Sex, Love, and Little Scams | The Puchi Herald Magazine

Given the weight of recent days, the serious discussions, and the lack of handy guides from my side (which always unnerves my dear friend Alessandro Bottonelli), I thought I’d cater to my audience—mostly composed of seasoned youngsters still convinced they’re irresistible.

Spoiler alert: no, your alluring neighbor who waves at you every morning from her window isn’t real. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Here’s a list of the most creative and colorful romantic and sexual scams where love, blackmail, and the art of digital deception collide. Irony? Absolutely. But as they say, the heart wants what it wants… especially if it’s someone else’s wallet.

1. The Classic Romantic: “Give Me Everything, I’m Far Away Anyway”

In this category, the scammer enters their victim’s heart to drain their bank account. They pose as a soldier, doctor, or engineer in some remote place, on a mission, or trapped in unimaginable circumstances. Cue tragic stories, borderless love, and a surprise ending: the sudden need for money!

Example: An American woman fell in love with a “soldier on a mission in Syria” and ended up transferring tens of thousands of dollars to pay for plane tickets, visas, and medical care. The soldier? Much closer than she thought—like, on a server in Nigeria.

2. Crypto Romance Scam: “Give Me Money, and I’ll Multiply Your Crypto… or Not”

The scammer poses as a digital finance expert and convinces the victim to invest in cryptocurrencies through trading platforms that exist only in their imagination. Initially, they make the victim believe they’re earning, but surprise! The platform crashes, the money disappears, and so does the “expert.”

Example: Tinder and Instagram are full of stories where hopeless romantics (or the desperate) see their investments skyrocket… only to find out those gains were smoke and mirrors. In one notable case, multiple victims lost vast sums after “investment opportunities” suggested by fake online gurus.

3. Pig Butchering: “Stuff Your Love and Trust Until It’s Ready to Burst”

This is one of the cruelest scams, as the scammer invests months—or even years—earning their victim’s trust. Then, in a thriller-worthy twist, they ask for an eye-popping amount to solve a crisis (obviously made up). The victim, trapped in the affection snare, often obliges.

Example: In a high-profile case in New York, the victim ended up sending over $100,000 to a scammer pretending to be a businessman in trouble overseas. In the end, the “pig” was butchered… and so were their savings.

4. Marriage Promises: “You, Me, and a Little Wedding Fee”

Here, the scammer doesn’t stop at flirting but goes straight to the point: marriage! Of course, only after receiving money for “sudden expenses” or plane tickets that magically disappear. The two (or rather, one of the two) can’t wait to tie the knot… until the victim’s account runs dry.

Example: A recent case in Canada involved a victim sending money for an “urgent” flight for their overseas fiancé, who miraculously “escaped” every time the wedding date approached. The marriage? Obviously canceled.

5. Sextortion: “Hey, If You Don’t Pay, Your Underwear Pic Goes Public”

Here, the scammer builds an intimate relationship and gets the victim to send compromising photos or videos. Then, with a threatening message, they promise to release everything unless paid. It’s a scam that’s, let’s say, “romantically blackmailing.”

Example: A recent case in the UK saw a man transfer over £5,000 to an Instagram account threatening to post his not-so-modest photos on Facebook. This scam is so common that it’s inspired a series of dedicated reporting services.

6. The Fake VIP: “Want to Chat With a Star? That’ll Be Extra!”

Impersonating a celebrity or influencer is a favorite tactic for some scammers, especially on Instagram and Twitter. Victims, thrilled at the idea of chatting with a famous face, send money for “meetups” or agree to share photos and videos, which then turn into blackmail material.

Example: These cases pop up like mushrooms on social platforms. One infamous scam involved “Justin Bieber” chatting with young fans, promising a video call… only after a donation. Bieber, of course, had no idea.

