In an exclusive interview, a cybercriminal has revealed the elaborate tactics used in online scams targeting unsuspecting victims, often through social media platforms like TikTok.
The individual, whose identity remains anonymous, described how victims are approached under the guise of friendly conversations. “We find your number through TikTok and start chatting, pretending to be a female character. Over a few days, we build trust by casually talking and getting to know your life,” they said.
Once trust is gained, the scam shifts to financial deception. Victims are lured into fake investment schemes, often involving counterfeit e-commerce websites made to resemble platforms like eBay. “We show them a website and claim they can earn profits by ‘selling’ items. After a few clicks, they think they’ve earned $25, which they can withdraw. But then we say they need to invest more money to continue or access higher profits,” the scammer revealed.
As the days progress, the demands escalate. “On day two or three, we ask for more money — first $100, then $500, and sometimes even $20,000 or $30,000. When they finish ‘selling’ items, we claim they owe taxes on their earnings, which must be paid through fake bank accounts or crypto wallets.”
The scammer also admitted to using video calls to appear as a woman, making the interaction feel even more convincing. “This tactic helps make the scam feel real. People believe they’re talking to someone genuine.”
This disturbing confession sheds light on how far scammers go to manipulate and defraud victims — highlighting the importance of vigilance, especially when dealing with unknown contacts online.
