The Dating Detectives – "The Turkish Rug Pull"
Episode Date: January 26, 2026
Hosts: Mackenzie Fultz (Private Investigator) & Hanna Anderson (Comedian)
Guest: Lena

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, hosts Mackenzie and Hanna dive into the wild story of Lena, a seasoned solo traveler who becomes entangled in a sophisticated romance and financial scam while celebrating her 50th birthday in Turkey. What starts as an enchanting, movie-worthy adventure quickly devolves into a high-stakes con involving love bombing, slick manipulation, and a supposed "Turkish rug business." Lena’s narrative is both a cautionary tale and an exhilarating account of creative revenge—culminating in a rare ending: she actually gets her money back from the scammers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet Lena: The Adventurous Traveler (02:23 – 04:12)

• Lena introduces herself: Divorced, experienced solo traveler, nearly 40 countries visited, deep appreciation and knowledge of Middle Eastern cultures.
• Chooses Turkey for her milestone 50th birthday, culminating in a dreamy solo adventure and a picturesque photo shoot at dawn.

2. The Meet Cute: From Rug Shop to Romance (06:02 – 17:09)

• After her photo shoot, Lena is approached by a man at a café who brings her to his family’s rug store.
• She meets "Kamal" (the uncle), described as charismatic and larger-than-life, who attempts to sell her a rug with playful banter.
• The real setup unfolds: Kamal introduces Lena—under the guise of matchmaking for his nephews—to "Emil," an extraordinarily attractive and charming younger man.
• Emil invites Lena out for a romantic dinner, handles everything respectfully, impresses her with gentlemanly gestures, and subtly introduces his "business."

"He is bombastic. He is hilarious. He is exactly the type of person that I love to engage with… We just hit it off like two thieves." — Lena (08:34)

3. The Business Proposal and the Trap (23:41 – 43:04)

• Over dinner, Emil tells Lena about the struggling rug business due to tariffs. Uncle wants to use Lena’s U.S. address to ship rugs and "split" the savings.
• The request seems innocuous—just receive some rugs; no mention of large sums.
• The love bombing continues, and Lena, swept up in the romance, is willing to help.
• The next morning, Lena is rushed to the store before her flight; the plan takes a dramatic turn:
  • Uncle pressures her for a $35,000 payment to "buy" the rugs upfront (money she's supposedly to be reimbursed for, plus $10,000 profit).
  • Lena, scared, confused, and under time pressure (with her bags hidden), puts 10% on a credit card and signs a promissory note before escaping to the airport.

"Now my alarms are going off. …He’s absolutely condescending and talking to me like I'm 6 years old… It's crazy how these motherfuckers can feel that. It's just crazy." — Lena (37:03)

4. Psychological Aftermath: Shame and Doubt (54:47 – 56:49)

• Back home, Lena is continually love-bombed by Emil via video chat, with frequent updates and "plans" for the future.
• The façade cracks when his communication grows spotty; she gets suspicious.
• Upon investigating further, Lena discovers the rugs are cheap, the business has no real address, and a nearby shopkeeper warns her that the rug store is known for scams.
• Lena finds a victims’ group on Facebook—several people have been similarly conned, and there’s an ongoing legal effort.
• Lena experiences profound shame, self-blame, and emotional distress.

"I did this to myself. I willingly gave the money. …And that’s the worst part of shame. So I spent the next week in such a dark place." — Lena (54:47)

5. The Revenge Game: Out-Scamming the Scammers (68:12 – 84:44)

• After her attempt to connect with the victims' group founder (who, comically, is in Antarctica), Lena decides to fight back using creative tactics:
  • Orchestrates "black magic" threats using North African friends, unnerving Emil with WhatsApp messages about curses.
  • Demands half her money back in exchange for calling off the “witchcraft”—Emil wires half within two days.
  • Leaves scathing Google reviews about the store throughout the neighborhood and sets up a satirical Instagram account.
  • Later, creates a Grindr profile for Emil (with the store address), further damaging his local reputation.
  • Finally, crafts a viral TikTok campaign tagging the whole scam operation, which gets reposted by one of the scammers’ own relatives, exploding visibility.

"You are fucked. Because I’m divinely protected. …I don’t know if it’ll be today or five years from now, but you’re gonna get yours." — Lena (68:12)

• Under mounting pressure, Emil and the “Kingpin” wire Lena the rest of her money after she threatens reputational ruin and refuses to scrub her online posts until funds are fully cleared.

