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Friendship fraud is a form of fraud in which scammers try to make contact with victims via a false profile on the internet. They make you believe they want to be your friend and build a relationship with you, but really they just want your money. It doesn't take long for them to ask you for money.
Scammers often look for their victims through dating sites and applications such as Tinder, but they also use email, chat or social media such as Facebook or Instagram. With a false profile or stolen identity, they gain your trust and then play on your emotions to ask for money. For a plane ticket to visit you or for medical expenses for a sick relative, any reason is good to receive money. Either way, something will always happen in their story that will require money again. Be careful: when you come into contact with such a profile, there is a good chance that it is fake.
Your 'friend' wants you to transfer the money via an anonymous transfer, such as via Western Union or Moneygram. Don't go into this. An anonymous transfer ensures that you cannot check to which account the money was deposited. Once transferred, the money is really gone.
Did they catch you? Contact the local police and collect as much evidence as possible, such as the scammer's online profile, printouts of chat conversations and receipts. If the sum of money lost is too small, the case will be dropped. If it involves a lot of money, an investigation will usually be started.