Beware of Online Scammers Targeting Social Media and Gaming Platforms: A Personal Account

We want to warn individuals active on social media and those who play live games like Evony about the prevalence of scammers operating in these environments. Below is a personal story involving an individual named Firdosh, which we hope will help others avoid falling victim in the future.

I first encountered Firdosh (which may not be his real name) in March 2023. At that time, my husband (now, as of November 2023) and I had just started playing an online live game together. Since we were new to this kind of interactive gaming, we were grateful when Firdosh, who went by the name Somu in the game, offered to help us. He seemed friendly and supportive.

Somu was in his twenties, while I am in my fifties, and neither my husband nor I are very tech-savvy. Despite this, Somu began to act flirtatiously toward me and other women in the game. Over time, however, he made me feel special, claiming that our age difference didn’t matter and that he genuinely loved me. He even told me he had never felt this way before or said such things to anyone else. We began planning for him to visit the United States and, eventually, move with us to Mexico.

Without children of our own, my husband and I felt hopeful about having a young, vibrant person in our lives, someone who promised to take care of us as we aged. We even discussed leaving our estate to him.

Unfortunately, things took a darker turn when Somu began asking for our credit card details, insisting that he would never ask anyone else for such information, but since we were going to become family, it was perfectly fine. He asked for our card more than once, even after moving on to his next victim.

By February 2024, I discovered that he had been telling another woman in the same game a similar story—professing his love to her while also using her credit card. I can’t imagine what explanation he gave her to justify this, but thankfully, despite authorizing multiple attempts, he was never able to make transactions with our card. He often asked me to call our bank to approve payments in India, but the transactions were always declined.

While I don’t know for sure, I suspect this is how Firdosh supports himself. He has pictures of family members, but it’s unclear whether they are truly his relatives. At the time, he was supposedly in school, but he repeatedly failed his classes.

Looking back, the signs were clear, and I regret not catching on sooner. His Facebook page, for instance, hadn’t been updated since 2020, and he never posted anything. Moreover, he didn’t even have a passport and showed no interest in obtaining one, despite our discussions about meeting in person.

My doubts grew, and eventually, I contacted the other woman who had fallen victim to him. She revealed that they had been “dating” since mid-December 2023. It’s now evident that he likely had multiple victims before us, which is why we are sharing our story to protect others.

This story is a cautionary tale about how scammers exploit the vulnerability of online users, especially those seeking companionship or connection. Firdosh’s case is a reminder of the tactics scammers use—emotional manipulation, false promises, and requests for financial assistance. Unfortunately, these predators operate in various online environments, from social media to gaming platforms.

Key Takeaways for Our Readers:

• Be skeptical of anyone who asks for personal or financial information, no matter how trustworthy they seem.
• Scammers often use emotional manipulation to build trust. If someone you meet online asks for money or access to your accounts, this is a major red flag.
• Always verify the identity of people you meet online, and never rush into trusting someone with your financial details or personal information.
• Remember that scammers come in many forms and can use different tactics to deceive people. Stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the proper authorities.

We hope this account helps raise awareness and prevents others from falling victim to similar scams. Stay safe, stay informed, and trust your instincts when something doesn’t feel right.

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