John Edward Taylor Charged in $100K Romance Scam Fraud

John Edward Taylor, a 47-year-old con artist known online as “Jay Taylor” and “Josie Reeser,” is facing federal charges for allegedly running a nationwide romance and business-fraud scheme that stole or attempted to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from over a dozen women. Using Match.com, eHarmony, Craigslist, and Seeking Arrangement, Taylor posed as a wealthy North Dakota oil and land tycoon, luring victims with promises of love and lucrative employment—all lies designed to plunder bank accounts and hijack identities.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan unsealed a five-count indictment today, charging Taylor with one count of wire fraud and other related offenses. He was previously arrested on a criminal complaint and made his initial appearance in the Southern District of New York on December 21, 2016. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain, with arraignment expected later this week. Authorities say the scam spanned multiple cities, including New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.

According to the indictment, Taylor initiated contact under the alias “Jay,” weaving elaborate tales of romantic and professional partnerships. To some women, he promised dream jobs in his fictional company. To others, he spun seductive narratives of long-term relationships. In nearly every case, he blended both pitches, building trust before demanding personal information—birthdates, addresses, bank details—under false pretenses. He then used that data to make unauthorized purchases, transfer funds, and open new accounts in the victims’ names, often without their knowledge.

Within months, victims discovered financial wreckage: drained accounts, delinquent credit lines, and bills for services they never authorized. When several women confronted Taylor, his response escalated from empty promises of repayment—once using stolen funds from one victim to pay another—to outright threats. He allegedly threatened to send sexually explicit photos, obtained during intimate online exchanges, to victims’ employers if they pressed for restitution.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara didn’t mince words: “John Edward Taylor allegedly trolled dating websites to find unsuspecting women for his ‘romance’ scam, designed to steal their money. While masquerading as a millionaire businessman with romantic and professional interest in his victims, Taylor was in reality an alleged con artist.” Bharara added that when victims fought back, Taylor doubled down with intimidation, turning emotional manipulation into financial and reputational blackmail.

FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Timothy Gallagher emphasized the bureau’s commitment to tackling digital fraud: “Today’s charges illustrate the FBI’s commitment to combating the growing threat of online dating scams and financial fraud. Our job is to protect victims and ensure those who commit these egregious crimes are held accountable.” Taylor now faces federal prosecution for a scheme that weaponized loneliness, trust, and technology to inflict devastating personal and financial harm.