The Tinder Swindler Star Returns to Netflix to Fight for Other Victims in Love Con Revenge

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2022 saw “The Tinder Swindler” take the spotlight as Netflix’s most-watched documentary, narrating the thrilling tale of my encounter with Simon Leviev – a man who allegedly swindled approximately $250,000 from me during our whirlwind romance.

After the broadcast of the doc, folks with comparable experiences began reaching out to Fjellhøy to share their sympathy, and these stories have led to the creation of a new Netflix series, titled “Love Con Revenge,” set for release on September 5. Fjelløy feels that Leviev hasn’t faced sufficient legal consequences-he served just five months in prison in Israel for using a false passport-so she is dedicated to helping other single individuals who have gone through similar ordeals obtain justice.

Primarily, Fjellhøy aims to reassure viewers who’ve been financially swindled by deceitful romantic figures that they aren’t isolated in their experiences. These types of scams drained approximately $1.14 billion from victims in 2023, as reported by the Federal Trade Commission. Across six episodes of Love Con Revenge, Fjellhøy collaborates with investigator Brianne Joseph to shed light on the accounts of four men and one woman who extorted money from their partners fraudulently. The suspected culprits were given advance notice about the series and had the chance to refute the accusations, but none chose to share their perspectives with the production team.

Let’s explore the stories presented in the latest documentary series, along with advice for viewers to help them steer clear of being victimized by romance scams.

A pattern of behavior

In some instances portrayed in “Love Con Revenge”, law enforcement didn’t pay much attention to the cases until the series began, as they believed there wasn’t sufficient evidence to incriminate the suspected offenders.

“It’s hard to convince police because they consider it a domestic dispute,” Joseph explains.

Joseph and Fjellhøy aimed to locate numerous individuals who had allegations against the named suspects, with the intention of presenting a substantial amount of evidence against each of them to the authorities.

Over the course of the series production, eight women have alleged that they were deceived by Todd Dean. He solicited money from them, claiming it was for a mental health facility in Tennessee, which never materialized. Among these victims was his ex-partner, Jill Schardein, who is featured in the documentary and had given him most of her savings.

An ex-aide of Dean provided bank statements to Joseph and Fjellhøy, revealing funds being transferred from an account earmarked for the planned facility into his personal checking account instead. Subsequently, Dean filed for bankruptcy and sold the property intended for the center in order to clear his debts. However, he has consistently refuted the accusations leveled against him.

In the show, Joseph and Fjellhøy consult an attorney about Chris Lloyd, a previous baseball player for the L.A. Dodgers who disguised himself as a financial advisor. He swindled over $300,000 from several women within a year, with Lindsay Kresmery being one of them. In the documentary, she explains that she lost $140,000 when he suggested she liquidate her deceased mother’s retirement account and invest in his firm and a company promising a 10% return, which ultimately failed to deliver.

Approximately two months ago, in July, Lloyd was taken into custody following a federal indictment that accused him of defrauding his victims through scams, resulting in losses exceeding $2 million. If found guilty, he may be imprisoned for up to 20 years. However, Lloyd maintains his innocence regarding the charges leveled against him.

Confronting lies

Throughout the course of these investigations, it’s discovered that a significant portion of the suspects’ supposed life stories are fabricated.

In simpler terms, Shareza Jackson, a victim herself, accumulated nearly $2 million in debt when she lent money to her spouse, Dorian Wilkerson, for establishing a cosmetic surgery center in Florida. However, it was later discovered that contrary to his claims, he was not licensed as a medical doctor.

It transpired that Wilkerson, who held a Ph.D., frequently claimed to work at Emory University Hospital. However, upon investigation by Joseph, there were no records of him in the hospital’s personnel department. Furthermore, the state of Georgia didn’t possess any documentation of a medical license for him. Joseph also uncovered a cease and desist order from Florida, which stated that he had been practicing medicine without the necessary qualifications and was deceiving people into believing he was a licensed medical professional.

