What to know
Pause when someone’s story creates pressure to act quickly or secretly. Requests for money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, account access, identity documents, or paid “verification” are strong warning signs—even after weeks of conversation.
Respond without increasing your risk
Do not pay, click unfamiliar payment links, or try to recover money through another stranger. Save relevant non-sensitive evidence, block the account, report it to Novia, and contact your bank or payment provider promptly if you already transferred funds.
Practical next steps
- Reverse-image-search suspicious profile photos where appropriate.
- Be cautious when a person repeatedly avoids live interaction.
- Never share one-time passwords, PINs, recovery codes, or remote device access.
Official resources
Editorial owner: Novia Trust & Safety · Reviewed August 15, 2026