Match Group CEO Bernard Kim faced criticism for his response to the increasing issue of romance scams, particularly after a widow, Laura Kowal, was conned out of $1.5 million and later found dead. CBS News' investigation 'Anything For Love' revealed that victims often include older individuals and widows, with scammers usually based in Ghana or Nigeria. The investigation also highlighted how victims sometimes become unwitting accomplices in these schemes. Despite the backlash, Kim's comments remained controversial, stating 'Things happen in life' when addressing the impact on victims. Key insights were provided by Arun Rao from the Department of Justice and retired U.S. postal inspector Natalie Reda.
An investigation by CBS News found that romance scammers have been increasingly successful in turning their victims into co-conspirators, or "money mules" to perpetuate their fraudsters' schemes. Stream CBS Reports: “Anything For Love" now. https://t.co/zKWIUDxjm3 https://t.co/vELNz3CbIe
Match Group CEO Bernard Kim on romance scams: "Things happen in life" https://t.co/jkpMq57bJk
Retired U.S. postal inspector Natalie Reda has interviewed hundreds of victims of romance scams from all walks of life. "It seems to all go back to the same thing. They are just hopeful it's love." Stream the CBS News investigation “Anything For Love" now. https://t.co/zKWIUDxjm3 https://t.co/gnjDfPeRRI
Romance scammers, who often originate in Ghana or Nigeria, are typically running a number of operations simultaneously, and tend to target older and widowed people with money, Arun Rao of the Department of Justice tells CBS News. https://t.co/zKWIUDxjm3 https://t.co/0AyfC5N7wZ
The CEO of the nation's largest online dating company told CBS News his company cares deeply about protecting its customers, though his response for those who have lost life savings to overseas romance scammers was more nuanced: "Things happen in life." https://t.co/UqBwhen9DK
Laura Kowal's match on an online dating site wasn't what he seemed. Now her daughter is on a mission to expose the risk of romance scams: "It could happen to anybody." https://t.co/ZMADRKRHeN
The CEO of the nation's largest online dating company told CBS News that his company cares deeply about protecting its customers, though his response regarding overseas romance scammers was more nuanced: "Things happen in life." https://t.co/MBQikWUqy9
When her mother went missing, Kelly Gowe searched her house and found a note buried in a filing cabinet. "I've been living a double life this past year. It has left me broke and broken. Yes, it involves Frank, the man I met through online dating.” The first part of a new CBS… https://t.co/r68h7E1LjX
CBS News went through hundreds of emails exchanged between Laura Kowal and a romance scammer. This is what they said. The first part of a new CBS News investigation “Anything For Love” is now streaming. https://t.co/zKWIUDxjm3 https://t.co/olZtfuaIa0
Match CEO Bernard Kim sparks outrage with callous response to shocking rise in romance scams - after widow who was conned out of $1.5M by man on dating site mysteriously drowned in river: 'Things happen' https://t.co/mvYiitNd8f https://t.co/sCBj86Qhoc