The ScamRangers podcast recently featured a powerful episode where anti-scam advocates Anna Rowe and Cecilie Fjellhøy joined host Ayelet Biger-Levin to share their personal experiences and initiatives in combating romance scams. This post provides a holistic overview of their journeys, the formation of LoveSaid, a non profit they founded to empower and support scam victims, and strategies to empower victims.
Anna and Cecilie’s Journeys: The discussion begins by delving into the personal experiences of Anna and Cecilie, both survivors of romance scams. Anna’s encounter with a catfish in 2015 led her to establish “Catch the Catfish,” offering a platform to share experiences and educate others. Cecilie, defrauded by the “Tinder Swindler” in 2018, faced resistance in founding “Action Reaction” in Norway. Their stories converge, leading to the formation of LoveSaid, reflecting their resilience and commitment to making a difference.
LoveSaid’s Mission and Initiatives: The organization, still in its pilot phase, aims to be an umbrella organization for all stakeholders involved in combating romance fraud. LoveSaid plans to offer an interactive step-by-step guide, emphasizing mental health and peer support, to create a global community for victims. Collaboration with law enforcement and the collection of data on societal impacts underscore LoveSaid’s commitment to transforming support for scam victims.
Supporting Friends and Family: Anna and Cecilie recognize the crucial role friends and family play in supporting victims. Anna emphasizes the need for delicate intervention, providing resources and guides for friends and family to help victims navigate the complexities of romance scams without creating confrontation. LoveSaid’s holistic approach extends beyond individual victims to their support networks.
Challenges with Banks and Tech Companies: Anna and Cecilie address the complicity of banks in romance scams, questioning their role in allowing transactions despite awareness of fraudulent activities. They call for collaboration between banks and anti-scam advocates to prevent financial losses for victims. The advocates also turn their attention to tech companies, urging greater transparency and accountability from dating apps and social media platforms to create a safer online environment.
Empowering Victims and Advocating for Change: The advocates put a lot of emphasis on empowerment and their call for change. By fostering skepticism, bridging educational gaps, and challenging banks and tech companies to take proactive roles, Anna and Cecilie envision a safer digital landscape. Their mission extends beyond individual experiences, advocating for systemic changes to protect individuals from falling victim to romance scams.
