Cecilie Fjellhøy, the keynote speaker for M3AAWG’s 65th General Meeting, has become one of the most recognized and resilient voices in the fight against online romance scams. From sharing her story in Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler (one of the platform’s hottest and most-watched documentaries) to launching new projects that expose the devastating financial and emotional consequences scam survivors face, she continues to transform personal tragedy into global advocacy. If you haven’t seen it yet, we encourage you to watch The Tinder Swindler to understand Cecilie’s story and the broader context of the romance scams she continues to fight against.
Beyond her advocacy work, Cecilie brings a professional background in technology and design vital to the core message of her keynote. She holds a Master’s degree in Digital Experience Design and has spent nearly a decade working as a user experience designer. This unique perspective—combining professional expertise in how people interact with technology with her lived experiences—gives her rare insight into the vulnerabilities fraudsters exploit and the systemic changes needed to strengthen trust online.
Her latest project, the Netflix series Love Con Revenge, further reinforces the themes she will bring to Charlotte this October—spotlighting the human cost of romance scams, the evolving tactics of fraudsters, and the urgent need for awareness, resilience, and systemic change. Together with private investigator Brianne Joseph, Cecilie highlights the horrors caused by romance scam predators while assisting those impacted in this new six-part series.
Cecilie was thrust into the global limelight when her documentary struck a chord. It told the story of a con artist who leveraged the Tinder app to target her and other romantic prospects, while orchestrating a scam to lure targets into lending him money via high-interest loans and maxed-out credit cards.
When it comes to going public as a romance scam survivor, Cecilie told us it becomes a matter of helping others. The driving force behind all her advocacy is protecting the “next Cecilie Fjellhøy” from believing in “love” only to be left with a mountain of pain and debt.
“You don't go public by seeking justice in your own case. You're doing it to create awareness and help others in the future,” she said. “What I'm trying to do is show those impacted by these scams that there is light at the other side of the tunnel.”
Cecilie Presents “Deception by Design” at M3AAWG 65
If you're headed to Charlotte, mark your calendar for 10 a.m. EST on Tuesday, October 14th, when Cecilie will present her keynote, “Deception by Design: How AI, Human Psychology, and Systemic Gaps Are Redefining Trust,” at M3AAWG’s 65th General Meeting. Drawing on her background as a user experience designer, Cecilie’s keynote will expose systemic failures in cybersecurity and financial systems, highlight the stigma that silences the scam-impacted individuals, and discuss how emerging technologies are making romance scams increasingly more sophisticated by the minute.
If you haven’t seen it yet, now is the perfect time to watch Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler and Love Con Revenge to fully appreciate Cecilie’s journey and the urgent need for her advocacy and keynote at M3AAWG.
“It’s crucial to promote the voices of those impacted by these scams, and I applaud Netflix for giving Cecilie their immense platform to advocate for and protect those impacted by these scams. Her insights are vital for ushering in change, and it’s an honor to have her speak at M3AAWG’s 65th General Meeting in Charlotte to further amplify this message,” M3AAWG Board of Directors Chairperson Sara Roper.
In addition to her work with Netflix and passionate speaking engagements, Cecilie has co-authored a new book, Swindled Ever After, with Pernilla Sjöholm, with important lessons to help others identify and prevent romance scams.
As co-founder of LoveSaid, a survivor-led organization dedicated to preventing romance scams and driving systemic change, Cecilie transforms painful experiences into proactive advocacy—providing survivors with both a supportive community and practical resources for recovery.
Cecilie’s journey as a technology professional, scam survivor, global advocate, and scam defense advisor underscores why her voice is so vital at M3AAWG. With the launch of Love Con Revenge, her ongoing advocacy through LoveSaid, and her upcoming keynote in Charlotte, she continues to shed light on the evolving tactics of romance scams while empowering those impacted to be heard and supported.
In closing, Cecilie’s background as a technology professional adds depth to the insights she brings on trust, safety, and the human cost of online scams. M3AAWG is honored to provide a platform for her voice and looks forward to the dialogue her keynote will inspire in advancing awareness, policy, and collective action to better protect people worldwide.