WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Testimony continued Wednesday in a landmark Sedgwick County case involving a Wichita woman who alleges she was scammed out of thousands by a man she met on a dating app.
Dr. Stephen Benson, a psychologist with over 20 years of experience specializing in geriatrics and dementia, testified on the psychological effects of romance scams, particularly on older individuals.
“I’ve had experience with people that have lost millions of dollars to people that have lost thousands of dollars, and either way, it impacts their life,” Benson said.
The alleged victim, Trisha, said she connected with Frank Annin on eHarmony in June 2022 shortly after moving to the Wichita area. At first, she had no suspicion.
Annin quickly asked to move communication off the app to texting, which Trisha now recognizes as a red flag. Benson described Annin’s behavior as “classic scammer tactics,” including “love bombing” — professing love, proposing marriage, promising to relocate, and flaunting wealth to gain trust.
Whenever Trisha questioned him, Benson explained, Annin would get upset, causing Trisha to apologize—making Annin appear as the “savior” rather than a scammer.
Despite Annin disappearing after receiving money, Benson noted many victims struggle to accept they’ve been defrauded, clinging to the illusion of a genuine relationship.
Annin faces trial for scamming Trisha and several other women. His lawyers argue Trisha delayed reporting the incident, claiming this weakens her case.
The trial marks one of the first prosecutions of its kind in Sedgwick County, highlighting the growing awareness of romance scams and their devastating impact.
