The Dating Detectives

Episode: The Porsche & Penthouse Scam: Part 3
Release Date: August 18, 2025
Hosts: Mackenzie Fultz & Hannah Anderson
Guests: Layla and Allison

Episode Overview

In this gripping conclusion of "The Porsche & Penthouse Scam" saga, private investigator Mackenzie Fultz and comedian Hannah Anderson welcome back Layla and Allison, two women who, after being separately duped by the same charismatic con artist ("Brian"), join forces to unravel his web of lies, financial scams, and emotional manipulation. The episode details Layla's escalating discoveries, the deepening friendship between the victims, their PI-level sleuthing, and the ongoing effort to achieve justice—and closure.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the anatomy of complex relationship cons and the power of community in fighting back.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Recap and Story Progress ([00:41] – [03:02])

• The saga began with Allison's initial episode months ago, followed by Layla's story and their subsequent connection via the T app and "Are We Dating the Same Guy?" Facebook group.
• Both Layla and Allison fell victim to “Brian,” a British scammer with a charming veneer and a taste for elaborate lies, international drama, and expensive tastes funded by his targets.

The Aftermath of the Wimbledon Ticket Scam ([03:12] – [12:51])

• The $2,000 Wimbledon Con: Layla learns, three weeks post-ticket sale, the buyer disputed the payment, resulting in $2,000 being withdrawn from her Venmo ([03:12]–[03:48]).

• Brian provides Layla with misleading screenshots, claiming the situation was resolved.

• He is ingratiating himself into her life: discussing holidays together, planning travel, integrating with her children, building trust ([04:00]–[05:45]).

• Notable Red Flag: Brian pays for dates by putting pre-authorized holds at restaurants, likely using stolen cards or another scam ([05:28]–[06:40]).

  "Wait, so he wasn't really paying? ...I have no idea. My guess, he's using someone else's card."
  —Layla ([05:45])

• Visa Manipulation: Brian claims deportation fears and concocts an artist visa scheme, ultimately leveraging Layla for $4,000 under false pretenses ([08:01]–[12:22]).

Escalating Manipulation and Gaslighting ([12:07] – [26:24])

• Layla provides Brian cash to handle his visa, only for him to disappear with the money.
• She describes Brian’s deepening involvement with her children, making the betrayal all the more personal and painful.
• When Layla returns from a Miami trip, she discovers her children’s new PlayStation 5 missing ([16:47]–[18:49]). Brian fabricates a story about breaking it and taking it for repair but cannot provide proof—contradictory stories and screenshots abound.
• Layla chases Brian for truthful answers about the PlayStation and outstanding money but is repeatedly stonewalled.

Web of Lies and the Private Jet Fantasy ([26:24] – [37:28])

• Brian continues to weave elaborate narratives:
  • Excuses about consulate processes and visa pick-up procedures.
  • Claims his mother has cancer, using emotional blackmail to justify delays.
  • Promises a luxurious trip via private jet—complete with doctored photos. Layla holds firm, demanding he return what’s owed before any future together ([31:54]–[33:43]).
• The PlayStation’s whereabouts spiral through a series of fabricated friends and repair shops. Layla eventually learns from a repairwoman that Brian never dropped off the device, instead attempting to cover his tracks on the fly ([33:43]–[36:12]).

Realization, Police Involvement, and Full Exposure ([44:58] – [54:33])

• After relentless gaslighting, Layla reaches out to the woman involved in the Wimbledon ticket debacle:

  • Confirms the entire event was a scam—screenshots from Brian were faked ([44:58]).

  • Layla finally kicks Brian out, packing his things in paper grocery bags:

    "Whatever you leave behind is going in the garbage or it’s going to Goodwill. You decide. But it’s not staying here for you to pick up at a later date."
    —Layla ([46:44])

• Brian runs the same deposit scam on Layla’s friends, promising a lavish birthday party but never making a reservation, and stealing their deposits ([49:15]–[51:13]).

• Layla files a police report for grand larceny and small claims court for the money lost.

The Power of Connection: Layla Meets Allison ([54:33] – [63:05])

• After Layla posts Brian on the T app and “Are We Dating the Same Guy?”, Allison, his prior victim, connects with her ([56:47]–[58:13]).

• The two compare timelines and realize Brian alternated between them, maintaining the double life and financing his cons by paying off one victim with another’s funds ([59:31]–[61:47]).

