true crime

Cecilie was scammed by a man on Tinder. Now, she's saving other women from the same fate.

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Does the name Cecilie Fjellhøy ring any bells? Well, if you watched Netflix's Tinder Swindler, it should, because she was one of the women conned by Simon Leviev in the 2022 explosive documentary.

But now, she's turned the tables on romance fraudsters in the most satisfying way possible. 

In Netflix's new six-part series Love Con Revenge, Fjellhøy has transformed from victim to vigilante. She's teamed up with private investigator Brianne Joseph to track down romance scammers across America and bring them face-to-face with their crimes. 

After The Tinder Swindler became a global phenomenon, Fjellhøy was inundated with messages from people worldwide who'd fallen victim to similar schemes. Rather than simply sympathise, she decided to act. 

Watch the trailer for Love Con Revenge. Article continues below.


Video via YouTube/Netflix.

"I never imagined my story would resonate the way it has," Fjellhøy explained.

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"Since The Tinder Swindler, I've heard from people all over the world who've been targeted by criminals hiding behind love." 

The series follows Fjellhøy and Joseph as they investigate cases of romance fraud, conducting meticulous online research before confronting perpetrators in person. It's part detective work, part therapy session — and entirely compelling television.

What makes Fjellhøy's transformation so powerful is her unique perspective. She knows exactly how these scammers operate because she lived through it herself.

When Leviev swept her off her feet with private jets and luxury hotels, she genuinely believed she'd found her fairy-tale romance. The devastating realisation that it was all a lie — and that she'd been manipulated into lending him hundreds of thousands of dollars — could have broken her. But it didn't. 

love con revengeImage: Netflix.

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What makes Love Con Revenge particularly eye-opening is how it exposes the sheer magnitude of romance fraud. The series reveals victims who've lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to smooth-talking scammers who prey on people seeking genuine connection.

In one particular scene in the show, a victim explains how she was conned out of $50,000 by her boyfriend. Another woman describes losing her life savings to a charismatic man posing as a wellness guru. These aren't isolated incidents — they're part of a massive criminal enterprise that's exploding worldwide.

"These scammers have been getting away with this for way too long," Fjellhøy declared in the trailer, and she's not wrong. Romance fraud has exploded globally, with criminals becoming increasingly sophisticated in their manipulation tactics.

The emotional toll is just as devastating as the financial impact. Victims don't just lose money — they lose their ability to trust, their sense of self-worth and often their faith in love itself. Many suffer in silence, too embarrassed to report what happened or seek help.

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Romance fraud represents a uniquely 21st-century crime. Dating apps have made it easier than ever for scammers to access potential victims, whilst social media provides endless material for crafting convincing fake identities.

They know exactly which emotional buttons to push. They present themselves as successful but vulnerable, charming but in need of help. They create artificial urgency — a business deal gone wrong, a medical emergency, a temporary cash flow problem — that requires immediate financial assistance. 

The series shows how these criminals exploit fundamental human needs for connection and love, turning our greatest vulnerabilities against us.

love con revenge on netflixImage: Netflix

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The most satisfying moments in Love Con Revenge come when Fjellhøy and Joseph confront scammers directly. These aren't gentle conversations — they're full-scale interventions where perpetrators are forced to face their victims and answer for their crimes.

The creative director of the show, James O'Reilly, emphasised the show's broader mission.

"It's been incredible to follow Cecilie and Brianne as they investigate these cases — to bring justice to the victims, and hold the perpetrators to account who've gotten away with this for far too long," he explained.

Love Con Revenge represents something fresh in the true crime genre. Rather than simply documenting crimes after the fact, it actively works to solve them and prevent future victims.

This approach feels particularly important given how romance fraud victims are often blamed for their circumstances. Society tends to ask "how could you fall for that?" rather than "how can we stop this happening to others?" 

Love Con Revenge firmly rejects victim-blaming in favour of perpetrator accountability.

Feature Image: Netflix.

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