A pretty girl or a devious con artist? How not to fall for the bait on the Internet.

[Lord777]

The Internet is a great place for communication, dating and entertainment. But also for deception, extortion and blackmail. Unfortunately, the network is full of scammers who want to cheat you for money or ruin your life. One of the most common and dangerous ways is when you are approached on a dating site or social network by a pretty girl who wants to meet you and chat with you. But in reality, she is him. Or maybe she's just her, but not who she says she is. Or she's just her, but she's working on someone else's assignment. In general, you understand: this is a trap. Moreover, the attacker is most often from another country, and he feels invulnerable.

In this article, we will tell you how such fraud works, what psychological techniques criminals use, what real cases have occurred, and how to protect yourself from such deception.

How it all starts: Studying victim Profiles​

Let's imagine that you are a middle-aged man who is looking for his soulmate on the Internet. You've signed up on a dating site or social network, filled out a profile, uploaded photos, and started browsing the profiles of potential partners. And then you see her: a pretty girl with a smile and big eyes. She's a little younger than you, but not too young. She's interested in the same things as you: books, movies, travel. She lives near you or is ready to come to you. She writes to you first and tells you that she really liked you. She wants to learn more about you and share her thoughts and feelings. She flirts with you and compliments you. She sends you photos of herself-ordinary and intimate. It invites you to make a video call or even meet up.

You feel happy and excited. You think this is your chance for love and sex. You think that this is a real girl who is interested in you. But in reality, this is not the case.

In fact, this is a scammer or scammer who has studied your profile and selected a suitable image and scenario for you. They know you're lonely and insecure. They know that you want to find a partner and have fun. They know what questions to ask, what answers to give, and what emotions to evoke. They know how to manipulate your desires and fears. They know how to make you believe that they are who they say they are.

How it All Goes on: Making Contact and Creating the Illusion of intimacy​

You start communicating with a girl on the phone or in a messenger. She seems very nice, kind and helpful to you. She is interested in your life, work, hobbies, and family. She talks about herself, shares her problems, dreams, and plans. She supports you in difficult moments, rejoices for you in good ones. She jokes with you, laughs at your jokes, agrees with your opinions. She creates the feeling that you are the only person she trusts and needs her.

You feel connected and understood. You think you've found your soul mate. You think you've fallen in love. But in reality, this is not the case.

In fact, this is a fraudster or fraudster who uses psychological techniques to create the illusion of intimacy. They know what words to say, what tone to use, and what emojis to send. They know how to adapt to your personality, tastes, and values. They know how to get you to open up and trust them. They know how to create an addiction to their communication and attention.

How it All ends: Moving on to Intimate Conversations and Receiving Incriminating Information​

You have been communicating with a girl for several days or weeks. You feel a strong connection and attraction to her. You want to see her in reality, but she says it's not possible yet. She lives far away, has no money to travel, and has problems with her work or family. She asks you to wait and promises that everything will get better soon. She says that you are her only hope and support.

You believe her and wait. You want to be closer to her. You want to prove your love and loyalty to her. You want her to confirm your feelings. But in reality, this is not the case.

In fact, it's the scammer or scammer who is preparing you for the final blow. They know how to whet your interest and arousal. They know how to seduce you and get you to agree to an intimate conversation or video call. They know how to get compromising information from you: photos, videos, audio, correspondence, and personal data. They know how to write it all down and save it without you knowing.

How it all turns out: blackmail and demand for money​

You think that you have taken a step towards realizing your dream. You think that you gave the girl a part of yourself and received the same from her. You think that you are now even closer and happier. But in reality, this is not the case.

In fact, this is a fraudster or fraudster who now has blackmail material in their hands. They call you or text you and tell you that they are not who they say they are. They say they recorded your intimate conversation or video call and have nude photos or videos of you. They say they know your name, address, place of work, phone number, and other details. They say that they are ready to send it all to your relatives, friends, colleagues or superiors. They say that they are ready to publish all this on the Internet or turn it over to the police.

You feel scared and humiliated. You don't know what to do or how to get out of this situation. You don't want your life to be ruined because of one mistake. You don't want to suffer and make other people suffer. You think you can solve the problem if you pay the scammers. But in reality, this is not the case.

In fact, this is a scammer or scammer who will not stop at one requirement. They will extort more and more money from you, threatening you and blackmailing you. They will not delete your compromising information, but will store it for future reference. They will not leave you alone, but will harass you and torment you. They will not keep their promises, but will lie to you and deceive you.

How to avoid becoming a victim: recommendations and tips for protection​

You may think that you will never fall for such a bait. You may think that you are too smart, careful, or experienced for this kind of scam. You may think that you will never chat with strange girls online or send them intimate photos or videos of yourself. But in reality, this is not the case.

