Phishmael & FriendsRomance and friendship scams are slow. The scammer spends weeks being kind and attentive, then an emergency appears that only money can fix.
Common clues: a borrowed photo, a reason they can never video chat, a job far away, and requests for gift cards or transfers.
Older relatives are often targeted, but children meet the same pattern in games and apps, sometimes with requests for photos or secrets instead of money.
Make it normal to talk about online friends, and agree that anyone who asks for money, photos or secrecy gets shown to a trusted adult.
The rule from the episode: never met in person? Never send money.
The rule: Never met in person? Never send money.