The New Face of Online Fraud You’ve Never Heard Of
When we think about online scams, most of us imagine the classic scenarios. A stranger asking for money to pay medical bills, someone claiming to be stuck in a foreign country and needing funds for a plane ticket, or perhaps a romantic interest who suddenly faces a financial emergency. But there’s a newer, more subtle form of manipulation spreading across social media that most people don’t even recognize as a scam. It’s called gift scamming, and the people who do it are known as gift beggars or blessers.
I want to tell you about this phenomenon because I recently encountered a real case that opened my eyes to how widespread and sophisticated this type of fraud has become. A man operating under the name E’m Sunny Blue has been systematically targeting women on social media, building emotional connections with them, and then manipulating them into buying him expensive gifts. He’s not asking for money transfers or bank details. He’s asking for televisions, electronics, designer clothes, and other luxury items. And because he’s not asking for cash, many of his victims don’t even realize they’ve been scammed.
What Exactly Is a Gift Scammer?
A gift scammer is someone who uses emotional manipulation to convince others to purchase items for them. Unlike traditional romance scammers who eventually ask for money to be wired or transferred, gift scammers request physical items or online purchases. They might share their Amazon wishlist, ask you to order something for delivery to their address, or request gift cards that they can use or resell.
The reason this type of scam is so effective is that it doesn’t feel like a scam at all. When someone asks you to send money, alarm bells might ring in your head. But when someone you care about mentions that they really need a new laptop for work, or that their phone broke and they can’t afford a replacement, it feels natural to want to help. You’re not sending money to a stranger, you’re buying a thoughtful gift for someone you have feelings for. At least, that’s what it feels like.
The psychological manipulation behind gift scamming is actually more sophisticated than traditional money requests. When you buy someone a gift, you feel good about yourself. You feel generous and caring. The scammer knows this and exploits it perfectly. They make you feel like a good person for helping them, which creates a positive emotional feedback loop that keeps you giving.
How Gift Scammers Operate: The Step by Step Playbook
Understanding how these scammers work is the first step to protecting yourself. Their approach follows a predictable pattern, though the details vary from person to person.
The first phase is what I call the attraction phase. The scammer creates social media profiles that project success, ambition, and attractiveness. Looking at E’m Sunny Blue’s profiles, you’ll see photos of him at concerts, wearing expensive jewelry, posing in professional studios, and visiting beautiful locations. He presents himself as an artist or entrepreneur on the rise. The message is clear: this is someone going places, someone worth knowing, someone special.
This image of success serves two purposes. First, it attracts potential victims who are drawn to ambitious, attractive people. Second, and more importantly, it provides cover for the eventual gift requests. When someone who appears successful asks for help with a purchase, it seems like a temporary setback rather than a pattern of dependency. You think you’re helping someone get back on their feet, not funding their entire lifestyle.
The second phase is the connection phase. Once a potential victim shows interest, the scammer begins building an emotional relationship. This doesn’t always mean romance. Some gift scammers position themselves as friends, mentors, or creative collaborators. The key is creating a bond that makes the victim feel invested in the scammer’s life and success.
During this phase, the scammer is attentive, responsive, and emotionally available. They remember details about your life, ask about your day, and share their own struggles and dreams. They make you feel seen and appreciated. This emotional investment is crucial because it’s what they’ll leverage later when they start asking for things.
The third phase is the soft request phase. This is where the actual scamming begins, but it’s so subtle that most victims don’t notice. The scammer doesn’t ask for anything directly at first. Instead, they mention problems or needs in casual conversation. They might say something like “my laptop finally died and I have so much work to do” or “I wish I could afford better equipment for my studio.” These aren’t requests, they’re just sharing life’s difficulties with someone they trust.
Many victims will offer to help without even being asked. They’ll say “let me buy you a new laptop” or “I can help you get that equipment.” When this happens, the scammer has achieved their goal without ever having to ask. The victim feels like it was their own idea to give, which makes them feel even better about the transaction.
If the victim doesn’t volunteer to help, the scammer moves to more direct requests, but always framed in terms of dreams and goals rather than desperation. They might say “I found the perfect television for my studio but I’m a little short this month” or “there’s this jacket I need for an important meeting but I can’t swing it right now.” The requests are specific and justified, never vague or greedy-sounding.
The fourth phase is the normalization phase. Once a victim has given one gift, the scammer works to make giving a normal part of the relationship. They express gratitude, show how much the gift helped them, and reinforce the emotional bond. Then, after some time passes, another need arises. And another. And another.
