Do you have a long list of “Hi beautiful” DMs in your Insta inbox? You’re probably familiar with sugar daddy messages, inviting you to spend money in exchange for selfies or conversation. However, a good portion of these messages aren’t real. Yes, sugar daddy Instagram scams are rampant, which means Insta influencers need to be wary.
So, how can you tell what’s fake and what’s real? DoubleList spills all in this tell-all guide.
What Is the Sugar Daddy Scam?
In a sugar daddy scam, a scammer poses as a rich benefactor who wants to be a sugar daddy. A sugar daddy is a man who offers money and gifts in exchange for companionship or other benefits. A sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship is not always sexual. Most often, sugar daddies offer a weekly allowance to their sugar babies. However, they may also give presents and gift cards.
However, with a scam, the fake sugar daddy poses as a rich man to solicit money from the victim. Sometimes, they solicit photos and other information in place of money. There are several ways to do this.
Despite the prevalence of the sugar daddy scam, Instagram can do little about it. When Instagram shuts one account down, plenty more pop up. As a result, it’s essential for users to be diligent. When you spot a scam, you can avoid and report it.
How Do Instagram Sugar Daddy Scams Work?
A scammer can get things from the Instagram sugar daddy scam in several ways. Generally, each scam follows the same pathway:
- The scammer reaches out to a target on Instagram, sending them a DM posing as a sugar daddy.
- The scammer promises to send money once the target sends them something in return. This can include paying the transaction fees for the money or sending nude photos.
- Once the scammer receives what they asked for, they disappear.
Depending on the scam, a few different things can happen. For example, with gift card scams, the fake sugar daddy may ask for payment verification with a prepaid card. Or they will deposit fraudulent money into the victim’s account from a stolen card. By the time the victim sends the scammer what they want, the credit card company has charged the money back.
They may deposit money in the sugar baby’s account, then immediately ask for some back due to an emergency. So, let’s say the scammer transfers you $2000 from a stolen credit card. They request $100 back for an emergency or upcoming special occasion. Since you believe you’ve just received money, so you transfer them the $100. However, the bank then blocks the transaction and cancels the initial payment from the stolen card. As a result, you gain no money and pay $100.
So, if you want to know “how do Instagram sugar daddy scams work,” then the answer is that it’s complicated.
In general, if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Are There Sugar Daddy Scams on Instagram?
You might wonder, “Are there sugar daddy scams on Instagram? Really?” After all, these scams don’t affect everyone. Some accounts never receive a message, whereas others are bombarded with fake sugar daddies.
The truth is that these scams do exist. Instagram does a pretty good job filtering them so that they might sit in your “Hidden Requests” tab.
Dr. Shaanan Cohney, a cyber security lecturer at Melbourne University, told Elle Australia that these scams are common. Dr. Cohney notes that anyone reaching out via your Insta DMs is unlikely to be a real sugar daddy.
Essentially, it’s very important to be aware of any potential cyber-security scams on Insta. If you’ve received a random message from an older man offering you money, you might be tempted. That’s what makes sugar daddy scams so dangerous. However, it’s not worth it to respond.
How Do You Tell if a Sugar Daddy Is Scamming You?
There are a few ways to spot a scammer from the real thing. Keeping in mind that real sugar daddies are unlikely to slide into your DMs, there are some other telltale signs. Many of them are the same factors you’d look for to determine any real person on the internet. For example, these tips also apply to dating sites and chat rooms.
So, how do you tell if a sugar daddy is scamming you?
- Payment requests: If a sugar daddy asks for any payment, it’s a scam. This may be through payment apps or gift cards. Never give your bank details to someone online.
- Stolen pictures: Scammers rarely use their own photos. If the account has no pictures or the images are suspicious, avoid it. You can reverse image search to check where the photos are from.
- Personal information requests: Some scammers may also ask for personal info that they can use to hack you. Don’t provide personal details to people you don’t know.
- No followers: Accounts with no or very few followers are suspicious. This is especially true if they follow hundreds or thousands of accounts.
- New account: If the profile has no information or photos, it could be new. Likely, it’s new because a scammer has created it for malicious purposes.
- Poor spelling and grammar: Bots and scammers have a habit of poor spelling and grammar. Likely, you’ll find the messages hard to read.
What Platforms Do Sugar Daddy Scammers Use?
Fake sugar daddies not only use social media sites to find their victims. You might also encounter them elsewhere on the web, so it’s important to be vigilant.
- Social media sites: Instagram is rife with scammers. You may also see these accounts on Twitter, Snapchat, and Facebook. Typically, the scam begins in your DMs, but they may also comment on your posts. Then, they usually try to move the conversation to another app like WhatsApp.
- Dating apps: Popular apps like Tinder and Grindr have their fair share of scammers. Dating sites try to remove these profiles, but they still pop up from time to time. It’s sometimes difficult to separate real sugar daddies from fake ones, so their profiles can remain active.
- Forums: Any social network site is fair game for scammers. As a result, you might even find them on Reddit and other similar sites. Again, it’s possible to find real sugar daddies here, but there’s also a chance of encountering scammers.
Should I Respond to the Sugar Daddies on Instagram?
If you’re wondering, “Should I respond to the sugar daddies on Instagram?” the answer is generally no. Unfortunately, this issue is not black and white. Instead, you need to use your own judgment.
As noted above, it’s unlikely that legitimate sugar daddies will reach out via the DMs. So, if you want to be a sugar baby, don’t get excited by these messages. Instead, seek safer ways to engage in the practice.
In rare instances, the sugar daddy message may be legitimate. But perform the above checks to see your thoughts and trust your gut. If something feels off, that’s probably because it is. Don’t be afraid to block and move on!
Want To Be a Sugar Baby? Do It Safely
Instead of falling for Instagram sugar daddy scams, there are plenty of ways to safely get involved with this lifestyle. Some websites exist specifically to help you find sugar babies. Find a sugar daddy site that suits you, and sign up to get started! They include:
- Ashley Madison
- Agency (invitation-only)
- Seeking Arrangements
- SugarDaddyMeet
You can also find a real sugar daddy by posting on personal ad sites. Learn the art of writing the perfect personal ad, then post it on DoubleList or other sites like Craigslist. That way, you can find the perfect sugar daddy to suit all your needs.
Sugar Daddies, Sugar Babies, and More on DoubleList!
DoubleList is an open-minded dating platform to help you find local singles. If you’re sick of sugar daddy Instagram scams and want to find something legit, we can help! Simply post a personal ad and wait for the sugar daddies to come rolling in.
Whether you’re after sugar mommas, sugar daddies, or sugar babies, you can find them on DoubleList. So, what are you waiting for? Get started today!
