In this episode of The Story, Luke Jones interviews Alexis Conran about the rising issue of romance scams. Conran, drawing from his experience reporting on scams and his personal history, explains how these scams operate, often originating from scam compounds in Southeast Asia where individuals are trafficked and forced to work. The scams involve extensive grooming and emotional manipulation, using detailed scripts to build trust and isolate victims from their support networks. Mary Chater shares her personal experience of being targeted by a romance scammer after the loss of her husband, highlighting the emotional vulnerability that scammers exploit. Conran provides advice on how to spot red flags, such as unwillingness to meet in person and attempts to isolate the victim, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining vigilance and supporting loved ones to prevent them from falling victim to these insidious scams.
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