Its no different than talking to strangers online.

I met my husband online, we talked on the phone several times before going on the first date.

I've also had telephone interviews with employers before they would allow me to meet with them in person.

None of these things seem unusual to me. Come to think of it, I've talked to many people on the phone before ever meeting them in person.

The only thing that seems strange to me now is why this woman was 50 years old and had no other friends from her past to talk to about her divorce problems. Should have been a red flag.