Also known as Accident scam
Where it is usually done: Email (Phishing), Smishing
How it can look
- Scammers will pretend to be someone you’re close to.
- Scammers will say that someone close to you got into an accident to make you panic.
- Scammers will create a sense of urgency to get you to send money without checking first.
- Emotional blackmail is commonly used in this type of scam.
- This is used to explain why the person is using a different number to contact you.
Simulated. View image 🠑
What it is
This is when a scammer pretends to be a family member, friend, or sometimes even a wealthy person from a different country who needs help in some way.
What happens next is that the scammer will ask you for money, usually because they have to pay for something very important (like a hospital bill) or experience a bad consequence.
If you send money, the scammer will take it and may even come back for more, claiming that it was not enough for the payment.
Don’t be a victim of the help needed scam. Never send money to a supposed family member or friend in trouble without checking if it’s true, especially if they’re not using their usual phone number.
What you should do
If someone contacts you and says that they need help, always verify this first by reaching out to them via their usual phone number.
To help keep yourself scam proof, you should learn about the different types of scams so you know what to look out for. Read our scam types section and browse our tips to stay safe.
