In 2018, one woman’s life changed dramatically when she was targeted by a romance scam.

This situation later became the focus of Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler. Rather than staying silent, Cecile Fjellhoy chose to speak out. As the first to bring the case to the media, she helped uncover a story many were too quick to dismiss.

Today, she’s co-founder of Love Said, a support hub and think tank dedicated to those affected by online relationship scams. Her mission is clear: to center the conversation on people, not just technology.

“We can talk about tech as much as we want, but it’s the humans in the end that we have to care about.”

She challenges the common tendency to blame those who are misled in online relationships. The belief that “this could never happen to me” often leads to judgment and shame, barriers that prevent open dialogue and real change. Her advocacy focuses on removing this stigma and acknowledging the emotional toll of deception, especially as digital manipulation tools like deepfakes become more sophisticated.

She emphasizes the need for empathy and a shift in mindset, away from simply building smarter tech, and toward designing systems that truly support and protect people.

“Think more than just KYC. Think more than just software. Think about the people using it.”

Her story is not just one of personal recovery, but of systemic transformation. By speaking up, she’s helping reshape how we think about trust, digital safety, and the real people navigating complex online spaces.

See the full interview below.

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