Jan 25, 20212 min read

How to spot a scammer in 4 steps🚨

Updated: Feb 8, 2021

Alright folks, here is a summary of how I catch a scammer in 4 steps:

1. Analyze the comment

If you receive a reply to a comment and it looks something like this:

Or this:

... you may be the lucky target of a 😼🐠 (a.k.a. scammer!). I have seen so many of these accounts that I can now catch them a mile away. Anyone who outright asks you to friend request them upon first contact - run for the mountains!

If they just say "hello" they may be baiting for your response and once you respond, they will ask to get to know you better via friend request = SCAMMER!

The newer accounts are getting smarter, they will create a brief & normal reply to seem genuine - but their follow up reply shows their true intent.

2. Check the comment section

Not to toot my own horn... but I'm pretty good at banning the scammers from my page QUICK! Their first mistake is flooding my comment section with replies. So if you're unsure if you are being targeted by a scammer, check your surroundings. Do you see other comments receiving replies from the SAME account that is reaching out to you? 9 times out of 10, it is just a copy and pasted message = SCAMMER!

3. Scope Out the Profile

Scammer accounts pop up like weeds because they get reported a lot - which means they have to start new accounts A LOT! Do a quick scan of their page. When was their profile/cover page uploaded? If it's a scammer, it was likely ALL uploaded within the past week - along with a list of other selfies to make it seem legit...

Here are some common profile traits: - They are always very attractive

- They are single / divorced

- They are hanging out with animals (to try and show soft & sensitive)

- They say they are in the military (to try and show honor & integrity)

4. Check Out their Friends List

This option isn't always available, but when it is - you can bet they only have about 30 friends in their list... all residing halfway around the world, while this person is somehow reaching out to you is from Ohio (or another common US city/state). 🤦‍♀️🙄

To think there are so many vile individuals out there, that want to make a quick buck from your hard earned (and maybe hard to come by these days) money makes me FURIOUS. Even worse, they try to use MY likeness to pull at your heartstrings, and the trust we have created in our community!

I will say this as many times as I need to: