The Not-So-Tinder Swindler – The Crimes of Con Man and Love Fraud Criminal Richard Scott Smith

In the “Heart of America,” Kansas City, a single mother named Tracy was just looking for love. 

While she hoped to find a nice man to spend her life with, instead she found, unbeknownst to her at the time, a con man with a long history of meeting women and stealing every penny to their name. 

Tired of the dating scene and excited by the prospect of love, Tracy was falling for his charm, but Richard Scott Smith was really lying to her about a medical malpractice lawsuit that he said would soon grant him millions of dollars and biding his time before bleeding her dry.

“How come this God-loving, Applebee’s-eating, Lifetime-movie watching man can’t get the cash that is rightfully his? But no. It’s because he was full of the shit.” – Gretchen (13:37)

As soon as Tracy’s teenage daughter began to get suspicious, this man’s swindling spree was quickly revealed; once a pattern emerged, an investigation led by the victims began and a bounty hunter was hired. 

“This chick does not fuck around. And she says ‘fuck’ a lot. And we love her.” – Gretchen (21:06)

Tune in to today’s episode to hear the rest of this wild story, and for those of you looking for love in the Midwest… Beware of Richard Scott Smith!   

“So if you live in the Heart of America and you are on the dating apps and you are single, be aware of this guy… ” – Tabitha (41:22)

In This Episode

• (0:44) Thanksgiving week is here! Gretch and Tab chat about George Strait, Elizabeth Holmes, and Gretch’s week of school volunteer 
• (5:07) Gretchen introduces us to this week’s case
• (14:22) Tracy’s daughter investigates Richard and Gretch reveals his repeated crime
• (20:42) Richard’s victims band together to nab him
• (24:19) Fraud upon fraud – Richard finds a new lover
• (30:40) Meeting Lee, Richard’s longtime friend
• (33:01) Richard gets arrested but continues to scam women across the Midwest  

Resources & Links

HWTC Content

• Website: https://www.housewivesoftruecrime.com/
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• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2BFNwyu4KhFpSGdQXS6Pzw
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@housewivesoftruecrime

Richard Scott Smith Blog: http://scottthecrooksmith.weebly.com/

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