Scammers rarely ask for money straight away. They build trust first — sometimes over days, weeks, or months — so that by the time they ask, it feels like they've earned it. Knowing the tactics helps you spot them before that happens.
Impersonation
Scammers often pretend to be someone you'd trust: a bank, a payment provider, a government agency, your employer, a family member, a technical support team, or even Xe. Looking familiar is the whole point — it's designed to lower your guard.
Relationships
Romance scams, friendship scams, and social media scams work by building a real-feeling emotional connection. The relationship feels genuine because the scammer has invested real time in it. That doesn't make the request at the end of it genuine too.
A professional appearance
Scammers build credibility with professional-looking websites, fake testimonials, forged documents, social media accounts, online groups, and AI-generated content. All of it is designed to look real. None of it proves that it is.
Social proof
Scammers often manufacture the impression that other people have already succeeded or profited — positive reviews, group chats, customer testimonials, screenshots of profits. Treat all of it as unverified until you've checked independently.
How to break a scammer's influence
When you're unsure:
- Pause before you respond or pay
- End the conversation if something feels off
- Verify the person or organisation independently, using contact details you find yourself — not ones they gave you
- Get a second opinion from someone you trust
- Talk to us if it involves your Xe account or a transfer
Trust should always be verified, not assumed.