Podcast Summary: True Crime Obsessed - Ep. 476
"Love Con Revenge: Selfie Scammer"
Date: December 16, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, the TCO crew dives into Netflix’s “Love Con Revenge,” specifically covering episode 1 and the first 15 minutes of episode 2. The show unpacks the story of romance scams—how ordinary women are groomed and manipulated into handing over huge sums of money by professional con artists. Hosts Allison and Brianna balance signature humor and heart as they break down the plot, highlight red flags, and share supportive, empathetic commentary for victims. Special focus is given to Jill, a woman scammed out of her life savings by “Todd Dean,” whose “wellness facility” Sanjara is little more than a façade for financial fraud and emotional exploitation.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Romance Scams – Vulnerability and Manipulation
- Introduction to the case and the show’s premise
- Cecilia, famed “Tinder Swindler” survivor, teams up with PI Brianne Joseph to help new victims.
- “These scammers have been getting away with this for way too long.” – Cecilia [01:54]
- Discussion around romance fraud: Oftentimes victims are embarrassed and isolated, unsure how to get help.
- “There are people who could be listening to this episode who are in the middle of one right now and don’t even know it.” – Brianna [03:14]
- “Just tell somebody that you love. Tell them, please. Let them help you…” – Brianna [03:25]
2. Jill’s Story: The Tactics of a Scammer
- Jill meets “Todd Dean” on Facebook Dating after years of being single; Todd ticks all the boxes for what she wants in a partner.
- “I was looking for a family man, attractive, someone with a career that was successful. And when I saw Todd Dean’s profile, he checked off every single box.” – Jill [05:34]
- Todd quickly escalates intimacy, “love-bombing” Jill with constant videos, messages, and in-person affection.
- “He is constantly, and I mean constantly in touch with Jill, but sending endless selfies, endless videos… minute to minute update on his day.” – Allison [10:39]
- Red flags: Excessive control (even down to nail polish color on their second date), quickly giving her a key to his condo, and financial requests camouflaged as business “loans”.
Notable Moment
- Jill expresses discomfort at playing along with Todd’s wishes, e.g. feigning enthusiasm for a nail color she hates:
- “If you feel on your second date you have to go along to get along, run.” – Allison [12:58]
3. The Playbook—Trust Erosion and Escalation
- Classic tactic: scammer asks for a small amount, pays it back to gain trust, then requests increasingly large sums:
- “Sometimes a fraudster will ask for smaller amounts at the start and then pay them back. It’s just such a smart and simple way to win the trust of their victims. But after a while, they will just ask for bigger sums, and it will kind of never stop.” – Cecilia [22:12]
- Jill gives thousands (totaling $150,000) to Todd, who requests secrecy (“don’t tell anyone”).
Victim Isolation
- Jill is told not to confide in friends/family—a classic grooming move:
- “Don’t tell anybody is a red flag across the board…if everything has to be a secret, it’s a problem.” – Allison [24:21]
4. Power, Control & Emotional Abuse
- Todd abruptly ends the relationship, then reels Jill back in—reversing the power dynamic.
- “They reel you in with love and attention. Once you’re hooked, they will unexpectedly, pull away. Suddenly you’re the one chasing their love and affection. And that’s the power shift that they want.” – Cecilia [34:03]
- Emotional manipulation is foregrounded; Jill’s self-esteem plummets as she tries to win back his favor.
Money Siphoning
- Jill is coerced into giving even more—emptying retirement savings and, when that’s gone, being asked to access her daughter’s funds.
- “I was able to get him $12,500. His reaction was, you know, he was more… disappointed that he would have liked to have had more.” – Jill [36:06]
- “He asks her if her daughter can get money for him.” – Allison [37:05]
5. Following the Money—Tracking the Scammer
- Determining the scam’s scale requires help:
- Multiple women come forward. Sheena, Todd’s former assistant, provides crucial evidence—bank statements and insight into how money evaporated from business accounts.
