A reader’s brother sent $45,000 to “Katy Perry.” The two scams that empty accounts by preying on love and fear, and how to break the spell.

“Kim, my brother thinks gorgeous Katy Perry is leaving the hot Prime Minister for a bald, overweight, cigarette-smoking car salesman. He’s sent ‘Katy’ $45,000 because she has no money while she’s on tour. I told him it’s a scam. He won’t believe me. Help!”

— Charlotte in Indiana

Charlotte, my heart hurts for you and your brother. He has a lot of company: Americans reported $20.9 billion in scam losses last year. Folks over 60 lost $584 million to romance scams, and the average victim loses $38,500. Your brother’s $45,000 is tragically on script.

💘 The sweetheart shakedown

First, understand why he won’t listen. Scammers coach victims early: “Your family will say I’m fake. They don’t understand us.” Every time you argue, you prove “Katy” right. So change the game.

Ask, don’t argue: “Have you two ever video-chatted, even once?” Then suggest a two-minute live call. The real Katy Perry owns a phone. The scammer will have an excuse, and your brother will start to notice.

Borrow authority. Victims tune out family but hear strangers with titles. Walk your brother into his bank and ask the fraud officer to review the wires, or call the AARP Fraud Watch Helpline together: 877-908-3360. Free, and they do this all day. I’m happy to speak with him, too. Drop a note here to set that up.

Report scams at IC3.gov and ReportFraud.ftc.gov. A recent wire? Ask the bank about a recall today. And brace for Round 2. He’s on a victim list now, and a fake “recovery lawyer” will call, offering to get his $45,000 back for a fee. Same crooks, back for dessert.

📸 The blackmail bluff

Love isn’t the only lever. Fear pays, too. 

The FBI logged more than 75,000 extortion and sextortion reports last year. These are emails claiming “we have video of you,” usually bluffing but “proving” it with an old password from a data breach or a photo of your house from Street View. The rules: Never pay, never reply, change that old password, report it. 

🛡️ What I’d want if he were my brother

FYI, this is why I keep saying identity theft protection has to cover more than your credit cards and mortgage. Life isn’t so simple anymore.

Coveron watches your identity, but it also reimburses scam losses from phishing, impersonation, romance scams and unauthorized transfers, up to your plan’s limits.

That’s the part almost nobody covers. Charlotte’s brother sent that $45,000 with his own hands, and most policies call that his problem.

There’s cyber extortion coverage up to $100,000, too, for the “we have video of you” crowd I told you about.

And up to $2 million in identity theft protection, because the crooks who took his money have his name, his bank and his willingness to answer.

Round 2 is coming. Be ready for it. These scammers won’t give up and go away. They will be back. Be ready for them.

✅ Get Coveron right now for 71% off, that’s $4.36/month, and cover the losses your credit report never will.*

Charlotte, when the spell breaks, skip the I-told-you-so. Your brother’s lost the money and feels like a fool. Show him how much you love him and reassure him this wasn’t his fault. The scammers are trained for this.

🎯 Send this to someone who believes their online sweetheart is real or has a loved one who does.

📱 Text-worthy: FBI numbers: $20.9 BILLION lost to scams last year, $584M of it seniors + romance scams (avg loss $38,500). If someone you love is in one: Don’t argue. Ask, “Ever video-chatted, even once?” and call the AARP Fraud Helpline together, 877-908-3360. And that “we have video of you” email? Almost always a bluff. Never pay.