Globally, both stories are grabbing huge audiences. “The Tinder Swindler” was Netflix’s second-most popular film and “Inventing Anna” was the most-watched TV show from Feb. 21 to 28, according to the streaming platform. Having served two years in Finnish prison, Hayut is now trying to profit off his infamy: According to Entertainment Tonight, he’s joined Cameo, a platform where users can pay celebrities to appear in video messages, and has signed with a talent manager.
Both stories are painful and juicy to watch. And although the signs of a scam may be obvious in hindsight, they’re harder to spot as they’re unfolding. We spoke to a therapist, matchmaker, a finance professor and an expert in information systems about how these con artists operate — and how to spot their red flags in real time.
It’s easier to fall for these schemes than you might think.
Long before any money is exchanged, scams like Hayut’s begin on the emotional level. “The con is making someone feel wanted,” says Joanne Frederick, a mental health counselor in Washington, D.C.
Unfortunately, romance scams are common. Victims of romance fraud lost $1 billion in 2021, according to the FBI. “While anyone can be a victim of this fraud, the bad actors are known to target women over age 40 who are widowed, divorced, elderly, and/or disabled,” the FBI said in a news release last month.
The women portrayed in “The…
