Beth Hyland never imagined love would cost her $26,000. At 53, she considered herself cautious and financially aware. But when she matched with someone calling himself “Richard Dobb”, the whirlwind connection, late-night conversations, and promises of a future together felt genuine. What she didn’t realize was that she was being drawn into one of the most devastating and personal scams out there—romance fraud.
The Beginning of the Scam
Beth and Richard’s connection quickly escalated. They weren’t “officially” engaged, but in her mind, they were planning a future together. Richard told her he had just completed a project in Qatar and needed to pay a translator to finalize things. The catch? He claimed he couldn’t access his funds unless he went in person to a bank branch in England.
That’s when the requests for money began.
How the Fraud Unfolded
Richard framed it as a temporary problem. If Beth could just help him raise the money, they’d be set. Wanting to support her partner, she took out a $15,000 loan and added another $5,000 in cash advances from her credit card.
When she asked how to send the money, he directed her to a cryptocurrency site.
Beth’s financial advisor became concerned. “I think you’re in a romance scam,” he told her. But Beth didn’t want to believe it.
“No,” she thought, “we’re in love. He wouldn’t do this to me.”
Her last message to Richard was desperate: “If you’re real, prove me wrong. Bring me my money, and maybe we’ll talk.”
She never heard from him again.
Why Beth Shared Her Story
Romance scams are uniquely painful because they prey on trust, hope, and human connection. Beth said, “People would be surprised at how much this happens, how much it goes on.”
Like many victims, she wishes there had been a tool to fact-check the links, the stories, and the too-good-to-be-true excuses. That’s where technology like McAfee’s Scam Detector could have made all the difference, flagging suspicious links and warning her before thousands of dollars vanished.
Protect Yourself from Romance Scams
- Be cautious with requests for money. Love should never come with a price tag.
- Watch for excuses. Scammers often create urgent, dramatic reasons why they can’t access funds.
- Fact-check with technology. Tools like McAfee’s Scam Detector analyze suspicious links and help you avoid falling for fake websites or fraudulent requests.
- Trust your gut and outside voices. If friends, family, or advisors raise concerns, listen.
Beth’s Final Word
Romance scams thrive on silence. Victims often feel embarrassed, but Beth wants her story out there.
“It would have been really good if there was technology where I could have checked these links to fact-check all of that,” she reflected.
Her experience is a reminder that scammers aren’t just after money—they target trust. By sharing her story, Beth hopes others will pause before sending money to someone they’ve never met in person. And with tools like McAfee’s Scam Detector, more people can spot the lies before love turns into loss.
