A single mother from the United States has shared how she was deceived by an online romance scammer who pretended to be a famous actor from the Netflix series Stranger Things. The scam unfolded over more than a year and caused serious emotional and financial harm.
The woman believed she was in a relationship with the actor after meeting him on an online forum. They exchanged frequent messages, formed an emotional bond, and he eventually asked her to be his girlfriend. They never spoke by phone or video, but she trusted him because he appeared to know inside details about upcoming TV episodes.
Over time, the scammer convinced her that he needed money. He claimed he could not access his own finances and asked her to send gift cards. Wanting to help, she sent small amounts that eventually added up to around $10,000.
Doubts began to grow, and she asked an online investigation group for help. Their research showed the man was not who he claimed to be. Photos, messages, and documents he shared were found to be fake or copied from public sources.
Looking back, she said loneliness and past trauma made her vulnerable. She now warns others not to judge victims, but to understand how emotional manipulation works. Experts stress that anyone online asking for money, secrecy, or refusing video contact is a major red flag.