I hear you and thanks...

I, too, have been trusting, open and naive when meeting new people, and that's precisely how I've made myself more vulnerable to being a target for toxic types of people. At times, I've even been desperate for companionship, male or female. People can pick up on that and take advantage of it.

Now I'm learning to be far more cautious and discerning. It takes practice and time.

Just be far more conscientious and careful going forward and you will make progress.