Today's guest, Emily, joins us to share what a romance scam is, some red flags to look out for (patterns and behaviors), how to protect friends/family without triggering shame or defensiveness, and what to do if you suspect you’re being targeted (evidence preservation, reporting pathways, and safe disengagement).
Emily Holyoake is a cyber security and intelligence expert who focuses on the human side of scams and exploitation; how the psychology of trust, persuasion and coercion translates into financial loss.
She has worked directly with both victims and reformed romance scammers about the real scripts and escalation patterns they use.
Emily is also the founder of Not A Standard, where she builds practical, human-factors approaches to understanding and disrupting exploitation.
She is known for making complex cyber and fraud topics simple and actionable, focusing on practical, shame-free strategies that help people spot red flags, protect their finances, and exit safely.