Behind Enemy Lines

Exploring Romance Scams and the Future of Fraud with Becky Holmes

ThreatMark Episode 3

In this episode of Behind Enemy Lines, host Mike LaFleur sits down with Becky Holmes, keynote speaker and author of Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love with You. Becky shares her unconventional journey into the fight against fraud, sparked by her lockdown pastime of wasting romance scammers’ time on Twitter. Her candid reflections reveal the harsh realities of romance fraud, where victims lose not only their money but also their sense of trust, self-worth, and future aspirations.

Becky and Mike explore the psychological and emotional tactics fraudsters use to manipulate their victims, from fabricated love stories to creating false urgency. Through real-life cases, such as the tragic "Brad Pitt" scam and Francesca’s devastating financial losses, Becky highlights how fraudsters exploit human vulnerabilities. She also discusses the systemic shortcomings in fraud detection and prevention, including the failure of banks to recognize suspicious transactions.

Looking ahead, Becky touches on her new book about the future of fraud and its intersection with AI. She examines how technology can both aid fraudsters and bolster prevention efforts. Becky’s insightful commentary underscores the need for collective vigilance and collaboration to combat the ever-evolving landscape of fraud. Tune in to learn how to protect yourself and others from these insidious crimes.

Guest-at-a-Glance

💡 Name: Becky Holmes

💡 What they do: Keynote Speaker and Author of Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love with You

💡 Noteworthy: Started fighting fraud through humor on Twitter during lockdown.

💡 Where to find them: LinkedIn