Losing Margaret

A Romance Scam Becomes a Family Nightmare

By: Katharine Tober

Narrated by: Amanda Woldt

After losing her beloved husband Ray, Aunt Margaret is left vulnerable, isolated, and yearning for connection. When she turns to the internet for companionship, she unknowingly opens the door to a series of romance scams that prey on her trust and loneliness. Over the course of two painful years, Aunt Margaret sends hundreds of thousands of dollars to men she has never met—believing in love stories carefully crafted by strangers with cruel intentions.

As her financial and emotional well-being spiral out of control, it falls on her three nieces—who have loved her like a mother all their lives—to intervene. Bound by family, compassion, and deep concern, they navigate a complex and heartbreaking journey of deception, mental decline, and hard decisions. Together, they face reluctant institutions, the limits of legal power, and their aunt’s fierce resistance, all while trying to protect someone they love from herself.

Based on true events, Losing Margaret is a deeply emotional story of love, loss, and redemption. It is a cautionary tale for the digital age, shedding light on the dark world of online romance scams and the fragile humanity behind them. It is also a story of family, resilience, and the long, difficult road toward healing.

©2025 Katharine Tober (P)2025 Katharine Tober

What a Nightmare

I came home one day to find my elderly father was n the phone with his debit card in hand. He handed me the phone and said, “Here you give them the number.” I told them a few expletives and hung up. There really should be some barriers to prevent money from being sent out of the country so easily.

Sobering and cautionary tale

This book is a powerful reminder of how vulnerable older people are to scams and manipulation. This family really pulled together to save Margaret, but the outcome isnt always perfect. I enjoyed this nonfiction read, and the voice actor did an incredible job of relating to all the different characters. She made them seem sympathetic. I thoroughly enjoyed this.