Introduction

In friend scams, scammers pretend to have the genuine intention to make new friends. Once they have earned their victims' trust, they will use all sort of methods to extort or blackmail their victims. Sometimes, they may involve threats or malicious exposure of personal information.

Prevention

Stay vigilant when receiving friend request from strangers. Don't easily believe the other party's reason for reaching out to you. Prevent unnecessary exposure of your personal information by setting up restrictions on who can view your posts. Verify the other party's information as much as possible. Don't easily provide your personal or financial information. If you feel threatened or you are being blackmailed, make a police report and working with the relevant law enforcement authorities.

Keywords

"I am new to XX and need some help", "your resume looks impressive", "I am in danger", "I have your personal information", "do not call the police"