July 5, 2026 – The digital love trap is closing in on more victims than ever, and WIRED is pulling back the curtain. In an exclusive livestream event set for July 16 at 12 p.m. ET, WIRED senior writer Kate Knibbs will sit down with Carlos Barragán, the New York Times journalist and author of the explosive new book “The Yahoo Boys: Love, Deception, and the Real Lives of Nigeria’s Romance Scammers.” This is not your typical book club chat—it’s a deep dive into the gritty, heartbreaking world of online con artists who have turned fake romance into a billion-dollar industry.
Barragán didn’t just report from a distance. He flew to Lagos and embedded himself with a crew of young, desperate grifters who call themselves the “Yahoo Boys.” His account, equal parts funny, sad, and enraging, reveals how these scammers weaponize loneliness and hope, exploiting dating apps and social media to drain bank accounts and shatter lives. The book, published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, lays bare the real human cost behind those stolen profile photos and scripted love notes.
Why now? Romance scams surged 40% in the U.S. last year alone, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with losses topping $1.3 billion. Victims—often older, single, or vulnerable—are left not just broke, but emotionally devastated. Barragán’s reporting exposes the supply side of this crisis: the poverty, peer pressure, and digital literacy gaps that turn Nigerian teens into predators. “These are kids who see scamming as their only way out,” Barragán notes in the book. “But the damage they cause is global.”
WIRED is inviting subscribers to submit questions in the comments section ahead of the livestream. The event will stream right here on WIRED’s site, with a replay available afterward for those who can’t tune in live. It’s part of the WIRED Book Club’s mission to connect readers with the stories shaping our digital age—from AI’s takeover of the workplace to Big Tech’s military entanglements.
For Barragán, the goal is clear: “We need to understand the scammers to stop them—and to protect the people who fall in love with a ghost.” Mark your calendar for July 16 at 12 p.m. ET. This is one conversation that could save your wallet—and your heart.