Defrauded by your sweetheart?
Don’t expect help from the legal system

Suppose Mr. or Ms. Caring turns out to be Mr. or Ms. Con Artist; now your bank account is empty and your credit cards are full. Suppose you summon the courage to complain to authorities—the police, the FBI, the banks that issued your credit cards. Will they help you? Don't count on it.

• Cops and prosecutors know that fraud is difficult to prove. If you had a romantic relationship with the person who defrauded you, you'll need a tremendous amount of proof to get beyond "he said, she said." And prosecutors may still simply decline the case.

• You could go to civil court, filing a lawsuit or for divorce. You could win. Then you'll have a judgment that you probably cannot collect—after laying out thousands of dollars in attorney fees.

• Did the cad run up your credit cards? Even if the court rules that fraud was committed, you are still responsible for the debt. Pay up.

Our society's legal and financial systems are based on people following the rules. Sociopaths do not follow the rules. Therefore, when it comes to dealing with sociopaths and the damage they cause, the systems are practically useless.

In reality, you have only one option: Learn to recognize the symptoms of a sociopath, and when you see them, cut your losses and get away. Because once you get caught in a sociopath's web of deception, you're on your own.