You’ve likely come across stories about women having a “sugar daddy” who helps with bills in exchange for companionship.
Well, guess what? Men can have a similar setup with a “sugar momma.” And with the arrangement comes a scam that’s circulating known as the sugar momma scam.
With a sugar momma scam, someone poses as a generous woman and offers to financially support you, but it turns out to be just a hoax. They might send fake checks, ask for your money, or request sensitive information.
It’s like the classic “too good to be true” scenario but with a deceitful scheme behind it.
1) Social Networks
You’re scrolling through your social media or using apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, or Twitter, and suddenly, you get a message from someone claiming to be a generous sugar mama from LA.
She’s complimenting your looks and offers you a jaw-dropping $1500 monthly allowance just to spoil you. Welcome to the sugar momma scams on social media!
Scammers pretend to be sugar mamas, promising to pay your bills and shower you with money, all without ever meeting you face to face.
The scam often starts with a message that goes something like, “Hey, I’m a sugar mama from LA, and I’m looking for a sugar baby to spoil. You’re very attractive, and I’d like to offer a $1500 monthly allowance. Hope it doesn’t offend you – please, let me know if you’re interested.”
They offer this money without expecting anything in return, which might seem like a dream come true, but it’s a trap!
If you take the bait, the scammer may send you a fake check to deposit in your bank account or use tricky payment schemes such as the infamous PayPal sugar momma scam.
Ultimately, you discover that the sugar mama was nothing more than an imposter who sent a bogus payment.
2) PayPal, Cash App, Venmo
While going through your socials, a sugar mama pops up, claiming she’s ready to shower you with money through popular platforms such as Cash App, PayPal, or Venmo.
According to the Better Business Bureau, scammers are getting more and more cunning on platforms such as Cash App, PayPal, and Venmo, and it’s paramount that you always be on guard.
One common trick involves fake screenshots. Your so-called sugar mama might send you a convincing screenshot of a PayPal payment, making it look like the real deal. It’s nothing more than smoke and mirrors!
The scammer then sweet-talks you into sending a small amount to supposedly verify the transaction, only to vanish into thin air once you’ve taken the bait.
And let’s not forget the advance-fee scam, another favorite in the scammer’s playbook. In this scenario, the sugar momma doesn’t send you a dime.
Rather, they convince you to send a small sum—usually no more than $10 or $20—as a gesture to make the money transfer process smoother or to prove that you’re a real person.
Sadly, once you part ways with your cash, the promised payments from your so-called sugar mama never materialize.
Just because checks and screenshots look legit doesn’t mean they’re the real deal. Scammers can be pretty convincing, and there’s no chance a genuine benefactor would splash cash on someone solely based on looks and zero background information.
3) Sugar Momma Fake Check Scams
Another twist in the world of sugar mama scams is the fake check scheme. It’s a clever con that plays on the illusion of instant wealth and generosity, but the reality is far from what it seems.
Whether you’re actively seeking sugar relationships or just minding your own business on dating sites, social media, Instagram, or Facebook, scammers have a knack for finding their targets.
They’ll hit you up with the same old message we talked about earlier – the one promising a sugar mama and a hefty payment.
Now, if you take the bait and agree to accept the seemingly generous payment, here’s where the plot thickens. The scammer transfers a substantial amount of money into your account but then comes up with a twist.
They’ll ask you to perform a task with part of that sum – it could be buying gift cards, making a donation to a supposed orphanage (which, spoiler alert, isn’t real), or even sending some of the money back.
In a matter of days, the bubble bursts. Your bank account is blocked because the check turns out to be fake, or a stolen credit card was used.
Suddenly, you’re left with a negative balance, and the scammer has made off with the original payment and any money you obediently ‘returned’ or sent to their so-called ‘orphanage’.
This scheme is especially effective for scammers because, for a brief period, you see real money in your account – a seemingly foolproof confirmation until the bank uncovers the deception and cancels the transaction within a week.
How To Avoid Sugar Momma Scams
Understand how fake check scams work – If she sends you a substantial check as your first week’s allowance, it’s a clear red flag. That check might be fake, and if you spend or transfer the money from it, the bank can take that money back from you.
Banks usually make the funds from a check available in a couple of days, but if the check is fake, you’re in trouble. Spotting a fake check is not as easy as you might think. Even if you believe you can tell, these fake checks look real and professional.
The Better Business Bureau warns that they can fool anyone, regardless of the way they’re designed.
Exercise caution with fake profile photos – Don’t be fooled by fancy photos on your sugar momma’s dating or social media profile. Just because you see a picture of a sun-kissed babe in a bikini on a yacht doesn’t mean it’s really her.
Scammers love to snatch photos from the internet, especially social media, and use them to pretend to be someone they’re not – it’s a classic move in the world of romance scams.
Conduct an online search for profile details – If you want to be extra sure about your sugar momma’s identity, the Better Business Bureau suggests doing a little online detective work.
Throw her profile details, name, email address, or phone number into a search engine and see what pops up. You might be surprised!
For example, you could discover that the details your sugar momma gave you actually belong to an 80-year-old grandma living on a fixed income in Cincinnati – not exactly the wealthy supporter she claims to be.
Always ask detailed questions – Asking detailed questions goes miles in protecting you against sugar momma scams. Take notes on everything she says about where she’s lived, where she’s living now, past relationships, work, and any other details she spills.
The more questions you throw her way, the more likely she might slip up and give you conflicting info if she’s trying to pull a fast one on you. The more you dig, the clearer things might become.
Avoid sending sensitive information or money – If someone you hardly know, especially if you’ve never met them face to face, starts asking you to send or transfer money, here’s a golden rule: Just don’t do it.
The Better Business Bureau says it loud and clear – cut off contact if someone is getting nosy about your finances or starts poking around for personal info like your credit card number or government ID.
The next time a woman contacts you through a dating or social media site, promising a weekly allowance of a few hundred dollars into your bank account, just avoid engaging her.
Scammers often use enticing offers to lure you into their traps. Rather than risking financial loss and potential harm, prioritize your safety by steering clear of such propositions.
Genuine relationships aren’t built on financial transactions and dubious promises. If someone online is pressuring you to handle money transfers or requests for personal information, it’s a red flag.
Trust your instincts, be cautious, and prioritize your well-being. There are plenty of authentic connections waiting to be made, so don’t let the allure of quick cash cloud your judgment.
