The person I met online asked me for money for an emergency. Is it a scam?
Almost always, yes: asking for money for an emergency is the most common sign of a romance scam and of other online scams. Don't send anything until you've confirmed who the person is some other way.
The stories change but the script is the same: first lots of affection or a big opportunity, then an emergency – a hospital bill, a parcel stuck at customs, a fine, a plane ticket, a frozen account, an inheritance that needs "fees" released – and a request for a mobile money payment "just this once".
What to do now
- Don't send money, mobile money, gifts, vouchers, airtime or codes.
- Don't let them rush you. Urgency is the scammer's main tool.
- Talk to someone you trust before you decide.
- Check the person's photos, number and messages.
- If you've already sent money, call your mobile money provider and your bank straight away and report it at the nearest police station.
Frequently asked questions
- What if the person gets upset?
- Someone who cares about you will understand that you won't send money to someone you've never met. Pressure and guilt-tripping are signs of a scam.
- I've already sent money by mobile money or bank transfer. Can I get it back?
- Call your mobile money provider (MTN or Airtel) or your bank as soon as possible, report the payment as fraud and ask them to try to reverse it or stop the money in the account that received it. The faster you act, the better your chances. Then report it at the nearest police station and give your mobile money provider or bank the police reference number.
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 USh 7,000.
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