7. Catfishing With a Twist: “You Love Me? Then Send Me a Gift… in Cash, Obviously”

Here, the scammer takes on a charming identity, often stealing photos from models, and starts a virtual relationship with the victim. Requests for financial help and intimate content exchanges become the “norm” until the scammer vanishes, leaving hearts (and wallets) broken.

Example: Who can forget the “Beautiful Russian” scam, where numerous victims in Italy sent money to help the model “reach them”? She never arrived, but the money did… into the scammer’s pockets.

8. Generic Sextortion: “We Saw Everything Through Your Webcam!”

This scam is for fans of mass messages: thousands of emails sent claiming to have “hacked” the victim’s webcam and recorded “private videos.” With a touch of class, the scammer demands Bitcoin to keep the “videos” off the Internet. Though fake, many people pay out of fear.

Example: The classic “I recorded everything” email, now infamous in Italy and beyond. People of all ages have received these threats, and, unfortunately, some fall for them.

9. Honeytrap: “Caught Sweetie… On Camera”

Here, the scammer organizes a physical meeting with the victim, secretly recording compromising photos or videos. Once they have the material, the victim is blackmailed. Usually, it’s not just love and money at stake, but also their reputation.

Example: Several high-profile cases in Asia involved victims inviting strangers to hotels only to face a “small” Bitcoin ransom to avoid going viral online.

10. Fake Emotional Support: “How Are You? Mind Sending Me €200?”

Not all romantic scams are about love. Some come disguised as selfless friendship: a confidant who listens to the victim, shares experiences, and then, conveniently, finds themselves in a tough spot. A small financial favor is usually enough.

Example: A recent case in Italy saw an elderly man grow attached to an “online friend,” eventually sending money for “emergencies” that—surprise—were never real.

How to Avoid Becoming the Star of One of These Tragicomic Episodes?

The golden rule: if it seems too good to be true, it’s probably just a scam.

Love and Sex Scam Vehicles

Scammers utilize a wide array of digital tools tailored to the type of scam and the target audience. Here are the 10 main vehicles:

Email (Personal and Business)
- Personal Emails: Commonly used for generic sextortion scams, where scammers send mass emails claiming they’ve hacked the victim’s webcam and have compromising videos. Payment is demanded to prevent release.
- Business Emails: Some scammers target work inboxes, knowing that the threat of exposing sensitive material can be particularly effective in professional environments, leveraging the fear of reputational damage.
Social Media
- Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: These platforms are ideal for romance scams, allowing scammers to create fake profiles and directly contact victims. They often send friend requests and initiate casual conversations to build trust.
- LinkedIn: Used to target professionals who might lower their guard around respectable-looking profiles. Particularly effective for “investment opportunity” scams or establishing trust-based relationships.
Dating Apps
- Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and others: Popular platforms for love scams, as users are seeking relationships and are more inclined to trust. Scammers create attractive profiles, start romantic chats, and, once intimacy is built, suggest cryptocurrency investments or request financial aid.
- Adult Dating Sites: Some scams focus on niche adult platforms, preying on victims interested in intimate conversations and encounters. Sextortion cases and requests for compromising photos or videos are particularly common here.
Messaging Apps
- WhatsApp and Telegram: After initiating contact on a public platform like social media or a dating site, scammers often move the conversation to private messaging apps for direct and secure contact. These apps offer less oversight from main platforms.
- Snapchat: Perfect for scammers due to its ephemeral nature, as disappearing messages and images create a false sense of security, encouraging victims to share compromising material.
Payment Platforms
- Apps like Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal: These tools make sending money quick and easy but are also exploited by scammers, who can receive funds and disappear without a trace.
- Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies: Cryptocurrencies are perfect for scammers because transactions are difficult to trace and don’t require the recipient’s identity. Payments in Bitcoin are common in crypto romance scams and sextortion schemes.
Fake Trading Apps and Websites
- Some scammers create entire fake trading platforms, complete with charts and simulated gains, to convince victims to invest. Victims see their funds “grow” virtually and are encouraged to invest more until they discover the platform is fake.
Online Forums and Communities
- Scammers sometimes target victims in support forums or interest-based groups, where people share personal stories. In these settings, scammers can approach victims under the guise of a disinterested friendship or a trust-based relationship.
Video Conferencing Websites and Apps
- In some sextortion cases, scammers use video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime to persuade victims to participate in compromising video chats. They secretly record the sessions and then threaten to release the videos unless paid.
Fake Celebrity Sites and Fan Pages
- Some scammers create profiles mimicking celebrities, influencers, or even VIPs on social media. Interactions with the “star” can then shift to messaging apps, where scammers request money for “donations” or exclusive content.
Erotic Chat Rooms and Adult Sites

