Marion County, Florida — A Florida woman is facing fraud charges after authorities say she manipulated a disabled man she met online into sending her thousands of dollars through a fake relationship and fabricated abuse claims.
According to investigators, the woman allegedly used emotional stories, fake injury photos and repeated lies to convince the victim she desperately needed help escaping a violent domestic situation.
Online Relationship Allegedly Turned Into Scam
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Gianna Abel-Venezia, who allegedly connected with the victim through the Facebook Dating app.
Police say the pair began speaking regularly over the phone, and during their conversations, Abel-Venezia claimed she was trapped in a dangerous and abusive relationship.
Authorities allege she repeatedly told the victim she needed financial help to escape the situation.
“To sell the story, she even sent photos appearing to show injuries,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Feeling sympathy for what he believed was a desperate situation, the victim began sending money to help her.
Victim Allegedly Sent More Than $2,000
According to investigators, the man continued sending money despite never meeting Abel-Venezia in person.
Police say the suspect allegedly kept the deception going for an extended period, eventually receiving more than $2,000 from the victim.
The victim later told investigators he genuinely believed he was helping someone escape abuse and danger.
Authorities say the scam eventually unraveled when the victim discovered he had been lied to and confronted Abel-Venezia directly.
Woman Allegedly Mocked Victim After Being Confronted
Investigators claim Abel-Venezia admitted she had only been communicating with the man for financial gain.
According to the sheriff’s office, she allegedly made disturbing comments about the victim after the confrontation.
“When the victim discovered he had been lied to and confronted Abel-Venezia, she admitted she was only talking to him for money and because he was disabled,” the sheriff’s office alleged.
Authorities also claim she admitted to carrying out similar scams in the past.
“She also told him she had been doing this to people since 2025 and according to her, ‘there ain’t nun that can happen.'”
The alleged comments quickly drew outrage online after details of the case became public.
Suspect Allegedly Blamed the Victim
When questioned by investigators, Abel-Venezia allegedly attempted to shift responsibility onto the victim instead of accepting blame for the alleged fraud.
According to the sheriff’s office press release, she told deputies:
“If someone is ‘dumb enough’ to send money, that’s on them.”
Authorities further stated:
“She admitted she knew what she did was technically wrong,” the release alleges. “What she didn’t expect was learning that scamming people out of money is, in fact, illegal.”
Police said Abel-Venezia even asked whether authorities could apologize to the victim on her behalf.
Fraud Charge Filed as Investigation Continues
Abel-Venezia is now facing a charge of defrauding property or committing organized fraud.
Court records show she is scheduled to appear for arraignment on June 23.
Meanwhile, investigators are encouraging anyone else who may have experienced similar incidents involving Abel-Venezia to contact Marion County detectives.
The case serves as another warning about the dangers of online romance scams, especially those involving emotional manipulation and fabricated emergencies designed to gain sympathy and money.
What do you think about this alleged dating app scam case? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
