It’s not always about love; friendship can also deliver the key that opens the door to a scammer.
New friendships happen all the time. At work, socially, at the gym, in a café and even online. There is nothing uncommon about a friendship, as long as you know who the other person really is.
Online friendships are particularly great for scammers. The entire opportunity helps them hide behind false descriptions, likes, desires, jobs, names, shapes genders and age. You can perhaps be anyone online – from a 14 year old child to a 65 year old CEO.
Yet, there will likely be a kind gesture, a pleasant message, a desire to connect. But the truth is it will come with a nasty sting such as a loss of dignity, embarrassment, a loss of money or a total loss of savings. The friendship isn’t real, it’s a method through which the scammer manipulates their victim to drop their guard, trust them and do as they ask.
Yet it’s hidden in such a way it’s not obvious for everyone to see. That’s what makes friendship scams so difficult to spot. Yet it takes place between two people who have never met and only one of whom is real.
So, the next time someone seeks to connect with you online. Take a moment to pause. Pausing gives you the chance to think about what is really happening right from the start. Because once the connection is made, the scammer will say, do and promise all that they need to if it ensures you’re their scam victim.
By, pausing, you give you the chance to think. Thinking allows you to ask questions. Why me? Why now? Who really is this person? Thinking leads to better understanding. And when you understand, you then have more chance of making the decisions that feel best for you – not the scammer often hidden behind a fake loving, helpful persona.
There’s nothing embarrassing about wanting to feel liked. But it can be embarrassing to lose everything. That’s why it’s so important to understand what’s really happening.
The next time you are contacted by a stranger, without warning, without ever asking; listen to the voice inside your head. Is it saying something doesn’t feel right?
To help, always remember to Pause – Think – Decide every single time. You’re in control. So, always do all you can to stop the criminal from making you just another victim.
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After a scam, what next?
What we think you could consider … if you’re the victim of a scam or fraud.
