Émilie

My name is Emilie, I'm 28 years old, and I nearly got scammed by a fake "sugar daddy" on Instagram. I lost 350 euros before catching on, and honestly, I got off easy. Here's how it happened, in the hope that it helps someone else.

The Unexpected Message

One Tuesday evening, I received a DM on Instagram from a "Richard M.": profile picture showing a distinguished businessman in his fifties, well-tailored suit, luxury watch. His profile featured photos of private jet travel, Michelin-starred restaurants, and villas with pools. Not too many followers, but regular posts — a profile that seemed real.

His message was direct: "Hi Emilie, I'm looking for a trustworthy person to offer regular financial support. No inappropriate conditions — simply virtual company, conversations, good energy. I'm offering 2,000 euros per week. Interested?"

I know, it sounds obvious when you read it cold. But at 28, with a net salary of 1,400 euros, rent eating half of it, and tight ends of the month, 2,000 euros a week for "chatting" seemed like an incredible stroke of luck. And this "sugar dating" phenomenon really does exist — I knew people who did it. So I replied.

The Scam in Three Acts

Richard was charming. We chatted for an hour. He told me he was a real estate entrepreneur, divorced, and that he liked to "spoil people who deserve it." Then he said: "To show good faith, I'll send you a first payment right now. But my bank blocks transfers to new accounts. Could you buy a 50-euro Amazon gift card and send me the code? I'll reimburse you with your first 2,000-euro payment. It's just to verify that you're serious."

50 euros was nothing compared to the promised 2,000. I bought the card and sent the code. Richard thanked me and said the 2,000-euro transfer would go through the next day. The next day, a new message: "My bank requires a second verification. Can you send a 100-euro gift card? This is the last step."

I hesitated but paid. Then the day after: "Last issue, I promise — a 200-euro card and everything is sorted." That was when it clicked. The pattern was crystal clear: there would never be a 2,000-euro transfer. Every gift card sent would be followed by another request.

The Quick End

I blocked Richard and reported his account on Instagram. I lost 350 euros — an amount I couldn't really afford, but it could have been much worse. When I told my friends, two of them had received similar messages. One had ignored it; the other had paid for two gift cards before blocking.

What struck me most was the speed of the scam. In one week, from first contact to last payment, it was all over. These scammers aren't trying to build trust over months — they're banking on the lure of quick money and the pressure of "it's just a small amount."

I'm sharing this because I know many young women — and young men — receive these messages and are tempted. 350 euros is the price of my lesson. I hope my story saves you from paying yours.

What This Story Teaches Us

• The "sugar daddy/mommy" scam targets young people in financial difficulty. Scammers exploit the economic precarity of 18-to-30-year-olds by dangling easy money. The offer seems less risky than an investment and more "cool" than a traditional scam.
• If someone is supposed to pay you but asks you to send money first, it's always a scam. No bank in the world requires a gift card to "verify an account" or "unblock a transfer." It's a test to identify cooperative victims.
• Small amounts are the gateway. Starting at 50 euros seems harmless, but it's the beginning of the escalation. The amount doubles with each request, and the "I've already paid, might as well see it through" effect kicks in.
• "Wealthy entrepreneur" profiles are easy to fabricate. Luxury photos stolen from the internet, an Instagram profile filled in a few hours, and a copy-pasted message sent to hundreds of people: the cost of the scam is virtually zero for the scammer.