In fact, this scam can happen to anyone, regardless of their age, gender, education, social status, or personal qualities. Scammers know their job very well and can find an approach to anyone. Scammers understand a person's psychology very well and can exploit their weaknesses and emotions. Scammers are very good at lying and deceiving to gain trust and sympathy.

Therefore, it is important to know how to protect yourself from this type of fraud and what to do if you are already a victim of it. Here are some recommendations and tips:

• Be careful when communicating with strangers on the Internet. Don't trust everything they say or show. Check their information before moving on to intimate conversations: look for their photos or details in other sources, ask them to show their passport or other document, call them via video link, or meet them in person. Find out at least your cell phone number. Better yet, meet in person.
• Don't send your personal data, photos, or videos to strangers on the Internet. Especially those that can be used against you: intimate, incriminating, containing your address, phone number, card number or other data. Keep in mind that anything you send online can be saved, copied, or forwarded to other people without your consent.
• Don't transfer money to strangers online. Do not do this even to those who say that you really like them or that they really need your help.

And a few tips for those who have already fallen for the bait and are being blackmailed right now:

• Don't panic or blame yourself. Always refuse to pay. Immediately write a statement about the crime and ask to open a criminal case on the grounds of a crime under Part 1 of Article 163 of the Criminal Code (extortion )and Part 1 of Article 137 of the Criminal Code (illegal collection or dissemination of information about a person's private life). Remember that you had the right to have any private conversation, including about sex. And it is the other side that acts illegally and violates the criminal code, because they blackmail you and collect and distribute your personal information. Under Article 163 of the Criminal Code, they face up to 4 years in prison, and under Article 163 of the Criminal Code, up to 2 years in prison. Many people face this problem and can help or support you. Moreover, law enforcement officers are aware of this and they need information about scammers to prevent them from acting like this with others. Don't let the scammers break you psychologically or make you pay.
• Contact professionals. If you feel that you can't handle the situation on your own or need qualified help, please contact our specialists. These can be lawyers, psychologists, human rights defenders, or organizations that protect victims of Internet fraud. They can give you legal advice, psychological support, or help you investigate your case.
• Be vigilant and careful. If you are already a victim of online fraud and blackmail, be on your guard and don't trust anyone. Scammers may try to contact you under a different name or profile, or offer you help or solutions for money or other services. Don't be fooled by such offers and don't send your details, photos, or videos to anyone.

If your compromising material is sent to friends or relatives, then listen to the following tips:

• Don't be ashamed and don't be silent. Remember that you shouldn't feel guilty or ashamed about being put in an awkward position. You haven't done anything wrong or wrong. You have become a victim of scammers who have violated your privacy and personal boundaries. Don't be afraid to ask your friends, relatives, partners, or colleagues for help or support. They can understand you and help you deal with the situation.
• Explain the situation and ask them to delete the data. If you know who your incriminating data was sent to, please contact them and explain that it was blackmail and fraud. Ask them to delete all files or messages received from scammers and not distribute them further. Explain to them that this can harm you and your reputation, as well as violate the law on personal data protection.
• Complain about sites or services that store or publish your data. If you find that your incriminating data is stored or published on some sites or services on the Internet, such as search engines, social networks, or file hosting services, please contact their administration or technical support and complain about a violation of your privacy. Ask them to delete your data or block access to it. Attach proof to your request that this is your data and that it was obtained and distributed without your consent.
• Explain your position. If you have done something that has hurt your relatives or violated their trust, do not deny your guilt or make excuses. It is better to admit your mistake and try to understand the reasons.

And here we are at the very end of our Internet journey, where myths collide with reality, and where the long hand of fraud rushes to your pocket and reputation. When faced with a beautiful unknown who seduces you with alluring promises and intimate confessions, you may find yourself on thin ice in a fraudulent provocation.

But stop for a moment and look around: this is your digital life, and you own it. Imagine the virtual space as the city you live in. You wouldn't think of opening your door to a stranger, would you? So why are we so flippant about trusting strangers online?

Don't let insidious scammers prey on your gullibility and curiosity. But remember, making mistakes is a human thing. If you find yourself in a situation where a skilled manipulator has deceived you, admit it and take action. There is nothing wrong with admitting mistakes-on the contrary, it is a great display of courage and wisdom.

Stand guard over your digital security, become the hero of your Internet saga, and not the victim of a scam artist's insidious plan. Learning, being vigilant, protecting your data, and admitting your mistakes is the true motto of every digital knight.

Remember: in the virtual world, just like in the real world, your safety is in your hands. Stay alert, friends!

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