space: He Knew, But Couldn't Stop

    The Shoebox in the Crawl Space: He Knew, But Couldn't Stop
    Sep 21 2026
    The Shoebox in the Crawl Space: He Knew, But Couldn't Stop

    Imagine finding a shoebox in a crawl space, filled with military photos, a love letter, and wire transfer confirmations totaling $63,800. This wasn't a random discovery; it was hidden by Clifford Simpson, a man who knew he was being scammed but couldn't stop. What drove him to hide the evidence of his own financial ruin?

    In this episode, we uncover the story of Clifford Simpson, a parts coordinator who lost his wife to cancer and found himself targeted by a sophisticated romance scam. We explore the meticulous operation that exploited his grief and led him to transfer tens of thousands of dollars, despite his own suspicions.

    Person: Clifford Simpson
    Date: February 2019
    Location: Vesper Mill Road, North Carolina
    Amount: $63,800
    Crime: Romance scam

    - April Patterson found a shoebox containing photographs, a letter, and wire transfer confirmations.
    - Clifford Simpson, a 48-year-old parts coordinator, had hidden the shoebox himself.
    - The scam connected Clifford to five other victims and involved a man in a silver Ford pickup truck.
    - Clifford transferred $63,800 over seventeen months, in amounts designed to avoid detection.
    - The scammer, posing as "Sandra Hollis," communicated with Clifford for five months before the first financial request.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    23 min