View original (French)

I think I might be a victim of a romance scam.

Ravel908 Posted messages 2 Status Member -  
Xileh Posted messages 19446 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   -

Good evening,

It is with a lot of shame that I come here to seek advice.

A little while ago, I met someone on a dating site (the Zoé app) whose profile was "verified." We quickly started chatting and moved to Snapchat to get to know each other better; everything seems real, even their Instagram account. I noticed signs of a "romantic scam" but decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. I am ashamed to admit that I gave in and sent money via PayPal, but at the same time, everything seems real. I am completely lost. Can video calls or snaps be faked? I am afraid to ask my family for help, which is why I am coming here.

Thank you.

6 answers

  1.
    Xileh Posted messages 19446 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 568
     

    Hello,

    Classic scam... yes, it's common for scammers to "manipulate" videos and even create "fake" websites to achieve their goals...

    See examples (and recommendations) here =>

    https://ci.ambafrance.org/Arnaques-entre-CREDULITE-et#Arnaques-aux-sentiments

    (This comes from the French embassy in Côte d'Ivoire, but the recommendations are relevant in many other countries where these scams are the same...)

    My mission is to kill time and his is to kill me in turn.
    We are quite comfortable among assassins. (E.Cioran)

    1
  2. cristali Posted messages 9486 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   1 579
     

    Hello, usually when someone asks you for money, it's a scam.

    There's nothing sentimental about it.

    1
  3. Afrikarnak Posted messages 17653 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   Ambassador 14 520
     

    Hello!

    No reason to be ashamed.. However, you have the right to be angry..

    Can we manipulate video calls or snaps?

    Yes (Deepfake or A.I). But the scammer must master the subject first..

    Of course, no more money for the scammer, and make sure that the 'creature' can no longer contact you, even if it means ditching those terrible Social Networks..

    See you!

    1
    1. Xileh Posted messages 19446 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 568
       

      Hi,

      No reason to be ashamed.. However, you have the right to be angry..

      I completely agree with you on this point, which I didn't think to address in my first post above... Moreover, those who should be "ashamed" are the perpetrators of these scams... but that's not going to happen anytime soon... since it's their "line of business" !.....

      1
  6. berbere17 Posted messages 58 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   8
     

    Hello

    Only those who do nothing do not make mistakes; above all, do not send any more money and get out of there as quickly as possible.

    0
  7. Ravel908 Posted messages 2 Status Member
     

    Thank you for your feedback, I just feel stupid for falling for it.

    0
    1. Xileh Posted messages 19446 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 568
       

      These scammers know (for the most part... some are fortunately pathetic "actors"...) how to play on human emotions... They do everything to bamboozle the target to restrict their analytical capacity...

       "The important thing" is that you had enough doubts to ask yourself the question... and therefore now to cease all contacts... However, if you gave in to their request for money... it's unrecoverable, as the payment site is also hacked...

       
      Anyway... tough luck, but at least a serious warning for your future journeys on the net!....

      1