Warm conversation fit dey together with request wey you no suppose act on. You no need decide whether person whole story true before you refuse to send money. Keep di request separate from di feelings wey di conversation create.
Recognise di request, no be stereotype
Di US Federal Trade Commission describe romance scams where person build relationship and later ask for money, sometimes for travel or urgent expense. Dia guidance say make you no send money or gifts to romantic contact wey you never meet in person. Requests involving gift cards, transfers or cryptocurrency also dey among dia examples.
Nationality, accent, gender or trans identity no be useful replacement for looking at di actual request. Familiar photograph no prove say di person behind account be who dem claim to be. No use stereotypes about group to explain suspicious payment request.
Pause before you act because matter urgent
Consider dis editorial example: person say ticket must be paid for tonight or di relationship go end. You fit answer, “I no go send money,” without negotiating smaller amount or proving say you care. No allow di deadline become reason why you skip thinking about di request.
If you want another view, describe di request to person wey you trust. Keep di discussion focused on wetin dem ask you to do, instead of seeking approval about how convincing or affectionate di conversation feel.
Use checks without treating dem as proof
FTC suggest reverse image search when person suspect romance scam. If result no match, e fit raise questions; if no result dey, that one no certify identity. No continue to send information or money while you dey wait for check to make di situation feel certain.
You no need confront di person or get confession before you end contact. Avoid publishing dia claimed identity like say you don establish who control di account. Di profile itself fit contain another person details.
Respond to payment wey you don make
FTC advise make person contact di payment provider or bank quickly after dem pay suspected scammer, and notify di service where di contact start. To ask about steps wey dey available no guarantee refund. Use official contact information instead of new link wey di person requesting money supply.
Keep short record of di request and transaction information for di correct recipient. You fit report incident without continuing di romantic conversation. Report na request for action, no be promise of recovery or immediate investigation.
Source
Federal Trade Commission: What to know about romance scams. Di named prevention and response guidance come from dis US consumer-protection resource; conversation examples and cautions about interpretation na editorial.