"I didn’t tell you—it’s Christmas. We’re real busy over here in America… Oh, I didn’t tell you. It’s Boxing Day!" — Lena (84:44)

6. Aftermath: Justice, Guilt & Wisdom (86:28 – End)

• Lena processes survivor’s guilt, knowing other victims in the group will never see their money.
• She shares her experience publicly, emphasizing that even savvy, intelligent women can be manipulated by skilled con artists.
• Urges listeners not to blame themselves and to recognize that love bombing, manipulation, and cultural empathy can all be exploited in cons.

"Sugar and salt look the same. …We need to spend more time on the not blaming ourselves. …When they’re professionals at this, why would you?" — Lena (90:44/91:06)

Notable Quotes & Moments (Approximate Timestamps)

• On Love Bombing & Scam Tactics:
  • "He is bombastic… just so fun… We just hit it off like two thieves…" — Lena (08:34)
  • "Halfway through the meal he says, ‘I'm sure you make great money at your career… but everybody could use a little bit more…’" — Lena (24:46)
  • "We have some pretty big players in Dallas and New York… Uncle wants to know if we can use your address…" — Emil paraphrased by Lena (25:14)
• On the Trap Closing In:
  • "We just need the $35,000." — Kamal (36:56)
  • "They were going to give you your money back and give you the 10,000?" — Hanna (37:14)
• On Shame and Recovery:
  • "I just immediately start crying. I think that… of course, I couldn't pull in such a good-looking guy." — Lena (54:47)
  • "I willingly gave the money because I'm greedy and I wanted to make ten grand…" — Lena (54:49)
• Creative Revenge:
  • "Black magic. …When your mama gets a chronic cough, that's us." — North African friends via Lena (70:16)
  • "Go brush your teeth. …I got a big old bear coming for you in 20 minutes, and he likes to be subbed, so get ready." — Lena (78:16)
  • "I did an Instagram page… Hi, I'm Emile, and I like to fuck over people for romance scams and financial ones." — Lena (74:18)
• Resolution:
  • "He sends the money… I didn’t tell you, it’s Christmas. …I'll get it tomorrow… Oh, did I forget to tell you? You're a little cunt. I'm never gonna scrub the Internet." — Lena (84:38)
• Reflection:
  • "My heart aches for people who don't have their money back. …There's such survivor's guilt." — Lena (86:45)
  • "Sugar and salt look the same… we need to spend more time not blaming ourselves." — Lena (90:44/91:06)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Guest intro/Lena’s background: 02:23–04:12
• Meeting Kamal and Emil: 06:32–17:09
• The "business" pitch: 23:41–29:48
• The con revealed & financial shakedown: 34:02–43:04
• Lena discovers the scam: 54:47–56:49
• Retaliation and psychological warfare: 68:12–84:44
• Getting the money back: 82:18–84:44
• Final reflections and advice: 86:45–93:01

Key Takeaways & Red Flags

• Love bombing and "family" inclusion are hallmark manipulation techniques.
• Fog—Fear, Obligation, Guilt—was heavily used to corner and pressure Lena.
• Time pressure and confusion, unfamiliar cultural context, hidden bags—all disarm and rush a victim into submission.
• Con artists are masterful at targeting strong, educated, independent people by leveraging trust, empathy, and cross-cultural goodwill.
• Shame and self-blame often prevent victims from seeking help or even acknowledging they’ve been scammed.

Memorable, Main Character Energy

"Lena, you’re a real G." — Lena’s son (94:57)

"Go brush your teeth… I got a big old bear coming for you in 20 minutes, and he likes to be subbed, so get ready." — Lena to Emil (78:16)

"Dark magic got him. And karma’s name was Lena." — Hanna (106:14)

Final Thoughts

Lena’s story is more than a wild tale of a vacation gone wrong—it’s a playbook of how international romance scammers operate and a rare account of someone using street smarts, humor, and a bit of righteous mischief to outmaneuver the cons. It’s a testament to resilience, self-advocacy, and the power of seeking support and creatively fighting back. The hosts highlight that anyone can be a victim and urge listeners to support others without judgment.

If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse or a scam, seek support. Trust your instincts, ask for help, and don’t live in shame—gossip and community can truly save lives.

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