🚨 SCAM ALERT: Fake Investment via Known Acquaintance 🚨
A victim was introduced to a scammer through a mutual friend. The scammer pitched a “great opportunity” to co-invest in a new company 💼, so the victim sent a large amount of funds. Later, the scammer asked to borrow even more, promising full repayment in just 2 months. Once the funds were sent, the scammer vanished, no contact, no repayment.
Tactics Used by the Scammer:
🔹 Building false trust: They leveraged a friend recommendation to appear credible, making it feel like a safe, personal connection 👥💬.
🔹 High-pressure investment pitches: Promising quick profits from a "joint venture" to create urgency and excitement ⚡📈.
🔹 Emotional manipulation: Asking for loans under the guise of temporary need, with short-term repayment promises to lower defenses 😢🤝.
🔹 Ghosting after payment: Disappearing once the money was secured, often by blocking contacts or changing numbers 🚪❌📵.
⚠️ Remember: Don't naively trust someone just because you've met them in person or even through a friend. Scammers are pros at faking relationships – even "known" people can be deceiving if their intentions are hidden 🕵️♂️❗
