Online fraud does not always begin with a suspicious link or an urgent request for money. Sometimes it begins with a thoughtful message, a familiar interest, or the feeling that someone finally understands you. That is what makes online deception difficult to spot: the relationship may feel real long before the other person’s identity can be verified.
.jpg "Two Books in-One ( A Duology) Profiles in the Dark and Behind Broken Glass are psychological suspense novellas with…")
The stakes are significant. In 2025, nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to a romance scam said it began on social media, according to Federal Trade Commission data. Social platforms can give scammers access to personal details that help them tailor a convincing approach — and a plausible story.
What online deception really involves
Online deception is the deliberate use of false identity, misleading information, or emotional influence to gain someone’s trust or cooperation. Money may be the goal, but it is not always the first request. A person may initially seek attention, private information, intimate images, access to an account, or a relationship that can later be used to create pressure.
The emotional sequence matters. Once a connection feels meaningful, a request that would seem unreasonable from a stranger can feel different. “I need help” becomes “I don’t want to abandon someone I care about.” Trust, in this setting, is not merely a feeling; it becomes a channel through which influence travels.
That does not mean everyone who forms an online relationship is at risk, or that emotional attachment is itself a warning sign. It means closeness can make people more willing to explain away contradictions — and skilled manipulators may deliberately encourage that.
Why capable people can be targeted
People are not deceived because they are foolish. Connection, trust, and companionship are ordinary human needs. Scammers exploit those needs, often by paying close attention, reflecting someone’s interests, and creating a sense of shared understanding.
A polished professional can be vulnerable for the same reason as anyone else: the interaction may appear credible and personally meaningful. The deception may build gradually, with each small disclosure or favor making the next one feel natural. Shame can then keep a person from asking for a second opinion. “I should have known” is a painful conclusion — and often a reason to stay silent when outside help would be useful.
How online deception works, step by step
- The contact feels plausible. A message arrives through a dating app, social media, or a mutual connection. The profile and opening conversation seem familiar or appealing.
- The connection gathers momentum. Frequent messages and personal disclosures create a sense of closeness. The other person may quickly describe the relationship as unusually special.
- Trust is separated from verification. They avoid a live video call, postpone meeting, or offer explanations that cannot be independently checked.
- A boundary is tested. They ask for secrecy, intimate material, personal details, or help with a seemingly small problem.
- Pressure replaces patience. A crisis, financial opportunity, or threat makes action feel urgent. Once someone has invested emotionally, saying no can feel like risking the relationship.
This sequence is not a checklist every scam follows. Some fraud begins with a direct financial pitch; other deception may involve identity theft or coercion. The useful question is not “Does this match every step?” but “Is the person asking me to trust more than I can verify?”
Warning signs worth taking seriously
One red flag alone may have an innocent explanation. Several together deserve attention:
- Identity inconsistencies: Details about work, location, family, or past events change.
- Rapid intimacy: They push for commitment or emotional exclusivity unusually quickly.
- Secrecy: They discourage you from telling friends or family about the relationship.
- Avoided verification: Calls, video chats, or reasonable checks are repeatedly postponed.
- Emotional pressure: They make you feel guilty, afraid, or responsible for acting immediately.
- Money or investment talk: They request funds, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or encourage you to use an unfamiliar platform.
A convincing profile picture is not proof of identity. Nor is a video call an absolute guarantee. Verification works best when it is independent: use contact details or official channels you find yourself, rather than links, phone numbers, or documents supplied by the person you are checking.
Practical ways to slow the situation down
Pause before sending money, sharing sensitive information, or moving a conversation to a less visible channel. Ask a trusted person who is not emotionally involved to review the situation. Search for the person’s images and claims independently, and verify their workplace or professional role through official contact information.
If they claim to be in danger, use a reliable source to check the story rather than transferring money. If the topic shifts to investing, do not let an online relationship direct financial decisions. The FTC advises people not to let someone they have met only on social media guide their investments.
If you have already sent money or shared intimate material, act quickly: contact your bank or payment provider, secure affected accounts, preserve messages and transaction records, and report the account to the platform and relevant authorities. A mistake made under pressure does not make you responsible for someone else’s deception.
Jessica’s experience in Profiles in the Dark and Behind Broken Glass
Jessica’s experience, as presented in Profiles in the Dark and Behind Broken Glass by Janis Renay Schiffner, connects with a difficult truth: genuine emotion and manipulation can exist in the same relationship. A person may sincerely feel affection, hope, or grief while also being misled about who is on the other side of the screen.
That overlap is part of what makes deception hard to recognize. Looking back, people often search for a single obvious moment when everything became clear. In real life, the signals may be mixed, and the emotional bond may be real even when the identity or intentions are not. The book’s connection to this subject is a reminder to take that complexity seriously rather than treating victims’ feelings as evidence of carelessness.
I think.
The most useful safeguard is not suspicion of everyone online. It is the habit of keeping emotional trust and factual verification in view at the same time. People often misunderstand online deception as a contest between clever scammers and naรฏve victims. That framing misses the real mechanism: ordinary human attachment can be steered by someone who controls what they reveal.
As social platforms make it easy to find and approach people at scale, tailored approaches are likely to remain a concern. The practical standard should stay simple: trust grows through consistent, verifiable behavior — not through intensity, urgency, or declarations of devotion.
Profiles in the Dark and Behind Broken Glass by Janis Renay Schiffner is available on Amazon
Ask the Right Questions
How can I tell if someone online is using a fake identity?
Look for mismatched details across conversations and independently verify claims that matter. Try a reverse image search, check whether professional or public information is consistent, and ask for a live conversation. Treat any single test as limited: a stolen image may appear legitimate, and a polished explanation can still be false.
Is it a red flag if someone wants to move off a dating app?
Not automatically. People move conversations for many reasons. Be cautious if the request comes early and is paired with secrecy, pressure, avoidance of verification, or a push toward financial conversations. Keep a record of the original profile and messages before moving platforms.
What should I do if I think a friend is being scammed?
Start with concern, not accusation. Ask what they have been asked to do, whether they have verified the person independently, and whether they would be comfortable pausing for a day. Avoid ridicule; shame can drive someone closer to the person manipulating them. Offer practical help with account security, contacting a bank, or reporting the profile.