Mariana van Zeller investigates online romance scams in new documentary

Journalist Mariana van Zeller is the subject of a new National Geographic documentary, ‘Super Scam Me’, which explores the mechanics of online romance scams. To understand the psychological and technological methods used by digital predators, Van Zeller created a false persona named Mary Zelle to target scammers on dating apps and social media.

The investigation highlights how scammers use advanced technology and emotional manipulation, such as ‘love bombing’, to defraud victims. Van Zeller’s undercover work involved interacting with various fraudulent profiles, including individuals posing as successful entrepreneurs, celebrities, and military officers. One notable encounter involved a man named Mark Turner, who posed as a military general.

The documentary also addresses the massive economic impact of these crimes, noting that romance scams result in billions of dollars in losses annually in the United States alone. Alongside cybersecurity experts, the production examines the emotional toll on victims and the evolving digital tools used to facilitate these global fraudulent operations. The documentary is available on Hulu and Disney+.