How can I tell if the person I am chatting to is a yahoo boy?
You cannot tell from one message, but scammers repeat the same moves: copied photos, love letters that feel pasted, a story that keeps them far away and, sooner or later, money. If the messages read like a script, they may well be one.
Romance scammers often use ready-made messages and photos taken from real people's social media. The same text and the same pictures can show up in many chats with different names.
Veritaza checks whether the photos and the messages appear elsewhere, and whether the name and number show up next to words like scam or fraud.
Signs of a scripted chat
- Long, perfect love messages that do not answer your questions.
- Grammar and style that suddenly change from one day to the next.
- The person avoids anything that would confirm who they are.
- Talk of an inheritance, gold, a contract or a parcel that needs fees.
Frequently asked questions
- If Veritaza finds nothing, is the person safe?
- No warning signs is a good sign, but not proof. Keep the rule: never send money to someone you have not met.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you're chatting to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email address, the name and the ID document, for ₦2,500.
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