In adult environments, scammers initiate explicit interactions and try to obtain compromising materials. They later threaten to share these with the victim’s contacts, turning an intimate moment into a blackmail trap.

These digital tools are the arsenal of seasoned scammers who manipulate victims’ psychology through trust and emotional deception. The variety of vehicles allows them to tailor scams to the victim, leveraging platforms where credibility can be easily built.

How to Recognize Love and Sex Scams

Love and sex scams share several communicative traits that make them effective and convincing. Scammers are skilled manipulators who build trust and emotional involvement using tactics designed to bypass their victim’s defenses. Here are the key features:

Rapid Intimacy and Emotional Involvement
Scammers often express intense affection or interest from the start, quickly declaring deep feelings or creating an intimate connection.
- Typical phrases: “I’ve never met anyone like you,” “I already feel so close to you,” “It’s like I’ve known you forever.”
Creating a “Sad Story” or Dramatic Situation
To justify financial requests, scammers often tell stories of hardships, family emergencies, or dramatic circumstances, exploiting the victim’s compassion.
- Typical phrases: “I’m going through a tough time, and you’re the only one I can count on,” “I can’t ask anyone else, but I feel safe with you.”
Manipulating Empathy and Responsibility
Scammers create situations where the victim feels responsible for their well-being, leveraging altruistic tendencies or feelings of loneliness.
- Typical phrases: “If you can’t help me, I don’t know what I’ll do,” “I don’t know how I’ll go on without you.”
Promises of a Future Together and Ideal Life Fantasies
Scammers nurture a shared dream: a future together, marriage, or a happy life. This strengthens emotional bonds and motivates the victim to “invest” in making that future possible.
- Typical phrases: “I can’t wait to build a life with you,” “I dream every day of the moment we’ll finally be together.”

Where Do the Dream-Shatterers Come From?

Love scams and sex scams are global phenomena, with a significant concentration in certain regions. Here’s a list of the main countries involved, ranked by prevalence, along with their areas of specialization and motivations:

Nigeria

🔹 Prevalence: Nigeria is notoriously associated with online scams, commonly known as “419 scams” after the corresponding section of the Nigerian Penal Code.

🔹 Specialization: Nigerian scammers, known as “Yahoo boys,” are skilled at creating fake online identities to establish romantic relationships with victims, aiming to extract money.

🔹 Motivation: High unemployment and a lack of economic opportunities drive many young people toward illicit online activities.

Ghana

🔹 Prevalence: Ghana has seen a rise in online scams, with many reported cases of love scams.

🔹 Specialization: Ghanaian scammers often use dating platforms and social media to approach victims, pretending to have romantic interests.

🔹 Motivation: Similar to Nigeria, economic hardships and widespread internet access have facilitated the growth of these activities.

Ivory Coast

🔹 Prevalence: Ivory Coast has emerged as a hub for romance scams, with numerous cases reported.

🔹 Specialization: Ivorian scammers often pose as military personnel or professionals in distress, asking victims for financial assistance.

🔹 Motivation: Political and economic instability has contributed to the rise of online fraud activities.

Russia and Eastern Europe

🔹 Prevalence: Romance scams originating from this region are common, often targeting Western men.

🔹 Specialization: Female scammers present themselves as women seeking serious relationships, asking for money to cover travel or emergency expenses.

🔹 Motivation: The perception of better economic opportunities in the West motivates some to exploit the goodwill of their victims.

China

🔹 Prevalence: Increasing, especially with scams related to cryptocurrency investments.

🔹 Specialization: Chinese scammers often combine love scams with investment scams, convincing victims to invest in fake platforms.

🔹 Motivation: The expansion of the digital economy and the lack of strict regulations make these activities easier to execute.

India

🔹 Prevalence: Growing, with numerous call centers involved in fraudulent activities.

🔹 Specialization: In addition to romance scams, India is known for tech support scams, though targeted love scams also occur.

🔹 Motivation: Low labor costs and access to advanced technology make these operations highly profitable.

Philippines

🔹 Prevalence: Significant, with many romance scams originating from this country.

🔹 Specialization: Filipino scammers often use dating platforms to establish long-distance relationships, later requesting financial help.

🔹 Motivation: Economic difficulties and widespread English proficiency facilitate interactions with foreign victims.

Thailand

🔹 Prevalence: Notable, with many cases of romance and sex scams reported.

🔹 Specialization: In addition to love scams, Thailand is infamous for scams linked to sex tourism, with victims being blackmailed after compromising encounters.

🔹 Motivation: Mass tourism and the country’s reputation as an exotic destination attract both scammers and victims.

South Africa

🔹 Prevalence: Increasing, with a growing number of reported romance scams.

🔹 Specialization: South African scammers often use online dating platforms to approach victims, building virtual relationships and requesting financial aid for fabricated emergencies.

🔹 Motivation: Economic disparities and high unemployment rates drive some toward illicit online activities.

Malaysia

🔹 Prevalence: Emerging, with several reported cases of romance scams.

🔹 Specialization: Malaysian scammers often collaborate with international networks, creating fake online identities to establish romantic connections and later request money for various emergencies.

🔹 Motivation: A strategic location and access to advanced technology make it easier to organize these scams, often in partnership with transnational criminal groups.

💡 Note: These countries are among the main ones involved, but fraudulent activities can originate from anywhere, thanks to global internet access. Globalization has enabled scammers to adapt their strategies to cultural contexts and opportunities available worldwide.

How Scammers Find Contacts Across Different Platforms

1. WhatsApp

Database Purchases: Scammers buy lists of phone numbers from illegal websites or the dark web. These databases often contain numbers obtained from data breaches or poorly secured websites.
Social Media: If your phone number is visible on social platforms like Facebook, scammers can easily find it. Some even use bots to scrape numbers from public profiles.
WhatsApp Groups: In groups, everyone can see other members’ numbers. Scammers infiltrate thematic groups to collect contacts.
Random Direct Messages (Robocalling): They use software to send messages to random numbers; if you respond, it confirms your number is active.

2. X (formerly Twitter)

Hashtag Searches and Public Content: Scammers monitor specific hashtags (#crypto, #romance, #investments) to find users interested in topics that make them vulnerable to scams.
Engaging with Sensitive Posts: Interacting with posts about topics like investments or relationships can attract scammers’ attention.
Profiling Bots: Some scammers use bots to analyze public profiles, identifying details like job roles or interests to tailor their approach.

3. LinkedIn

Advanced Search and SEO: LinkedIn allows searches by role, company, and keywords. Scammers exploit these tools to find individuals susceptible to job or investment scams.
LinkedIn Groups: In public groups, members are visible and easy to contact. Industry-specific groups are often used to target victims with shared interests.
Open Profiles: An “Open” profile allows anyone to contact you, increasing exposure to scammers.