  "We shared so many screenshots... We were just totally open with each other and shared everything, did not withhold."
  —Allison ([61:14])

• Together, they devise a sting plan with the help of police—aiming to lure Brian back to NYC so he can be apprehended.

Amateur Sleuthing, International Escapades, and More Scams ([63:05] – [86:09])

• Allison pretends to reconnect with Brian to set him up for the police; he claims to be in Mexico and provides video proof, which Layla and Allison verify through AI and Google Maps detective work ([67:10]–[71:12]).
• Brian spins further lies, including a story about being detained and robbed in Cabo, and then allegedly assaulted; sends photos of his injuries, fishing for sympathy and possibly more money ([73:51]–[80:34]).
• The women (and hosts) speculate about the likelihood of these new tales—acknowledging both his manipulative genius and probable real-life consequences for his actions.

The Community Grows: More Victims and Lasting Bonds ([84:00] – [90:48])

• Other women, targeted by Brian years earlier, reach out upon seeing the online posts. The list of victims grows, documenting his years-long scam pattern ([84:00]–[85:09]).

• Mackenzie and Hannah laud the women's emerging friendship, the true silver lining of their ordeal.

  "I think I've gained a lot more out of this, actually, than the getting the money back itself. Like, I've gained somebody in my life that I totally trust... And I feel like at the same time, I think Allison and I agree. We don't want to see this continue with other women. And, like, it has to stop at some point."
  —Layla ([86:49])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Gossip saves lives."
  —Layla and Mackenzie ([02:49])
• "He would give her enough to believe that he had the potential to be the man he wanted to be."
  —Hannah ([95:24])
• "I trust Allison so much. I'm so happy to have this friendship. I feel like it has longevity in a way that that relationship never did."
  —Layla ([86:49])
• "It's like trauma bonding at first, and then it turned into..."
  —Allison ([90:48])
• "You can do whatever you want with those [screenshots]... Today, everybody is a graphic designer. And I don't trust a thing."
  —Hannah ([96:24])
• "Holy crap."
  —Mackenzie ([91:26]), expressing the collective shock at the depth of the scam.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:12] — Layla discovers the Venmo dispute & $2,000 loss.
• [05:28] — Suspicions around Brian's restaurant payment methods.
• [08:01] — Visa scam brewing: artist visa story and cash request.
• [16:47] — Layla returns from Miami: The PlayStation vanishes.
• [31:54] — Private jet fantasy & Layla's terms for trust.
• [44:58] — Layla confronts the Wimbledon woman, exposes fake screenshots.
• [54:33] — Layla and Allison connect; timelines and receipts compared.
• [67:10] — Brian's "Mexico" story and the women’s virtual sting operation.
• [73:51] — Brian fakes (or experiences) a beating in Mexico to solicit sympathy.
• [84:00] — More victims surface, revealing long history of scams.
• [86:49] — The friendship between Layla and Allison: healing and purpose.
• [92:19] — Discussion on why divorced/single mothers are targeted.

Lessons & Red Flags (Dogfish Debrief Section)

• Isolation and Control: Brian inundated his victims with drama and confusion to keep them off-balance.
• International Excuses: He leveraged being British to play on unfamiliarity with local systems, holidays, and processes.
• Faked Screenshots: Both hosts and guests discuss how easy it is to fabricate screenshots, stressing skepticism ([96:24]).
• Manipulation Tactics: Emotional blackmail, crisis manufacturing, and triangulation with children and friends.
• Parallel Victimization: Both Allison and Layla were single, recently divorced mothers—profiled and preyed upon for their vulnerability ([92:19]).
• The Importance of Community: Sharing stories, checking platforms like T and "Are We Dating the Same Guy?", and networking can help stop abusers and save others from similar fates.

The Episode’s Heart: New Friendship and Empowerment

The lasting outcome of the Porsche & Penthouse scam is not just legal pursuit or wasted money—it’s the powerful, supportive friendship between Layla and Allison. Both women now use their experience to help each other and others, serving as a warning and a source of comfort for those facing abuse or scams in the dating world.

Ongoing Story—To Be Continued

• Layla and Allison continue to assist law enforcement and raise awareness in hopes of bringing Brian to justice.

• They encourage women to come forward and share similar stories, believing there are more victims yet to be heard.

  "We're building a volleyball team."
  —Hannah ([85:09])

For Listeners

If you suspect you’re being scammed or abused, reach out for support or share your story (Investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com).

Always trust your femtuition.