Pay by Gift Card Scams and Credit Scams are common types of fraud that target individuals by tricking them into making payments in ways that are difficult to trace or recover. Here's how they work:
The Six Stages of Credit for Sex Scam
1. Finding a Victim
2. Grooming
3. The Sting
4. Demanding
5. Threats
6. Realisation
The 6 Stages of Credit-for-Sex Scam
Discover the techniques behind the scam and red flags to look out for
1. Finding a Victim
Scammers scout for targets by posing as prostitutes or other sex workers through advertisements and messaging apps.
Popular platforms used by scammers:
Websites
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Locanto
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Skokka
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sex141
Dating Platforms
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Tinder
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Coffee Meets Bagel
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Grindr
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Lespark
Techniques used by scammers:
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Lust: Manipulate desire to make victims act instinctively.
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Price: Services appear cheaper than normal to attract victims.
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90–96% of victims are straight males, but scammers also target homosexual victims on apps like Grindr and Lespark.
2. Grooming
91% of cases show grooming was involved, especially for victims seeking sexual services.
Techniques used by scammers:
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Bonding: Scammers befriend the victim before offering sex.
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Pity sex: Scammers pretend to be in hardship and need sex work to survive.
📌 Average time from first contact to first transfer: 100 days
3. The Sting
Scammers try to get money without being caught—avoiding meetups and asking for credits/gift cards instead of bank transfers.
Techniques used by scammers:
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Urgency: Pressure victims to react and pay quickly.
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Self-doubt: Victims may suspect a scam but rationalize it.
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False truths: Scammers give fake addresses for meet-ups.
4. Demanding
Scammers ask for more payments beyond the original agreement, even reducing prices to extract whatever they can.
Techniques used by scammers:
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Foot-in-the-door: Once an initial payment is made, more is easier to extract.
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Generosity: Scammers adjust the amount based on the victim's ability to pay.
5. Threats
Scammers intimidate with photos, videos, or harass family members.
Techniques used by scammers:
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Fear: Threats of exposure or physical harm if payment isn't made.
6. Realisation
Victims recognize the scam through:
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Being asked to pay more
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Alerts from family/friends
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Scam prevention messages
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Police officers
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Threats
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Scammer stops contact
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Scammer confesses
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Cashiers warning while buying credits/gift cards
🚫 Victims never end up meeting their "date".
Spot the signs. Stop the crimes.
Brought to you by:
Singapore Police Force | Tote Board | National Crime Prevention Council
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