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Long-Con Scams
A Long-Con Scam is a type of fraud where victims are tricked into sending money, starting with small payments through trusted apps, before the scammer vanishes.
Scammers use a knowledge of human psychology and employ relationship-building tricks, meaning it can be easier than you'd think to accidentally fall for a long-con scam. Learn some basics behind these types of scams and know what to watch out for.
Long-con scams are a rising form of social engineering and investment fraud. In this scheme, victims are gradually convinced to make increasing digital money contributions to what appears to be a legitimate investment or cause.
It often starts with an innocent message, sometimes sent by “mistake,” followed by conversations to build rapport and trust. Initial investments may be small, using trusted apps like Venmo or PayPal, before the scammer ultimately disappears with the funds. Sometimes scammers will instruct you to use cryptocurrency platforms which makes it even easier for them to hide their real identity.
Thumbs Up…
✓ I don’t send money, trade, or invest with a person I’ve only met online
✓ I inspect URLs of investment platforms to ensure they match the official website
✓ I don’t share personal information or current financial status with strangers
Thumbs Down…
x I engage with texts from strangers
x I share personal information or financial status with strangers
x The investment opportunity sounds too good to be true