On this week’s Dating Detectives Monday, we welcome back matrimonial attorney Leslie Barbara, and her client Allison, who share one of the most jaw‑dropping “Dogfish” scams we’ve ever seen. Allison thought she’d met a charming Scottish real‑estate developer on Hinge, only to be drawn into a web of hotel double‑charges, “escrowed” millions, vanished luggage (and credit cards), even a suspicious bout of illness, all while he convinced everyone from gym staff to Porsche dealers that he was the real deal. Together, Leslie and Allison dissect the red flags, legal pitfalls (power of attorney, anyone?), and the surprising AI sleuthing that finally unmasked him. Tune in for hard‑won lessons on spotting, stopping, and surviving romance scams—and why locking your credit (and trusting your fem‑tuition) could make all the difference.

Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page!

If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this link

Take control of your data today. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by visiting joindeleteme.com/datingdetectives and using the promo code TDD at checkout.

This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/tdd today to get 10% off your first month.

This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Paired. Head to PAIRED.COM/DATINGDETECTIVES to get a 7-day free trial and 25% off if you sign up for a subscription.

***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.

If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Maya stumbled across a sweaty cowboy thirst trap on TikTok during lockdown, she had no idea it would spiral into a years-long relationship built on lies, manipulation, and financial abuse. From dry begging to full-blown gaslighting, Maya shares how a charming "rancher" turned out to be a serial scammer juggling multiple partners, draining their finances, and faking entire life stories. But this isn't just a cautionary tale—it’s a story of survival, sisterhood, and fighting back.

Maya not only survived cancer during this emotional warzone, but found unexpected healing and lifelong friendships in the other women he conned. Together, they formed their own investigative coven to expose the truth and protect future victims.

Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page!

If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this link

SPONSORED BY:

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– Simply Pop by Coca-Cola: Find your favorite new prebiotic soda at CokeURL.com/SimplyPop.

– Dipsea: Enjoy 30 days free of spicy, female-focused audio stories at DipseaStories.com/TDD.

– AVA: Rebuild your credit fast with no interest, no credit check. Download the AVA app and use promo code DATING for your first month free.

***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.

If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Dating Detectives, we’re joined by Nick, a rare male guest with a story that starts like a romance novel and ends in shocking betrayal. What began as a fun, flirty college friendship slowly evolved into a deep, long-distance love that spanned 15 years. From inside jokes and late-night calls to emotional support and shared dreams, Nick and Jen’s friends-to-lovers arc felt like fate, until one innocent scroll on Facebook revealed the devastating truth.

Merch is on sale until this Wednesday 4/9! Make sure to order before then to secure your goodie. Click here to shop now!

Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page!

If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this link

Thank you to Netflix and their new show, Pulse, for sponsoring this episode! Premiering April 3 – A new hospital drama with mystery, romance, and high-stakes chaos. If you love Dating Detectives and Medical Detectives, you will love Pulse!

Take control of your data today. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by visiting joindeleteme.com/datingdetectives and using the promo code TDD at checkout.

This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/tdd today to get 10% off your first month.

***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.

If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy Dating Detectives Monday, Sleuthies! This episode is a wild ride, and not for the faint of heart. It’s a Mackenzie Undercover episode, and today’s case is infuriating. A PI investigation into what seemed like a standard insurance fraud case spirals into something darker — a mom using her 4-year-old child in an elaborate scam. Fake injuries, staged doctor visits, and a heartbreaking history of child neglect unfold before your ears. If you thought you’d heard every kind of Dogfish story, this one will leave you stunned.

Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page!

If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this link

MERCH DROP DETAILS – Our second ever Dating Detectives merch drop is here!

• Early Access: Available now for all Patreon members.
• General Access: Drops this Wednesday. Check out our socials @datingdetectivespodcast for that link on Wednesday!
• Want in early? Join us on Patreon for just $5/month.

Book Club Update – Our next pick is The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose — a twisty thriller full of scandal, murder, and, yes… Dogfish. Perfect for group discussion (and armchair detective work). Zoom book chat details coming soon to Patreon!

Self-Defense Workshop with Hanna

• West Hollywood | April 6 & May 18
• $35 (includes safety goodies!)
• All profits go to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
• Want us to bring a workshop to your city? Let us know at dontgetkilledclub.com.

Thank you to Netflix and their new show, Pulse, for sponsoring this episode! Premiering April 3 – A new hospital drama with mystery, romance, and high-stakes chaos. If you love Dating Detectives and Medical Detectives, you will love Pulse!

Looking for a new mattress? We cannot recommend Helix enough! Get 25% off sitewide during Sleep Awareness Month at helixsleep.com/datingdetectives

Fix your credit fast with Ava. No interest, no credit check. First month free with code DATING at checkout!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this gripping two-part episode, our hosts dive into Laura’s shocking and emotional journey of love, deception, and heartbreak. Laura shares her whirlwind romance with a charming resort worker that spiraled into a tangled web of manipulation, financial exploitation, and emotional abuse.

Trigger Warnings: This episode includes discussions about financial abuse, emotional abuse, suicidal ideation, and revenge porn. Listener discretion is advised.

Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page!

If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this link

Interested in checking out Laura's podcast? Listen here

Take control of your data today. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by visiting joindeleteme.com/datingdetectives and using the promo code TDD at checkout.

Upgrade your sleep today. Go to trymiracle.com/tdd to try Miracle Made Sheets and get over 40% off. Plus, use our promo code TDD at checkout to get a free 3-piece towel set and save an extra 20%. With their 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s zero risk to try.

This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Dipsea. For listeners of the show, Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/ TDD

This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Paired. Head to PAIRED.COM/DATINGDETECTIVES to get a 7-day free trial and 25% off if you sign up for a subscription.

***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.

If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this gripping two-part episode, our hosts dive into Laura’s shocking and emotional journey of love, deception, and heartbreak. Laura shares her whirlwind romance with a charming resort worker that spiraled into a tangled web of manipulation, financial exploitation, and emotional abuse.

Trigger Warnings: This episode includes discussions about financial abuse, emotional abuse, suicidal ideation, and revenge porn. Listener discretion is advised.

Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page!

If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this link

***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.

If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this wild episode of The Dating Detectives, Mackenzie goes full undercover PI to investigate a mysterious series of toll violations that lead to an unexpected discovery—a Dogfish caught in the act! When a devoted wife suspects her husband’s car is being used fraudulently, Mackenzie uncovers a shocking story of deception and betrayal.

Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page!

If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this link

Take control of your data today. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by visiting joindeleteme.com/datingdetectives and using the promo code TDD at checkout.

Upgrade your sleep today. Go to trymiracle.com/tdd to try Miracle Made Sheets and get over 40% off. Plus, use our promo code TDD at checkout to get a free 3-piece towel set and save an extra 20%. With their 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s zero risk to try.

***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.

If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part Two of this gripping two-part series, we sit down with Talia to unravel a story that starts with an innocent friendship but quickly spirals into obsession, manipulation, and eerie control. What begins as a lighthearted Coachella connection with Finn—a quirky, seemingly harmless guy—slowly morphs into something much darker.

As Talia navigates young adulthood, heartbreak, and personal trauma, Finn is always there—offering support, but with strings attached. With every twist and turn, he becomes more entrenched in her life, crossing boundaries, planting seeds of doubt, and isolating her under the guise of protection. But just when she starts to recognize the patterns, Finn’s behavior escalates in ways she never saw coming.

Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page!

If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this link

This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Dipsea. For listeners of the show, Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/ TDD

This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Dipsea. For listeners of the show, Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/ TDD

***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.

If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.