Release Date: 10 Feb 25

Host(s):

Adam Carter
Louise Baxter MBE (LouBax)

Guest(s):

Anna Rowe – Founder of LoveSaid and Catch the Catfish, romance fraud awareness campaigner

Episode Summary:

In this powerful episode of the Consumer Friend Podcast, Adam and LouBax sit down with Anna Rowe, a leading voice in raising awareness about romance fraud. After experiencing it firsthand, Anna turned her trauma into action, creating Catch the Catfish and LoveSaid, two platforms dedicated to educating and supporting victims of online deception.

Anna shares her story, shedding light on the manipulative tactics used in romance fraud, from emotional grooming to financial exploitation. The conversation highlights the psychological impact on victims, the growing role of AI in online deception, and why blaming victims needs to stop.

Key Takeaways

The Scale of Romance Fraud
- In 2023, over 7,660 cases of romance fraud were reported in England and Wales. Victims lost an average of £6,937, with the highest losses affecting those aged 65–74, averaging £13,123 per case.
Anna’s Journey
- Anna shares her experience of being deceived by someone who created a completely fake identity.
- She explains how emotional grooming, love bombing, and coercion made her—and many others—become a victim.
Understanding Romance Fraud
- Romance fraud isn't just about financial loss—it’s a triple trauma:
  1. The loss of an intense, manipulated relationship.
  2. The realisation that the person never actually existed.
  3. The financial or emotional toll of the deception.
Manipulation Tactics Used
- Love bombing: Overwhelming attention and affection to create emotional dependency.
- Isolation: Cutting victims off from support networks.
- Guilt & control: Using fake crises (illness, financial trouble) to elicit sympathy and money.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Fraud
- AI is making deception more sophisticated, from deepfake video calls to voice cloning.
- Criminals now use AI tools to personalise their messages and create more convincing fake identities.
Why Victim Blaming Must Stop
- Victims often struggle with shame and self-doubt after being deceived.
- Instead of asking, “Why did they fall for it?”, we should ask, “How did someone manipulate them so effectively?”

Resources & Links:

LoveSaid – Support for Romance Fraud Victims
Catch the Catfish – Awareness & Education
Consumer Friend Website – Learn more about fraud awareness and consumer protection.

Let’s break the stigma and start the conversation! 🎙️

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