Best of 2025: Romance fraud: the cost of loving

Dec 29, 2025
33 mins

Episode Description

Romance fraud is at an all time high, low-hanging fruit in the growing world of online scams. But what are the methods? Who falls for it? And are there ways we can all avoid it?


This episode was first published in April.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests: 

  • Mary Chater, romance fraud victim
  • Alexis Conran, TV and radio presenter

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Edith Rousselot.

Further reading: The Times's Crime and Justice Commission - The justice system is in crisis. We spent a year finding solutions

Clips: The Real Hustle Youtube channel, Still Watching Netflix Youtube channel. 

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

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