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Is it a scam?

Answer honestly. Nobody sees your answers: they stay on this page.

  1. Did they contact you first, out of the blue?

  2. Have you only ever talked online or by phone?

  3. Have they asked for money, gift cards, crypto, prepaid coupons or codes?

  4. Are they rushing you, or is it “an emergency”?

  5. Have they asked you to keep it secret?

  6. Is there a promise of easy money or high returns?

  7. Are they threatening you or someone you love?

  8. Did they ask you to install an app, share your screen, or move to another chat app?

Sources

  1. Official sourceElder Fraud: avoiding scams and swindles (fear, hope and love tactics)U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Alabama, Department of Justice. Accessed September 24, 2026.
  2. Official sourceWhat to do if you’ve been scammedScamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre, ACCC (Australia). Accessed September 24, 2026.
  3. Charity or child-protection bodySextortion: what to doNational Center for Missing & Exploited Children (USA). Accessed September 24, 2026.
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