Engagement is the product; ending the conversation is the win.
What to do
- Stop replying; do not 'just check' — every message refines their script
- Block them on every channel without warning
- Report the firm to your national fraud authority (Action Fraud, Scamwatch, IC3, FTC)
- Report the messaging account to the platform (WhatsApp, Telegram, LinkedIn, Instagram)
- If you already paid, dispute the payment via the methods above (chargeback, recall, in-app dispute)
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Written by
Jordan DicksonFounder, CyberSecurityGuides
Founder of CyberSecurityGuides, writing practical, jargon-free guides that help everyday people recover from and protect against online attacks.
Reviewed by CSG Security Engineers