For Anola Johnson of Davis County, Utah, her fraud story begins as so many do: a friend request out of the blue.

In Anola's situation, it was from a man named Pedro on LinkedIn. His profile photo depicted an attractive and confident professional. She accepted. Why not? LinkedIn was for networking, after all.

The messaging started almost immediately, and Pedro soon changed the tone. He inquired about her marital status, suggested they become friends, and soon their conversations shifted from LinkedIn to text messages.

The conversation quickly became personal—and intense. Anola says they were texting constantly, even multiple times a day. Within weeks, Pedro professed his love and began making plans to meet in person. But just days before their meeting, Pedro claimed he had to fly to Abu Dhabi for an urgent repair job on an oil rig. So, the meeting never happened.

But over the next few months, Pedro introduced a new idea: investing in cryptocurrency together. He said it was a golden opportunity recommended by a friend, promising huge returns that could fund their dream life together.

“It’s all about grooming, trying to build trust so that you feel comfortable with the person/scammer,” said Anola. “Looking back, that’s exactly what was happening to me; I just didn’t realize it in the moment.”

Anola hesitated at first, but Pedro was persuasive. To prove his commitment, he claimed to be investing $50,000 of his own money and sent her screenshots that seemed to support his story. Anola then cashed out part of her retirement savings and invested $50,000. Pedro has asked her to sign up for the crypto account, as he claimed to have limited internet access.

“I’m sure that he wanted me to feel like I had some control over this, and he told me that I would be the one looking at the account and checking the progress,” said Anola. “That made me feel as though he trusted me, and then, in turn, I trusted him more. It goes back to the grooming that occurred over the course of months before you are ever asked to help.”

Then came another “opportunity.” And another. This time, Pedro asked Anola to transfer money out of his account because he didn’t have access to the internet on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean. Anola was able to see that Pedro had over $4 million in his account, and the first two wire transfers went smoothly. Pedro walked her through the steps, and she was able to complete the transfers. But when she attempted a third request, she was locked out of his account. So, Pedro asked her to transfer $100,000 out of her own account, and he would repay her. Because she saw he had enough money in his account, she decided to help by refinancing her home loan.

Over months, Anola poured in more and more money, eventually draining her savings, retirement accounts, and even taking out loans. By the time she realized the truth, Anola had lost $850,000.

But it didn’t stop there. Even after Anola told Pedro she had no more money to give him, his requests for more money continued. Eventually, she realized something wasn’t right, but she says she didn’t know what to do. Eventually, someone from the Office of Inspector General called Anola as they were investigating the cases tied to “Pedro". When they got involved, Pedro vanished.

The Hidden Playbook Behind Romance Scams

Romance scams may appear different on the surface, but they all follow a predictable cycle. Anola says she believes it always begins innocently—friendly messages, casual conversation—but quickly escalates into intense declarations of love, a tactic known as “love bombing.” No matter the backstory—a soldier overseas, a doctor on assignment, or a businessman stuck abroad— Anola says every scam funnels through this same choke point.

“Once the scammer convinces you that you’re their soulmate, your brain chemistry starts working against you,” said Anola. “Dopamine and oxytocin make the attention feel addictive, and before you know it, you’re emotionally invested”.

That’s why early awareness is critical. Anola has had ample time to reflect and conduct research on romance scams. She now hosts a podcast where her goal is to help people recognize the playbook before the love bombs hit; to help others protect themselves from manipulation and avoid becoming a victim.

AARP Utah Fraud Prevention Resources

Watch our previously recorded AARP Utah University on Fraud Prevention!

A Utahn Lost Over $1 Million to a Scam; Now She's Fighting Back

“I’m not going to let them win,” Joyce, from Utah, said through tears as she shared what happened to her last year.

AARP Utah Upcoming Scam Jams!

Scam Jam is coming to Ogden!