A Scam Survivor Fights Back: How Mary took on Her Scammers with Hard Work and AI (Ep 16)

Romance scams are one of the fastest-growing forms of online fraud, costing victims billions each year. In this episode of Stolen, Erin West talks with Mary, a romance scam survivor who refused to be silenced. Instead of hiding in shame, Mary documented every message, tracked her scammers, and even used AI to fight back. Her unconventional approach shows just how far victims are forced to go when law enforcement tools and systems fall short. Together, Erin and Mary unpack the reality of romance fraud, pig butchering scams, psychological manipulation, and why we need urgent law enforcement solutions to stop transnational organized crime. If you want to understand how romance scams work — and why survivors like Mary are stepping into the role of investigator — this episode will open your eyes to the global scamdemic we’re facing today.