National Geographic's documentary 'Super Scam Me' follows investigative journalist Mariana van Zeller as she teams with ethical hacker Arman the Cyber to trap a romance scammer posing as Jon Bon Jovi, using a fake Bitcoin receipt as bait. The film explores the psychological tactics behind romance scams, which the FTC estimates cost Americans nearly $1.5 billion annually.
Background
Romance scams have become one of the most pervasive forms of online financial fraud in the US, with scammers exploiting emotional vulnerabilities through elaborate love-bombing tactics. The FTC has repeatedly warned about the rising threat, particularly targeting widows and divorcées with financial resources.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Oct 16, 2026 at 10:00 PM
- Score
- 5.0 / 10