A Toledo Man Lost $125,000 to a Romance Scam Called “Lisa Love”

Smiling man at a desk at night holding a paper and typing at a computer lit by a desk lamp

In July, a 79-year-old Toledo, Ohio man, recently divorced and lonely, got a text out of nowhere from someone calling herself “Lisa Love.” He agreed to be identified only as “Mark” to protect his privacy. By the time it was over, he had wired more than $125,000 to a fraudulent account overseas.

They talked for weeks, and eventually over video calls a few times, which made the relationship feel real and earned his trust. Lisa told Mark her aunt was a financial analyst and encouraged him to invest in gold through a specific website she recommended. Trusting her, he transferred over $125,000 into what turned out to be a fraudulent account based in Vietnam.

Mark went public with his story, reported through 10TV in Ohio, specifically to warn others who might be going through the same thing he did: lonely, recently divorced, and looking for connection at exactly the moment a scammer was looking for a target. Romance scams cost Americans over $823 million in 2024 alone, and they don’t just target the naive. They target anyone lonely enough to want the connection to be real.

5 Lessons You Can Learn From Mark’s Scam

1.

A Video Call Is Not Proof of Identity

Mark trusted the relationship partly because they had spoken over video. Scammers increasingly use stolen or manipulated video to appear real.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Ask to meet in person before any money changes hands, and be suspicious of every excuse not to.
  • Do a reverse image search on their photos before you trust the relationship.

2.

Never Invest Based on a Partner’s Recommendation Alone

Lisa’s “aunt the financial analyst” was the hook that got Mark to trust an investment he’d never have made on his own.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Verify any investment platform independently before sending money, never through a link a partner sends you.
  • Treat “my family member is an expert” as a red flag, not reassurance.

3.

Anyone Who Asks for Money Is Not Who They Claim to Be

Genuine romantic partners don’t need your money. A request for funds, gifts, or investment help is one of the clearest signs of a scam.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Refuse to send money, gift cards, or crypto to anyone you haven’t met in person.
  • Talk to a family member before making any financial decision involving someone you met online.

4.

Wire Transfers and Overseas Accounts Are Nearly Unrecoverable

Once Mark’s money reached an account in Vietnam, there was almost no way to get it back.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Treat any request to wire money internationally as an immediate stop sign.
  • Use payment methods with fraud protection, and only for people and businesses you can verify.

5.

Speaking Up Helps the Next Person

Mark chose to tell his story publicly, using only a pseudonym, specifically so someone else could recognize the pattern before it was too late.

How to Protect Yourself

  • If you or someone you love is targeted, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Share what happened with family. Romance scams thrive on shame and silence.

Final Takeaway: Loneliness Is What Scammers Target, Not Gullibility

Mark wasn’t careless. He was lonely after a divorce, and a scammer built a relationship specifically to exploit that. The habit that protects you isn’t cynicism. It’s refusing to send money or investments to anyone you have not met in person.

Sources & References

Protect the people you love

Don’t let this happen to someone you love.

The habit that stops scams like this is simple, and free to learn. Take our free Spot the Scam course, or read more real stories.

Get Safety Tips by Email →

Learn more