July 5, 2026 – As online romance scams continue to drain billions from U.S. victims each year, WIRED is taking readers behind the screen with an exclusive livestream event. On July 16, senior writer Kate Knibbs will sit down with Carlos Barragán, author of the explosive new book *The Yahoo Boys: Love, Deception, and the Real Lives of Nigeria’s Romance Scammers*, to dissect the human story behind the global epidemic of digital heartbreak.
Barragán, a New York Times journalist and researcher, embedded himself with a crew of young, desperate grifters in Lagos, Nigeria. His reporting exposes not just the mechanics of these scams—fake profiles, stolen photos, and elaborate sob stories—but the gritty, often tragic reality of the scammers themselves. The book paints a portrait of a generation pushed into fraud by poverty and limited opportunity, offering a nuanced, funny, and enraging look at how the internet fuels both love and exploitation.
The livestream, part of WIRED’s recently launched Book Club, promises a raw, unscripted conversation. Viewers can submit questions in the comments section below ahead of the event, which streams on July 16 at 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT. Knibbs and Barragán will tackle pressing questions: How do these networks operate? What drives young Nigerians to target lonely Americans? And what can U.S. regulators and tech companies do to stem the tide of losses, which topped $1.3 billion in 2025 alone?
For subscribers, this is a chance to go beyond the headlines. The event is exclusive to WIRED members, with a replay available afterward. Non-subscribers can join now to unlock full access to the livestream, plus deep dives into AI, big tech, and emerging threats. As romance scams evolve—fueled by AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning—this Q&A offers a rare, ground-level view of the crisis from both sides of the screen.
To participate, bookmark this page and submit your questions now. The conversation will be raw, real, and essential for anyone navigating the modern minefield of online dating.