My friend was just scammed. How do I help them?
You will learn how to support a friend after they have been scammed.
Your friend may feel shame or fear. Be gentle and kind.
Do not say they should have known. That only hurts.
Many smart people get scammed. It happens to anyone.
Your calm help means a lot right now.
You can help them take simple, steady steps.
Try this
- Listen first. Let them tell you what happened.
- Tell them it is not their fault.
- Help them stop contact with the scammer.
- If money is involved, help them call their real bank.
- Sit with them while they change passwords.
- Help them report it to the proper place.
- Check on them again in a few days.
A message you can copy
My friend was just scammed and feels ashamed. Can you help me think of a few warm, kind things to say so they do not feel blamed?
Paste it into ChatGPT, then change the words in brackets to fit you. It opens in a new tab, so you will not lose this page.
Buddy says
The kindest thing you can offer is no judgment. With money worries, point your friend to their real bank, where a real person can help them.