Jean Booth, a 43-year-old woman from Maryland, sent more than $90,000 over 237 days to an online suitor named “Donnie,” who falsely claimed to be a U.S. Army paratrooper. Booth connected with Donnie on the dating site Match in January 2025 and wired money for his daughter’s school fees, medical bills, and delayed return from overseas.

Despite never fully believing Donnie was real, Booth admitted to The Associated Press that she recognized warning signs early and was "at war with myself" as she debated sending additional payments. Her suspicions eventually led her to uncover another woman involved with the same fake persona, a discovery that profoundly affected both victims.

According to Federal Trade Commission data, more than 49,000 Americans reported losing a combined $1.3 billion to romance scams last year, marking at least a 14% increase from the previous year. Experts attribute the rise to pandemic-era isolation, which has left many vulnerable to online predators exploiting loneliness and hope.

Booth’s experience, detailed in a new Associated Press investigation, provides insight into how romance scams develop and why victims often find it difficult to disengage even when suspecting deceit.

This article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and published by The Washington Times AI News Desk.

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