On a date, the bill came, and the waitress said my date’s card was declined. He paled. Outside, she whispered, “I lied,” and handed me a receipt with “BE CAREFUL” scrawled on it. My date, “Deacon,” acted normal, but I ducked back inside. The waitress warned me he frequently brought women here, pretending to be broke. One woman reported stolen items after letting him stay over.
I got in his car, silent, piecing it together. He rambled, oblivious, and asked for a second date. I nodded, but at home, I investigated. His real name was Marvin, a known scammer targeting women for money and shelter. Days later, he texted, asking to come over. I agreed, hiding valuables. He arrived, casually mentioning needing a place to crash. I confronted him, saying, “I know who you are, Marvin.” He left without a fight.
Later, another woman messaged me—she’d been scammed too. We met, joined by others, forming a group of nine women he’d targeted. We reported him, but with little proof, nothing happened. So, we started a group chat to warn others. That waitress’s warning sparked a chain reaction. Trust your gut. If you’ve been played, you’re not alone. Sharing your story can protect others.
