Romance scams aren’t just something that happens to “other people.” They are a growing, modern-day epidemic - and they can devastate entire families.

In this episode of Comfort Food, Kelly sits down with her sister Kristin Rizzo to talk about how romance scams really work, why they’re so effective, and the very real emotional and financial damage they can cause. Kelly shares a deeply personal story about how a romance scam played a major role in destroying the marriage and life of a close family member, and how the fallout affected everyone around them.

Together, Kelly and Kristin break down what romance scams actually look like, why smart, capable people fall for them, and why victims often stay even when red flags start to appear. They talk about shame, secrecy, manipulation, and the psychological tactics scammers use to build trust and dependency.

This episode also offers practical, matter-of-fact guidance — how to spot warning signs, what to do if you think you or someone you love may be involved in a scam, and how to approach these situations with compassion rather than judgment.

This conversation is personal, educational, and meant to help protect others from going through the same kind of loss.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.