What Do You Wish You’d Done Earlier When a Parent Fell for a Romance Scam?
My dad is currently getting pulled into what appears to be a pretty sophisticated romance scam, and I’m trying to stop it before it gets deeper emotionally or financially.
For those of you who have had a parent or loved one go through this, what do you wish you had done or known earlier that could’ve helped snap them out of it before they became fully invested?
Right now I’m finding that facts and obvious inconsistencies alone don’t always work once there’s emotional attachment involved. I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actually been through this and what approaches helped vs made things worse.
Things I’m especially curious about:
- What were the earliest signs you overlooked?
- What finally made your parent realize it was fake?
- Did confronting them directly help or push them further in?
- Were there any practical steps that protected them financially/emotionally early on?
- Anything you wish you’d done sooner?
Appreciate any insight. This has honestly been pretty heartbreaking to watch unfold.