Last spring, Michael McAllister’s inbox started filling up with messages from heartbroken women. “I thought you were the man,” one wrote. “Embarrassing, but I kinda became obsessed with ‘you,’” another said. Michael discovered that his photos were being used to catfish women on dating apps — from Germany to Brazil to Chicago. Today’s story explores a global dating scam (that’s still going on, by the way) and the pandemic-fueled loneliness of digital life. Also, we hear from two women who were duped by Michael’s impostor. One of them shares a trick for determining whether or not a dating prospect is real.
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Miya Lee: From The New York Times, I'm Miya Lee.
Dan Jones: And I'm Dan Jones.
This is the Modern Love podcast.
Miya Lee: Today's essay loops in people from Hungary to Brazil to Chicago.
Dan Jones: Right. And it takes place near the beginning of the pandemic,
when people were isolated,
and they were feeling just especially vulnerable and alone and reaching out.
Miya Lee: And reaching out the only way that they could,
which was on the internet.
Dan Jones: Yeah.
Miya Lee: The essay is called,
'How I Got Caught Up in a Global Romance Scam.'
Dan Jones: It's written by Michael McAllister and read by Eric Martin.
Eric Martin: This past spring,
my inboxes began filling with messages from heartbroken women.
The first came through Instagram.
'Hey, I'm Lina. I live in Germany.
Someone is using your pictures for scamming.'
Her profile revealed a woman who looked to be near my age —