Although there are no ongoing lawsuits concerning the money Jackson allegedly lost from Wilkerson, the documentary focuses on Jackson and her daughters as they endeavor to seek some form of justice by confronting him and expressing their displeasure at Georgia State University, where he teaches in the mathematics department. Wilkerson maintains that he simply employed the “Dr.” title to denote his Ph.D. status.

The document includes Bridget Phillips, a divorced woman residing in Providence, R.I., who alleges that Ricky Morrissey, an ex-military man she was seeing, requested money from her, supposedly to provide it to the family and children of his deceased Army comrade Clarence. Morrissey often shared stories about how Clarence saved his life, but it was later discovered by Joseph that Clarence passed away due to an IED blast, and not from a gunshot wound as Morrissey claimed. Furthermore, when Joseph spoke with Clarence’s family, they stated they had never received any money from Ricky Morrissey and confirmed that Clarence did not have children.

Joseph and Fjellhøy discovered surveillance videos showing Morrissey using Phillips’ ATM card at the bank, which became crucial evidence leading to his prosecution. Morrissey faced trial on three counts of fraud and larceny against Phillips and was found guilty in all three cases. He is currently waiting for sentencing. In the interim, Phillips had the opportunity to confront Morrissey personally, although he attempted to avoid the cameras. Morrissey declined to comment when approached by the team from Love Con Revenge.

Men can be victims, too

In this television program, we find Aaron Ward, a man, who provided approximately $100,000 to his former partner, Sabrina Taylor, believing the money was meant for her medical visits and treatment related to Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

It wasn’t until after their separation that Ward discovered Taylor never truly had Multiple Sclerosis, as confirmed by the doctor. This information came to light when the FBI contacted him following an investigation into other victims of Taylor’s scam. Reflecting on the past, Ward often found it strange that Taylor always prevented him from attending her medical appointments.

Although Taylor, who wasn’t part of the series, confessed to stealing and had to return money to victims over three years as per her plea deal, Ward was not one of the affected individuals. Curious about this situation, Ward approached the team at Love Con Revenge to inquire if he could be included in Taylor’s plea agreement.

Ward is past the five-year limit for wire fraud charges, as he only became aware of the deception much later. However, the Love Con Revenge team hopes that Ward’s situation serves as an inspiration for those who think they might be victims of fraud to seek assistance earlier on.

How to avoid romance scams

As a movie enthusiast, I’d advise everyone to stay vigilant when encountering potential partners who shower you with excessive affection from the start, making you feel like you’re in a fairy tale romance that seems almost unreal. Be cautious if this person also requests financial support early on in your relationship. Remember, love should be about mutual respect and understanding, not about draining each other’s resources.

Joseph points out that there’s often an immediate importance attached to obtaining money. It initially starts as modest requirements, but before you realize it, it becomes quite a substantial demand.

A warning sign is when someone frequently changes meeting locations, or attempts to alter their partner’s character and conduct. As Dr. Fjellhøy notes, such behavior often stems from a desire for control.

Joseph advocates a balanced approach when it comes to dating and relationships, suggesting one should maintain optimism while also exercising caution. He encourages people not to lower their defenses too swiftly. In his view, love is real and love can blossom even after heartbreak. However, he stresses that we shouldn’t be disheartened by such experiences but rather draw valuable lessons from them instead.

Fjellhøy expresses her hope that the images and recordings of suspected swindlers featured in the series might find their way to individuals who are currently dating them, or help singles steer clear of them. Additionally, she aspires for this information to empower those encountering similar situations to seek out resources such as victim support groups. She acknowledges that not every scammer will be apprehended, but her aim is to shatter the silence and combat the stigma surrounding this topic.

In her words, “There’s always going to be someone who finds themselves with a shattered heart and an empty pocket. I truly hope this performance offers them some solace, knowing they aren’t facing their struggles alone.

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2025-09-05 17:06