- “He always preyed on the people that were vulnerable. Felt like he was turning Sanjar into a hunting ground so he could find all of the vulnerable women because that’s what he was looking for.” – Sheena [44:58 or 45:01]
- Karen, a wealthy former victim, shares how Todd repeatedly borrowed small chunks, adding up over time, and even got her to sign a document regarding his debt:
- “All of a sudden, one day, I started taking notes, and I was realizing how much this added up. And then in that moment, she realized that she’d been scammed.” [48:25-48:37]
6. Investigative Breakthroughs & The Community of Survivors
- With Sheena’s records and Karen’s documentation, Cecilia and Brianne have strong evidence—especially since the scammer funneled “investment money” (from victims) directly into personal use.
- Multiple women (Donna, Christy, Teresa, Missy, Bridget, etc.) are tracked down and agree to add their stories, strengthening the police case.
- Unique moment: Tara, a mortgage broker, has a secret recording of Todd explaining his “side”—he name-drops “Tinder Swindler” and admits to being funded by various “friends” doling out $10,000/month.
- “I have the best friends in the world. I have friends who are giving me $10,000 do.” – Todd [57:09]
- “I’m not swindling. Not a single swindle. Tara.” – Todd [57:30]
7. Systemic Challenges
- The show highlights how law enforcement often fails to act, dismissing romance fraud as a “civil matter.”
- “Prosecuting love fraudsters is very difficult to do. Police see it as relationship issues that need to be resolved in civil court.” – Brianne Joseph, PI [25:07]
- Only the evidence of a pattern, combined with fraudulent business activity, finally convinces a police sergeant this is a criminal case (and possibly federal):
- “That alone is breaching into felony territory. It’s gone past the civil matter into a criminal matter.” – Officer [59:37]
8. Aftermath—Outing the Selfie Scammer
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Todd Dean is declared bankrupt; Sanjara is ordered sold to repay debts; eight women are known to have been defrauded and are seeking legal recourse.
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Brianne and Cecilia celebrate getting law enforcement to open a case—something rare for romance scam survivors.
“That’s all she wanted was to just be heard—that she’s not crazy, that he was wrong.” – Allison [60:09]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “If you feel on your second date you have to go along to get along, run.” – Allison [12:58]
- “He always preyed on the people that were vulnerable. Felt like he was turning Sanjar into a hunting ground...” – Sheena [45:01]
- “He’s just freely admitting that these people are just giving him tens of thousands of dollars.” – Allison [57:04]
- “Sure, they’re willingly giving it to him, like, he doesn’t have a gun to head at the bank. But, like, he has groomed them to the point that they are completely under his power.” – Brianna [58:17]
- “The thing we need to change is this coercive control. We need people to understand that that’s a real thing.” – Brianna [58:05]
Essential Timestamps
- 01:18 — Introduction to “Love Con Revenge” and cast of characters
- 03:06 — Jill’s initial contact with “Todd Dean” and police indifference
- 10:39 — Red flags: love-bombing, excessive videos/selfies
- 22:12 — Scammer’s classic escalation: small loan repaid, then bigger asks
- 34:03 — Psychological manipulation; shifting victim into a “chasing” role
- 44:58 — Sheena: Sanjar is a “hunting ground” for vulnerable women
- 57:09 — Recorded confession: Todd brags about “friends” giving him $10,000/mo
- 59:37 — Police finally consider it a criminal case (felony territory)
- 60:30 — Aftermath: bankruptcy, victim impact, ongoing pursuit of justice
Tone and Style
The hosts maintain their trademark witty, irreverent banter even while treating the subject of romance scams with gravity and compassion. They’re supportive of victims, eager to destigmatize being conned, and make clear distinctions between harmless dating quirks and genuine red flags.
Final Thoughts
This episode is both a cautionary tale and an empowering guide. It provides practical insight into how romance scams operate—from grooming to financial exploitation to emotional abuse. The hosts urge listeners to look out for red flags, talk with loved ones about financial asks, and be gentle with themselves if they fall into the trap: “It’s not your fault. He did this to you on purpose.” Comprehensive evidence and survivor solidarity ultimately make the difference in holding scammers to account.
For more, listeners are pointed to the Ex Wives Undercover podcast/blog for a deeper dive and accurate behind-the-scenes detail the Netflix show leaves out.
Next on TCO:
Hunted by My Husband: The Untold Story of the DC Sniper (HBO Max)
“Stay safe. We love you. Don’t give your money to anyone who makes you keep it a secret.”