Romance scammers usually work hard to maintain their illusion. They flatter, they promise, they tug at heartstrings — all in hopes of eventually tugging at wallets. But every now and then, the mask slips. In this case, the scammer not only faltered but practically admitted what they were doing.
This interaction began on the dating app SayHi, where I used my real identity. The scammer quickly moved the chat to Signal, a classic red flag. From there, the script unfolded:
- Rushing Intimacy – Within minutes, she was asking about my age, marital status, and children. Scammers fast-track “personal” questions to build a profile to exploit.
- Love Bombing – Terms like “baby” and “honey” appeared almost instantly, despite us barely knowing each other. This kind of quick affection is designed to create a false sense of closeness.
- Flattery and Guilt – After I didn’t immediately compliment her photos, she complained, “I guess you don’t like my pics.” That’s a manipulation tactic to make me feel guilty and re-engage.
- The Scripted Pitch – Then came the giveaway: “I am here looking for long term and serious relationship with the right man for me, a man that could take good care of my body because am always wanting my body to be clean and clear for my man.” That line reads like it was lifted from a bad romance novel generator. It’s unnatural, repetitive, and completely out of place in casual chat.
When the Script Fell Apart
The turning point came after I asked for a video proof of life. She stalled for nearly three hours before sending something that barely passed. When I went quiet afterward, she panicked and messaged:
“Baby what’s wrong why are you not talking to me, I did what you want me to do.”
That desperation was telling — she had invested time in producing the fake proof and needed me to stay hooked.
Instead of rewarding her effort, I flipped the table. I wrote back:
“I’ll probably give this one a six out of 10.”
It was a blunt acknowledgment that I knew I was being scammed, delivered like I was grading a school assignment. Her response? Not outrage, not denial. Just:
“Ohhh…”
Moments later, I pushed further, pointing directly at her canned lines:
“You need to work on your script here — ‘I am here looking for long term and serious relationship… take good care of my body… clean and clear for my man.’ That doesn’t sound real at all.”
Instead of insisting she was genuine, she broke character entirely and asked:
“Which one?”
That’s it. That single phrase told me everything. She wasn’t defending her “love story.” She wasn’t protesting that she was misunderstood. She was asking for feedback on her scam script.
I even told her:
“Your short sentences were pretty good though. That one sounded natural — that’s how American women talk.”
And she wanted to know which line I meant. In that moment, she wasn’t a lonely woman looking for love. She was a scammer suddenly curious about how effective her lines were. The con had collapsed, and the script was laid bare.
It’s not often you catch a scammer admitting — even indirectly — that they’re running a playbook. This time, the admission was written between the lines.
The Pattern We See Again and Again
This chat may not have reached the “ask for money” stage, but it was clearly heading there. Usually, after establishing fake intimacy, scammers roll out a crisis — a sick relative, a stranded travel plan, a blocked bank account. The end goal is always the same: get you to send money or invest in a fake opportunity.
Here, the difference is that I interrupted the script. By confronting the scammer and even “grading” her performance, I short-circuited the scam. But the average victim isn’t expected to play cat-and-mouse. Most people just want a real connection, and scammers know that.
My Standard Warning
If someone you meet online moves fast, showers you with affection, avoids video calls, or says things that sound generic or too perfect, stop and think. Don’t send money. Don’t share banking or crypto details. And if something feels “off,” trust your gut — it probably is.
Support the Fight — and Shop Smart
These scams waste people’s time, money, and emotions. My mission is to expose them so fewer people fall prey. If you enjoy this kind of work and want to support me, check out my store Nerdibles. We carry collectibles, 3D printing, sublimation, laser engraving, and gaming gear — real products from real people, not empty promises from a scammer.
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