The person wants to move our chat to WhatsApp or Telegram right away. Is that a red flag?
Moving fast to another app is a common scam sign, because the dating app or Facebook can suspend a scammer's account and the chat history goes with it. On WhatsApp or Telegram the person can keep talking to you even after the original profile is reported and deleted.
It is not proof. Many people prefer one chat app. But if the request comes in the first messages, before you know anything about each other, and comes together with a very warm tone, be careful. Scammers also like Telegram because the number can be hidden.
What to do
- Stay in the app a little longer and see if the person accepts it. Pressure to move is the real sign.
- If you move, keep the screenshots of the original profile: the name, the photos and the link.
- Note the number the person uses on WhatsApp or Viber and check it: a foreign or virtual number that does not match the story is a warning sign.
- Never share your home address, workplace or ID in the new chat.
- Check the photos and the messages before the chat gets deeper.
Frequently asked questions
- The person said the dating app is expensive, so they want to leave. Is that a valid reason?
- It can be. Look at everything else: are the photos real, does the person video call, do they ask for anything? One sign alone decides nothing.
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