The profile is new, has few friends and few photos. Is that a sign of a scam?
It is one of the most common signs, because scammers create accounts quickly and get them deleted often, so they are always new. On its own it is not proof: some people really are new to social media or keep a small profile. Look at it together with the photos, the chat and any request for money.
Think of it as a score, not a verdict. New account plus professional photos plus fast feelings plus no video call is very likely a scam. New account plus ordinary photos plus a relaxed chat with no requests is probably just a private person.
What to look at
- Creation date and first posts: did the profile exist before it contacted you?
- Friends: are they real people with history, or also new accounts?
- Photos: reverse image search them, and look for photos taken by other people.
- Chat: does the person answer specific questions, or only send sweet or generic messages?
- Money: has any request, "investment" or gift with a fee come up?
Frequently asked questions
- The person said they made a new account because the old one was hacked. Is that believable?
- It happens, but it is also the standard excuse. Ask for the old account name and see if it exists and matches.
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