The dating app conman and the victim fighting back

Tracy Hall was scammed out of her life savings by a notorious conman. 

Jul 07, 2026, updated Jul 07, 2026

Last year, Tracy Hall was sent a dating profile that sent chills down her spine.

The name on the profile was different, but the image was that of notorious conman Hamish McLaren.

He had been jailed for scamming 15 Australians out of $7.6 million – including Hall, his girlfriend and final victim. He stole her life savings after meeting her under a fake identity.

Now, as McLaren prepares for release on parole this week, Hall says the systems that allowed him into her life still haven’t been fixed.

Today, Tracy Hall discusses the conman who stole her life savings, the growing romance scam industry costing Australians tens of millions of dollars a year, and whether dating apps are doing enough to protect the people using them.

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Guest: Romance scam advocate and survivor Tracy Hall

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