TL;DR: InvestigateTV reported on May 13, 2026 that “Susan”, a 69-year-old Arizona retiree, lost her four-bedroom house and life savings to “Stephen”, a man claiming to be a Navy officer in the Middle East. A package of gold and cash needed customs money from a fake diplomat. She now lives in a small apartment. Four payments totalling $70,300 were listed.
What happened
InvestigateTV (WIBW) tells the story of “Susan”, a 69-year-old retiree from Arizona. Last summer she received an unsolicited Facebook message from a man named Stephen who said he was a Navy officer stationed in the Middle East, later on a base in Iraq, and from Virginia. After a few weeks he asked to move to WhatsApp and another chat app, and sent romantic messages. They never spoke by phone, which he explained by saying he had no phone access on the base.
How the story grew
- He offered to help with her bills and late RV payments by sending a package of gold, cash and jewellery.
- The package never arrived. A person claiming to be a US diplomat said money was needed to clear customs.
- More customs-related requests followed, and Susan was persuaded to sell her four-bedroom house to raise more funds.
- She realised it was a scam when she told her financial advisor about the payments while trying to get a car loan.
The money
The article lists payments of $1,200 in cash, $8,000, $55,000 and $6,100, which add up to $70,300, but it gives no total and does not say these were the only payments. Susan lost her house and life savings and now lives in a small apartment and struggles to pay bills.
Others see it too
Phoenix real estate agent Doug Hopkins said he has seen at least six similar cases in the past year and has limited authority to stop sales. Attorney Dwane Cates said adults can sell their property even if family suspects fraud, and advised families to monitor big financial decisions and report concerns to the state attorney general's office. The article cites an AARP 2025 report that at least one in 10 adults aged 50 and older has personally fallen victim to a romance scam, and over half of those who lost money did not report it.
Red flags
- A military “officer” who cannot phone or video call.
- A valuable package that needs customs fees from you.
- A “diplomat” or agent asking for payment.
- Pressure to sell property or take loans.
Read romance scam red flags, what to do after a romance scam and how to protect elderly parents. Check what scammers can find with our free digital footprint check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Susan lose her home?
She was persuaded to sell her four-bedroom house to raise money for customs fees on a package that never arrived.
How much did she send?
The article lists four payments of $1,200, $8,000, $55,000 and $6,100, totalling $70,300, but gives no overall total.
How did she discover the scam?
She told her financial advisor about the payments while trying to get a car loan.
Why did Stephen never call?
He said he had no phone access on the base. Never sending money to someone you have not met in person is the safest rule.
Sources
- InvestigateTV (WIBW): Fake Naval officer romance scam swindles Arizona woman out of her home (May 13, 2026)
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- FTC ReportFraud