4. Telegram

Access via Public Groups: Telegram has public groups and channels for topics like investments and dating. Scammers infiltrate these to identify victims.
Username Search: Users can be found through their usernames without needing phone numbers. Scammers search for usernames with keywords like crypto or finance.
Direct Messages: Telegram allows scammers to send direct messages without adding the contact, making it easier to reach users with strict privacy settings.

5. WeChat (Weixin)

“People Nearby” Feature: This function allows users to find others nearby. Scammers use it to approach locals, pretending to seek friendship.
“Shake” Feature: This feature connects users shaking their phones simultaneously, creating random contacts for scammers to exploit.
Virtual Business Cards: Popular in Asia for professional use, scammers use this feature to send fake business cards and start fraudulent conversations.

6. LINE

ID Search and QR Codes: LINE enables adding contacts via ID and QR codes. Scammers distribute their QR codes to get added.
Stickers and Gift Store: Scammers may ask for stickers or virtual gifts, testing the victim’s willingness to transfer money.
LINE Groups: Scammers infiltrate public LINE groups to contact members directly.

Security Tips for Each Platform

WhatsApp: Set your profile so only contacts can see your picture and status. Avoid sharing your phone number on social media.
X (formerly Twitter): Keep your profile private and limit visibility of personal information. Avoid engaging in sensitive topics like investments.
LinkedIn: Reject suspicious connection requests and reduce visibility of contact information.
Telegram: Disable direct messages from strangers and limit access to your phone number. Only join trusted groups.
WeChat: Turn off “People Nearby” and “Shake” features if not used. Avoid accepting virtual business cards from unknown people.
LINE: Block messages from users not in your contacts and avoid adding people via QR codes or IDs if you don’t know them.

NOTE

Following these guidelines will help you use social and messaging platforms more securely. Proper privacy settings, awareness of keywords, and caution in interactions are essential to protect yourself from scammers.

When Love Rhymes with Malware and Despair: The Untold Risks of Love and Sex Scams

When love rhymes with malware and despair, love scams and sex scams are not just emotional and financial traps—they can also turn into technological nightmares. Scammers don’t stop at sweet messages or fake profiles; some aim to infect victims’ devices with malware or exploit system vulnerabilities to steal sensitive data or further compromise their targets. Here’s how these threats work and the risks associated with malware and vulnerability exploitation.

Malware in Romantic and Sexual Scams

Scammers often use malware to gain access to victims’ devices and collect personal data, passwords, or other sensitive information. The most common malware used in these scams include:

Spyware

Description: Designed to monitor victims’ activities by recording messages, calls, and online behavior.
Method: The scammer convinces the victim to download a “safe” app or view a photo that contains malware. Once installed, spyware logs passwords and monitors conversations.

Keyloggers

Description: A keylogger records all keystrokes, including login credentials and passwords.
Method: Scammers send fraudulent links or attachments to install the keylogger and steal credentials for social media, email, and bank accounts.

Ransomware

Description: Files on the victim’s device are encrypted and blocked, and the scammer demands payment to decrypt the data.
Method: In some love scams, scammers send a link or file that infects the computer with ransomware, adding the threat of spreading compromising photos if the victim doesn’t pay.

Banking Trojans

Description: Banking trojans infiltrate systems to collect financial details, such as credit card numbers and online banking credentials.
Method: Scammers send a file or app labeled as being for “joint projects” or “investments.” Once installed, the trojan intercepts the victim’s banking activity.

Exploitation of Vulnerabilities in Scams

Beyond malware, experienced scammers exploit vulnerabilities in victims’ devices or the applications they use. Common techniques include:

Targeted Phishing with Exploits

Scammers send phishing links that exploit browser or application vulnerabilities, installing backdoors or other malware without requiring the victim to download anything.

Messaging App Vulnerabilities

Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or WeChat may have vulnerabilities that scammers exploit to access user data. Some attacks use malicious media files or links that activate exploits once opened.

