Many people have fallen prey to sugar daddy scams. These swindlers use social media apps, dating sites, and forums to entice victims. They ask the victim for personal information or money. They can then use the victim’s accounts to buy goods or act as a money mule.

Beware of profiles that don’t include real photos and avoid video chats. Always stay alert and trust your instincts.

1. Don’t give out personal information

Never give out personal information to anyone online, even if they claim to be a sugar daddy. A fake sugar daddy may use your information to steal money or compromise your safety. Avoid sharing personal information like your bank account details or your social security number. Also, never send money to strangers. If a sugar daddy asks you to transfer money directly into his bank account, this is a red flag and should be considered a scam.

Another warning sign is when a sugar daddy asks for personal information such as your address or social security number. This is a big red flag and should be avoided at all costs. Also, never let a stranger pick you up or drive you home after your first meetup. There have been multiple instances of sugar babies being groped in cars by men they don’t know. Instead, always take public transportation or Uber to and from your first meetings.

Scammers are often found on Instagram and will slide into their victims’ DMs, using impressive photos of themselves living a lavish lifestyle to build trust. Once they have the victim’s trust, they will begin asking for more and more information or money. A common method is to ask for a small upfront payment, such as a prepaid card for Google Play or Amazon. They may also request money via Cash App or other cryptocurrency platforms. These methods are a favorite for fraudsters as they are difficult to trace.

2. Don’t send money

If you get a sudden offer for money on a platform like Instagram or Tinder, it is probably a scam. Unsolicited messages from unknown accounts are a telltale sign that something is wrong and they should never be responded to or replied to. Instead, unleash your inner detective and do some research on the account before deciding to communicate with it in any way. This will help prevent the emotions of being vulnerable from clouding your judgement. Also, be sure to keep your social media profiles private and avoid using peer-to-peer payment platforms like Zelle or PayPal to send or receive money from people you don’t know.

You should never share your bank account information, security number or any other kind of personal details with anyone you don’t know online. Professional scammers can use the information you provide to steal your money or hack into your computer and cause other cyber crimes.

Scammers often target sugar babies and exploit their vulnerability through various methods. One of the most common ways they do this is by asking them to pay upfront. This can be in the form of a clearance fee or loyalty test, or they might ask you to deposit money into your bank account, which will be difficult to recover.

To protect yourself, you should always ask for payments to be made through more secure channels such as Telegram or Signal, which have end-to-end encryption. You should also avoid sending or receiving money over platforms that don’t offer buyer protection, such as Cash App and Zelle.

3. Don’t trust strangers

It’s best to not trust anyone you don’t know, especially on the internet. Sugar daddy scams involve rich older individuals who trick younger people into giving them money and personal information, typically through flattery and promises of gifts. They may also use fake IDs to keep up their masquerade.

Scammers are likely to target victims on dating apps like Tinder and Grindr, social media platforms, and forums like Reddit and WhatsApp. They will often use impressive photos and opulent lifestyles to gain their victim’s trust. They may also try to move the conversation away from a platform’s private messaging features into something more private, such as WhatsApp or Signal, in order to avoid detection by site customer support.

A common warning sign of a scammer is when they refuse to meet you in person. This could be because they’re trying to hide their identity, or it could be a sign that they’re not the person they claim to be. They may also tell you that a previous sugar baby betrayed them and ask for a small amount of money first, to “prove their loyalty”.

If they claim to have a prestigious job or to be wealthy, reverse search their photos and emails online. They should have a public profile on at least one of the major social networks, so it shouldn’t be hard to find out more about them.

4. Don’t give out your phone number

Oftentimes, fake sugar daddies will ask their victims to send them personal information like bank account and credit card numbers in exchange for money. This is a red flag, as it opens you up to identity theft and credit card fraud. You should also avoid giving out your phone number, especially to people you meet online, as they can use it to spam you or steal your info to conduct other cybercrimes.

Another way that scammers can obtain your personal information is by getting you to give them access to your Grindr profile, which they can then use to blackmail you. For example, they may threaten to share nudes or other compromising material with your family or employer unless you send them money. If you’re unsure whether a person is a scammer, do your research! You can check their social media profiles and search for them on Google to see if anything comes up.

Be sure to use a VPN like AtlasVPN for a safer and more open internet, so you can always be confident that the people you communicate with are who they claim to be. Additionally, you should always trust your intuition! If something seems fishy, block them. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And don’t be afraid to report any suspicious activity!