Undercover With Scammers: What a Former Detective Learned About Love Scams

Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a textLooking for love makes you vulnerable. And vulnerability? That's where shame lives.Kylee Dennis knows this better than most. When her mum got love scammed after 25 years of being single, the thing that hurt more than the money lost was watching her carry the shame of it—too embarrassed to ask for help, too mortified to admit she'd wanted connection badly enough to believe someone who wasn't real.Kylee spent nearly 14 years as a detective doing intelligence ops, undercover work, and crisis negotiations. She knew how predators operated. But what she didn't know until her mum's scam was how powerfully shame protects the criminals.So she went undercover herself—creating fake profiles as a 67-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman to see exactly how scammers weaponize our longing for connection. What she found? Scams aren't about intelligence. They're about manipulation. And the vulnerability that comes with wanting love makes all of us targets.This isn't just about romance scams. It's about shame, vulnerability, and the cost of staying silent.Timestamps & Chapters00:00 - Intro: The Vulnerability of Looking for Love02:45 - When Kylee's Mum Got Scammed07:30 - "I Just Feel Stupid": The Language of Shame12:15 - Going Undercover on Dating Apps18:40 - What Scammers Really Do (and How They Share Tactics)24:20 - Life as a Female Detective in the 1980s32:50 - "Men, Police Dogs, Then Police Women"38:15 - The Pawn Shop Undercover Operation43:00 - Identity Loss: From Detective to Stay-at-Home Mum48:30 - "I Was Just a Plus Guest"52:10 - Finding Purpose Through Two Face Investigations56:20 - The Power of Helping Just One Person58:45 - TikTok Scammer Universities & Dark Rituals63:15 - Human Trafficking & Scam Compounds in Myanmar66:40 - "Where Is the Money Going?"68:30 - How to Stay Safe: Pause, Check, Ask70:15 - Final Wisdom on Shame & the VaultConnect with Kylee:Instagram: @twofaceinvestigationsWebsite: twofaceinvestigations.auDating Safety Tips:PAUSE - Look at the profile carefullyCHECK - Verify photos using reverse image searchASK - Get a trusted friend or family member to review the profileMEET - Always meet in person in a safe, public locationTELL SOMEONE - Keep people in the loop about who you're talking toIf You've Been Scammed:Contact your bank immediatelyReport to Scamwatch (Australia): scamwatch.gov.auTell someone you trust—shame thrives in silenceSupport the ShowIf this episode resonated with you, please:Share it with someone who needs to hear itLeave a rating and reviewSubscribe so you never miss an episodeConnect with Danielle:Website: daniellecolley.com.auInstagram: @iamdaniellecolleyEmail: [email protected]