Session Hijacking and Cookie Theft

By installing malware that captures session cookies, scammers can access victims’ accounts without needing passwords. In love scams, session hijacking allows scammers to read private messages or impersonate the victim on other accounts.

Additional Technological Risks and Malicious Attacks

Romantic scams may include further technological exploitation, putting victims’ security at risk:

Sextortion via Webcam: Scammers convince victims to engage in video calls or turn on their webcam. Using malware or recording apps, they capture compromising footage to blackmail the victim.
Access to Bank and Social Media Accounts: Through social engineering, scammers gather personal information during conversations, obtaining enough details to reset passwords for bank or social accounts.

When romantic scams turn into technological threats, staying vigilant and protecting devices against malware and exploitation attempts becomes critical.

It’s Just Cybercrime, Baby

Highly specialized actors are behind love scams, sex scams, and broader cyber fraud campaigns. Some operate privately as part of transnational criminal groups, while others may enjoy the support or tolerance of states seeking to gather intelligence or destabilize specific targets. Let’s examine these actors, their operations, and whether they’re private or state-sponsored.

1. Organized Criminal Groups

Origin: Primarily from Nigeria, Ghana, Russia, Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia.
Activities: Known for love scams, sex scams, financial fraud, and ransomware, often using social engineering to extract sensitive information and convince victims to transfer money or grant access to data.
Private or State-Sponsored? Operate privately but sometimes find refuge in countries with weak laws or limited international cooperation, providing implicit state protection.
Notable Examples: “Yahoo Boys” in Nigeria are famous for romantic scams, while similar groups exist in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Eastern European groups, particularly in Russia, have a long history of cybercrime, sometimes developing malware specifically for phishing and love scams.

2. Yahoo Boys and Sakawa Boys

Origin: Nigeria and Ghana.
Activities: Specialize in love scams, romantic fraud, and crypto scams, posing as successful individuals or wealthy foreigners seeking a relationship. They often target victims via social media and dating apps.
Private or State-Sponsored? Private groups, though local authorities may tolerate them due to limited resources or political will to fight these crimes.
Notable Examples: Nigerian “Yahoo Boys” are known for “419 scams” (named after the penal code for fraud), while Ghanaian “Sakawa Boys” combine digital fraud with traditional rituals for “good luck.”

3. State-Sponsored Hackers (APT – Advanced Persistent Threats)

Origin: China, North Korea, Russia, and other countries with advanced cyber-warfare capabilities.
Activities: Use romantic scams and social engineering to collect information from specific targets, such as diplomats, tech companies, or security organizations. Love scams are a tactic to infiltrate networks and obtain critical data.
Private or State-Sponsored? State-sponsored. Operate to obtain information serving national interests, such as industrial secrets, political data, or strategic intelligence.
Notable Examples: Groups like China’s APT40 and APT41 or North Korea’s Lazarus Group are known for espionage activities. While typically targeting high-profile objectives, they have used romantic scams to deceive employees of tech and government organizations.

Additional Risks with Malicious Attacks and Malware

Love and sex scams often involve malware and other technological threats:

Spyware and Keyloggers: Sent via deceptive links, these malware tools collect sensitive data like passwords and financial details.
Ransomware and Sextortion: In some cases, scams escalate into ransomware attacks where the victim’s files are locked, and they are blackmailed for decryption or with compromising images.
Banking Trojans and Targeted Phishing: Scammers install trojans to harvest banking information or execute personalized phishing attacks.

Conclusion

Love and sex scams are not just the work of isolated fraudsters; they are often orchestrated by highly organized criminal groups and, in some cases, state-sponsored actors. Using advanced techniques, these players exploit both victims’ emotions and technological vulnerabilities for financial and informational gain. Protecting oneself requires vigilance, security software, and recognizing warning signs in online interactions.

If you’ve read this far, you’ve earned a reward. The next person who contacts me with a “get-rich-in-love” scheme? I’ll share your contact. Happy now? 😜