How to Spot and Avoid Scams in Online Chat Rooms

Romance and friendship scams

The scammer is warm, attentive and always online. They declare strong feelings after a very short time, and then something goes wrong: a medical bill, a stuck package, a plane ticket to come and see you. They ask for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency. Genuine affection does not arrive with an invoice. Never send money to someone you have not met in person.

Giveaway and prize scams

'You have won a prize, just confirm your details.' A prize you did not enter for is not a prize. These messages usually ask for a card number, a small 'shipping fee' or your login to claim it. Delete the message and move on.

Verification-code scams

A stranger says they accidentally sent a code to your phone and asks you to read it back. In reality they are trying to take over an account using your number. Never share a one-time code with anyone, for any reason.

Fake support and phishing links

Someone claims to be a moderator or support agent and asks you to 'verify' your account through a link or to give your password. Real staff never ask for your password in a chat. Look at the address of any link before you open it, and when in doubt, type the website address in yourself.

Blackmail and pressure for images

Some people try to get an intimate picture and then threaten to share it. Do not send such images to anyone. If you are being threatened, do not pay and do not keep negotiating. Save the evidence, block the person, report them to the platform and, where you are in danger or a minor is involved, report it to the police.

Red flags that appear in almost every scam

If you notice two or more of these in the same chat, stop and leave.

• Pressure to act quickly or keep things secret
• A request to move to another app almost immediately
• A request for money, codes, passwords or gift cards
• A story that keeps changing or does not add up
• Poor spelling combined with copy-and-paste style messages