UPDATED FOR 2023. I was standing in line, horrified at how a man in front of me was treating his two little girls. The girls looked to be about two and four years old. One of them was in a stroller. He yelled at the older girl — I don't know why. When she started crying, he yelled at her again, threatening to hit her if she didn't stop crying. No matter what the kids did — dropped a blanket on the floor, touched the stanchion rope — the guy yelled. If this father was treating his kids this way in public — what in the world was he doing at home? Make no mistake — the guy was engaging in child abuse, and the kids will likely suffer from it for the rest of their lives. I'm not exa …
I was almost scammed on Facebook Marketplace
Wow! Internet con artists sure are slick. I was almost scammed on Facebook Marketplace last weekend while selling a few vintage dresses. As you know, I am extremely well-informed about psychopaths and their tactics. The scammers used all the standard con artist tricks. Yet the ploy was difficult to see while I was in the middle of it. I’m sharing this story so you can see how easy it is to get caught up in a scammer’s manipulation. Here’s what happened. I posted multiple items for sale on Facebook Marketplace for family members, including five vintage dresses that belonged to my stepmother. I priced the dresses at $25 each. I was not expecting any interest in them, so you can imag …
After 30 years with a sociopath, can Tapping help me recover?
If you’ve spent 20, 30 or even more years married to a sociopath, you probably feel like the life has been sucked out of you. But I assure you, even after years of narcissistic abuse, EFT Tapping can help you recover. I’m writing this story in response to a request from a Lovefraud Live! viewer. She posted the following question on my video, Sociopaths exploit everyone in their lives: Would like to know how tapping would help the effects of having lived with a sociopathic husband for 30 years? What took so long? I’ve heard from hundreds of people in this situation — long-term marriages with someone whom they finally realized was a sociopath. Mayb …
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Wealthy NYC widow claims gigolo scammed her for nearly $6 million
A wealthy, heartbroken widow from New York City claimed she was scammed out of nearly $6 million by a male escort in a lawsuit filed last week in Manhattan Supreme Court. Marianne Flippo, 49, claimed in court filings that Gregg Starr, a male escort with ice-blue eyes and six-pack abs, professed his love for her in an attempt to swindle $10 million. He succeeded in getting $5.95 million, she alleged in the lawsuit, and she wanted it back. Grieving widow Marianne was widowed when she lost her husband, Chad. They were childhood sweethearts — Marianne had known him since she was 13 years old. They were married for 28 years and had three children. Chad made a fortune by d …
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Letter to Lovefraud: Signs of marriage trouble
Editor’s note: In this Letter to Lovefraud a reader whom we’ll call “Cassie” tells her story of a long-distance relationship that became a marriage, and now she’s not sure about the marriage. Her husband was originally sweet and caring, but now he’s angry. Her story includes multiple signs of marriage trouble. My long-distance relationship I am so confused and in a dark place. I met my husband online about six years ago and we fell in love. I met him during Covid. I was working at a defense contractor and living with a roommate in a condo. My life was going pretty well. After talking online and on the phone for a few months he flew out to visit me and s …
Survey for survivors of victimization
A university researcher is studying the experiences of people who have tangled with individuals who have high psychopathic traits. If this has happened to you, and if you’re reading Lovefraud it probably did, please consider participating in her study. Here’s the official announcement: The Mental Health, Wellbeing and Lived Experiences Study Theresia Bedard, a PhD candidate at Lakehead University who is working with Dr. Beth Visser, is seeking participants for her dissertation project. In this study we are examining the lived experiences of people who have experience or victimization from an individual with high psychopathic traits. We are seeking anyone that has this lived exp …
Staying too long with a disordered husband
Editor’s note: The Lovefraud author Eleanor Cowan wants to educate survivors of narcissistic abuse into recognizing how their own actions may contribute to their misery. This is the third article in her collection of true stories called, “Impactful Stories for Stubborn Codependents.” Eleanor’s biographical book is called, “A History of a Pedophile’s Wife.” One Loose Thread How could a single loose thread be this strong, Kay wondered, giving up on pulling it from the sheet that was covering Sori. Noticing its imprint on her finger, she let go. “I still remember how it felt, after all these years,” she whispered. Kay spoke to her friend now, inert on the gurney. “I’m not going to ask w …
Will you complete a survey on toxic and deceptive relationships?
A psychologist and university researcher is seeking people to participate in a survey on toxic and deceptive relationships. His study called, Understanding toxic breakups: Creating a recovery source. The researcher is from Gitam University in India, which was inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandi. The research is being conducted in English. Here is the announcement. Call for survey participants Dear Lovefraud Community, We are reaching out to gather vital insights on the reality of toxic and deceptive relationships. While this research focuses on the experiences of young adults, the wisdom of this community is invaluable in helping us understand these patterns. We are s …
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7 sociopath strategies for making demands
Sociopaths view you, and all other people, as objects to be used. They want something, and they believe that your purpose in life is to deliver it. But how, exactly, do they get you to do what they want? Here are seven sociopath strategies for making demands. In the beginning of your involvement, of course, sociopaths typically sweet talk you into going along with what they want. They work to convince you that it’s a really, really good idea, or it will be really, really fun, or they really, really need it. Then, when you agree, they can’t stop thanking you. But once sociopaths feel that you are sufficiently under their control, that all stops. The niceties go away and they simply exp …
Is it love or is it love bombing?
Almost everyone who is targeted by a sociopath in a romantic relationship experiences love bombing — over-the-top attention and affection. In my book, Red Flags of Love Fraud — 10 signs you’re dating a sociopath, Red Flag #4 is love bombing. When they're in full seduction mode, sociopaths want to be with you all the time, and if they're not physically with you, they want to be in constant communication with you. They proclaim their love — quickly, frequently and persistently. Most of us interpret this ceaseless devotion as an indication that our new partner is truly smitten. But it's not love — it's love bombing. Unlike true love, love bombing is insincere. It is not an expres …
Asking the wrong question about coercive controllers
UPDATED FOR 2026. Coercive control is a pattern of assault, threats, humiliation, intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish or frighten the victim. Where does this behavior come from? A Lovefraud reader sent me an article by Dr. Emma Katz, who describes herself as a “globally respected expert in coercive control, domestic violence and domestic abuse.” I invite you to read the article: She didn’t “pick wrong.” Society failed by creating millions of abusive men. In her article, Katz says there are so many abusers in the world that “we need to stop blaming women for ‘ignoring red flags’ when men turn out to be controlling and abusive partners.” I listened to Katz speak …
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