A woman from Tennessee says she was defrauded of nearly $25,000 by a man she met on Facebook Dating who she says quickly "love-bombed" her before repeatedly asking for money to fund a purported wellness center, according to a lawsuit and an episode of the Netflix series Love Con Revenge.
Jill Schardein, 50, alleges that Todd Dean presented himself as a businessman launching a mental health facility called Nashville Sanjara Wellness in southern Kentucky and that, after they began dating, he sent her what she described as "at least 10 selfies a day" and a stream of videos and messages. One and a half months into the relationship, Schardein says Dean asked her to send $1,000 for operating expenses for his facility. She alleges the requests continued over the course of about a year and that she ultimately was conned out of nearly $25,000.
Schardein's account is detailed in court papers and is featured in Love Con Revenge, a Netflix series in which former romance fraud victim Cecilie Fjellhøy and private investigator Brianne Joseph examine alleged schemes that victims say went unaddressed through traditional legal and law enforcement channels. The series interviews people who say they were manipulated into providing money or personal information and follows investigators as they seek answers.
The complaint filed by Schardein alleges that Dean's representations about Nashville Sanjara Wellness were false and that the money she provided was not used to open or operate the facility. The lawsuit seeks to recover funds she says were taken under false pretenses; it describes a pattern of requests tied to supposed business needs and expenses. Court filings and the series account for the timeline of interactions and transfers, which Schardein says began shortly after she and Dean met online.
Schardein's story follows a pattern described by consumer protection and law enforcement officials in which perpetrators use rapid displays of affection and frequent communication—often labeled "love-bombing"—to build trust, then request money for emergencies, business ventures or investments. Victims and advocates say such schemes can be emotionally devastating as well as financially harmful, especially when the requests escalate over months.
Representatives for Dean did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The public record in the case includes Schardein's allegations as presented in her lawsuit; those allegations have not been proven in court. Netflix's series presents the account as part of an episode that explores how romance fraud victims pursue restitution and support when traditional avenues are perceived as insufficient.
Legal analysts and victim advocates say civil suits can provide a path to recovery when criminal prosecution is not pursued or does not result in restitution, but outcomes vary depending on the defendant's assets and the ability to prove intent and misrepresentation in court. Schardein's filing seeks to hold Dean accountable for the transfers she alleges were made under false pretenses.
The episode of Love Con Revenge that features Schardein's case aims to highlight individual stories and the investigative steps taken by Fjellhøy and Joseph. The series has drawn attention to a range of alleged romance fraud schemes, from online courtships to elaborate business pitches, and to the challenges victims face in tracing funds and securing legal remedies.
Schardein's lawsuit and the Netflix episode contribute to a broader public conversation about online dating safety, the warning signs of romance fraud and the resources available to potential victims. Consumer protection agencies advise people who are asked for money by online acquaintances to verify identities, be wary of unusual requests for financial help and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement and federal fraud hotlines.
The case remains in the courts, and the parties involved have declined or not responded to requests for additional public comment beyond the filings and the television episode that chronicles Schardein's allegations.