Episode 6: scams and the apps
In Episode 6, we dove headfirst into the treacherous waters of catfishing. Our brave guests shared tales of woe so that our listeners could avoid the same fates!
Our first superhero guest was Megan (not her real name, but we know her and we can vouch for her story). She was a single mom in LA, giving the apps a first try, and mostly looking for friendship (but open to love if she found it). Soon, she matched with a seemingly dreamy guy, who just happened to be a crypto currency expert.
After a few months of chatting, the guy convinced Megan to give crypto a shot (she has a kid to think about, after all). But as soon as he suggested she open an account on "Coinbase-IS" (no, we're not making this up), the alarm bells went off.
Luckily, Megan did some detective work and came across a New York Times article about crypto scams on dating apps. Bingo! She connected the dots and got away without losing a dime. She did, however, lose her interest in dating apps…
Our second guest, Ned, wasn’t so lucky—he fell into a crypto-catfishing abyss! It started when he met a girl who seemed like the perfect catch—they video chatted, exchanged sweet nothings, and she even sent pictures of luxury gifts she was going to give him when they met.
Ultimately, she roped Ned into a wild crypto trading scheme. It was a detailed, elaborate plan that was months in the making. First, she asked him to help with her account, which showed him how much she was making. Eventually, she convinced him that they would earn more if they invested together. Ultimately, Ned found himself with a mysteriously drained wallet and a dream date who just evaporated into thin air.
Our host Jinah has been luckier than Ned. Her most memorable would-be-scammer used Photoshopped images to support lies he told her in their chats. It would be funny if it weren’t so dishonest!
Love may be just a swipe away, but so are the crypto catfishers—remember these cautionary tales the next time you come across a match who seems too good to be true! There’s more in the episode, so click the button below to watch or listen!