Exchanging Gold to Colorful Paper Confetti 🎉 Elaine Elle Espinosa ©️ 2026 all rights reserved

It is said, and I quote, "A predator does not hide in the dark but hides behind the perfect profile you've been looking for"—a loyal man, a sweet, wholesome man, a man who sweeps you off your feet when you read a very close-to-almost-perfect profile. Yet, in the back of your mind, you tend to wonder, Is it too good to be true?

Like many ladies in our mid-ages, some of us have gone through divorces, separations, and relationships that have broken up. For some reason, we became alone, and many of us were labeled as "spinsters," "our train just passed," or "the unlucky in love." These are just a few of the comments that family members, friends, or society have, in some way, made to us or spoken behind our backs.

Reaching age 45 and being single, many tend to wonder, What's wrong with her? They assume the worst-case scenario about why she has reached this age alone. Out of desperation, depression, or simply trying to prove to society that she could find love, many of us who are over 45 and single tend to fall in love with the wrong, very dangerous profiles, hoping true love will be right around the corner. Or, as we see in romance movies, maybe, just maybe, it can manifest into true love. ❤️

Not to mention that people actually envy us because we are at an age when we can do so much and become so much more productive in our lives. Being single, no one can tell us what to do. We can actually travel, go shopping, take courses, or become better-looking without the responsibility of taking care of children, a husband coming home, or cleaning the house before the in-laws come, etc. Yet, we don't feel completely complete and are especially insecure, thinking that society is constantly watching us. I say, "LET THEM THINK THE WORST OF US." We don't need validation, but for some reason, being unlucky in love tends to be a bit more complicated.

Scammers calculate their victims extremely well

They study our behaviors in so many ways that they know exactly how to approach us online and tell us what we want to hear. Oddly enough, we pour our hearts out entirely, as if we were the only woman who could make a life better for him, when, actually, the scammers behind the perfect profile are gathered in groups of five or more.

Not long ago, I saw a video about how scammers prey on their victims, and I was surprised. It showed practically a group of men and women, each at their own computers, preying on innocent women by romancing them online and then taking their money. It made me upset to see how these corrupt individuals can actually make millions of dollars a year just by romancing and convincing these women that the scammers are in desperate need of help. But we don't see them as scammers. We see them as hopeful individuals struggling, as if we're their only hope. That's where it gets dangerous.

WHY?

Because we fall in love too quickly without seeing them or even hearing their voices. Through messages alone, for some reason, we are hooked and brainwashed to the point that our PRINCE CHARMING needs us so we can live happily ever after...

Come on, ladies. We're better than that. We need to be more aware of these scammers and dangerous individuals. If we let them into our homes, it is a very risky situation, and we need to be better educated about how society can and will betray us in the worst way.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm sure there are good, wholesome, loyal, honest men out there. But with today's society, where everything is so pricey and difficult, a great number of people are more and more likely to become corrupt and use scams as a source of side income. And that is a harsh reality that blindsides us.

Thousands of women are victims each year. Yet, knowing that more victims continue to report these crimes each year, I wish more people would share their stories because something needs to be done about it. I was a victim, and the same scenario of finding love almost left me bankrupt.

Now, scammers are turning things around by admitting that what they've done is wrong but still asking for money in order to redirect you with, "I'm honest. I love you. Help me."

Watch out!!!

Part 2 continues.