Sarah Lin, CFE
Sarah is a Certified Fraud Examiner and forensic psychologist who has spent over 8 years investigating the emotional manipulation timelines and cognitive biases leveraged by online catfishes. She publishes on romance fraud trauma, love-bombing indicators, and safety strategies for senior dating.
Published Articles by Sarah Lin, CFE
Travel & Visa Scams: When Online Partners Need Money
Beware of travel and visa scams! If an online partner you've never met asks for money for travel or visas, it's a scam. Learn how to protect yourself.
Gift Card Scams: Why Scammers Demand iTunes, Amazon, Steam
Gift card scams are rampant. Discover why fraudsters demand iTunes, Amazon, and Steam cards, their untraceable nature, and crucial tips to protect yourself and loved ones.
Romance Scams: Organized Crime Networks Behind Catfishing
Uncover how organized crime networks run sophisticated romance scams and catfishing operations. Learn their tactics, red flags, and how to protect yourself online.
Travel and Visa Scams: When Online Partners Ask for Money
Beware of travel and visa scams! Learn how online partners manipulate emotions to ask for money for flights or visas. Protect your heart and wallet from these common online dating frauds.
Burner Phones: How They Fuel Romance Scams & How to Spot Them
Discover how burner phones and disposable numbers are key tools for romance scammers. Learn to identify red flags and protect yourself from online fraud.
Romance Scams: Why Victims Send Money Despite Red Flags
Romance scam victims often send money despite clear red flags. Scammers exploit cognitive biases and emotional needs. Learn why and how to protect yourself.
Romance Scammers Exploit Loneliness During Holidays
Romance scammers exploit loneliness during holidays and major life events. Discover how they build trust and trick you. Learn to spot their tricks and stay safe.
Spotting Sugar Daddy Scams: Avoid Online Financial Traps
Learn to spot sugar daddy and sugar mommy scams on social media. These fraudsters promise money but aim to steal yours. Protect yourself from online financial traps.
Romance Scammers Exploit Loneliness During Holidays
Romance scammers target vulnerable individuals during holidays and major life events. Learn how they exploit loneliness and emotional manipulation to protect yourself.
Deepfake Dating Scams: How to Spot & Avoid Fake Video Calls
Deepfake dating scams are on the rise, making online connections riskier. Learn how to identify fake video calls and protect yourself from sophisticated scammers.
Catfishing on Instagram: Tactics Behind Fake Influencer Profiles
Scammers create fake influencer profiles on Instagram to trick you, gain trust, and steal money. Learn tactics, red flags, and how to protect yourself from catfishing.
Sugar Daddy/Mommy Scams on Social Media: How the Con Works
Sugar daddy/mommy scams exploit hopes for financial help, promising gifts but aiming to steal your money or data. Learn how these online cons work to stay safe.
Detecting AI-Written Messages: Spotting Catfishing Scams
AI-written messages make catfishing harder to detect. Learn how scammers use AI to trick you and discover practical steps to protect your heart and wallet online.
Deepfake Video Calls: The New Threat in Dating App Scams
Learn how deepfake video calls are being used by scammers on dating apps to trick you. Discover red flags and smart steps to protect your heart and wallet online.
Scammer Platforms: Keeping Your Heart & Wallet Safe Online
Discover the most common platforms scammers use to trick people online. Learn how to protect your heart and wallet from romance scams on social media, dating, and messaging apps.
Scammers Hiding: How VPNs & Proxies Trick You Online
Discover how scammers use VPNs and proxy servers to hide their real location and identity online. Learn to spot their tricks and protect yourself from deception.
Sugar Daddy/Mommy Scams: How to Spot and Avoid the Con
Learn how to identify and protect yourself from Sugar Daddy/Mommy Scams on social media. Our guide reveals their tricks to keep your money safe.
Cognitive Bias: Why Romance Scam Victims Ignore Red Flags
Discover how cognitive biases, the brain's shortcuts, are exploited by romance scammers, making victims overlook red flags and send money. Understand the psychology behind it.
Scammers Hiding Location: VPNs and Proxy Servers Explained
Scammers use VPNs and proxy servers to hide their real location, making it harder to spot their tricks. Learn how these tools work and the red flags to watch for.
Social Engineering in Romance Scams: How Scammers Get Your Info
Learn how social engineering in romance scams allows fraudsters to gather personal information. Understand their psychological tricks and protect your data from online manipulation.
Scammers Use Stolen Papers: How They Fool You Online
Discover how scammers use stolen documents like IDs and passports to create fake online identities, gain trust, and trick you. Learn to spot the signs and protect yourself.
Catfished: Emotional Recovery & Healing After Betrayal
Being catfished is a deep betrayal, but healing is possible. This guide helps you understand the emotional aftermath, rebuild trust, and recover from being catfished.
Spot AI Photos: How to Detect Fakes on Dating Apps
Learn to spot AI photos on dating apps and protect yourself from scammers. This guide helps you identify fake profiles and navigate online dating safely.
Romance Scams: Why Smart People Fall for Brain Tricks
Discover why smart people fall for romance scams. Learn how cognitive biases and emotional manipulation make us ignore red flags, protecting your heart and wallet from online trickery.
Romance Scammers: Exploiting Loneliness During Holidays
Romance scammers target vulnerable individuals during holidays and major life events, exploiting loneliness. Learn their tactics and how to protect yourself.
Verify Someone Online: How to Check Identity Safely
Learn how to verify someone online without being invasive. Discover simple, safe steps like reverse image search and social media checks to protect yourself from online scams.
Romance Scammers: Preying on Loneliness During Holidays
Romance scammers exploit loneliness during holidays and life events. Learn their tactics and essential tips to protect your heart and wallet from these emotional predators.
Expose Romance Scammers: Reverse Image Search in Minutes
Learn how a simple reverse image search can quickly expose romance scammers, protecting your heart and wallet from online deception. Stay safe online!
Catfished Recovery: Healing from Emotional Betrayal
Being catfished is a painful betrayal, but healing is possible. Learn how to navigate the emotional aftermath, rebuild trust, and find resilience after being catfished.
Reverse Image Search: Uncover Romance Scammers in Minutes
Learn how a reverse image search can quickly expose romance scammers and protect you from online deception. Stay safe and identify fake profiles with this powerful tool.