Victims often don’t realize how much they’ve given until they sit down and add it all up. Each individual gift seemed reasonable. A phone here, some clothes there, electronics for work, things for the house. But collectively, they may have spent thousands of dollars on someone who was manipulating them the entire time.
The Psychology Behind Why People Fall for Gift Scams
It’s easy to judge victims of scams from the outside. You might think “I would never fall for something like that.” But the truth is that gift scammers are experts at exploiting normal human psychology. The same qualities that make someone a good, caring person also make them vulnerable to this type of manipulation.
Humans are wired to help people we care about. When someone we have feelings for expresses a need, our natural instinct is to want to fulfill that need. This isn’t weakness, it’s empathy. Gift scammers take advantage of this fundamental human trait.
There’s also the concept of investment and consistency. Once you’ve given someone one gift, you’ve invested in them. Psychologically, you want that investment to mean something. You want to believe that the person deserved your generosity. Admitting that you were scammed means admitting that your judgment was wrong and your kindness was exploited. It’s often easier to keep believing and keep giving than to face that painful reality.
Gift scammers also exploit the human desire to feel special and needed. When someone thanks you profusely for a gift and tells you how much you’ve helped them, it feels good. You feel important in their life. You feel like you’re making a real difference for someone you care about. This positive reinforcement keeps victims coming back.
Finally, there’s the issue of incremental requests. Scammers don’t ask for a television on the first day. They start small, maybe asking you to send them a song or share a photo. Then they might ask for something tiny, like a mobile game or a small item. Each request is just slightly bigger than the last, so no single request ever feels unreasonable. By the time they’re asking for expensive electronics, the victim has already been conditioned to say yes.
Red Flags That Someone Might Be a Gift Scammer
Now that you understand how gift scammers operate, let’s talk about the warning signs that someone might be trying to manipulate you. None of these signs alone proves someone is a scammer, but if you notice several of them together, you should be very cautious.
The first red flag is a lifestyle that doesn’t match their claimed financial situation. If someone’s social media is full of expensive items, luxury locations, and designer brands, but they’re constantly mentioning money problems or asking for gifts, something doesn’t add up. Real people who can afford luxury lifestyles don’t need others to buy them televisions.
The second red flag is early and intense emotional connection. Scammers often move fast because they want to establish an emotional bond before you have time to think critically. If someone seems unusually interested in you, shares deep personal information quickly, and makes you feel like you’ve known them forever after just a few conversations, be cautious.
The third red flag is conversations that frequently turn to material needs. Pay attention to how often someone mentions things they need or want. A normal friend might occasionally mention wanting something, but a scammer will bring it up repeatedly. They’re planting seeds, waiting for you to offer help.
The fourth red flag is specific requests with justifications. When scammers ask for something, they always have a reason why they need it and why they can’t get it themselves. “I need this laptop for my business but I just paid rent.” “I need this phone because my old one broke and I can’t work without it.” The justifications make the requests seem reasonable, but the pattern of always having justified needs is itself suspicious.
The fifth red flag is guilt or pressure when you hesitate. If you express reluctance to buy something and the person responds with guilt trips, emotional manipulation, or subtle pressure, that’s a major warning sign. They might say things like “I thought you cared about me” or “I guess I’ll just figure it out somehow” or “I wouldn’t ask if I had anyone else to turn to.” A genuine friend respects your boundaries without making you feel bad.
The sixth red flag is resistance to video calls or in-person meetings. Many gift scammers are running this scheme on multiple people simultaneously. They may avoid video calls or make excuses about why they can’t meet because they’re managing too many relationships at once, or because they’re not who they claim to be.
If you’re reading this and realizing that someone in your life might be a gift scammer, the first thing I want you to know is that this is not your fault. These people are skilled manipulators who have practiced their craft on many victims. Being deceived by them doesn’t mean you’re stupid or naive. It means you’re human.
The most important step is to stop giving. Don’t send any more gifts, don’t buy anything else, and don’t let guilt or emotional pressure change your mind. A real friend or partner will respect your decision. Someone who tries to manipulate you into continuing to give is confirming that they were only interested in what they could get from you.
Next, consider cutting off contact entirely. This can be emotionally difficult, especially if you’ve developed genuine feelings for this person. But continuing to communicate with a scammer only gives them more opportunities to manipulate you. Block them on all platforms and resist the urge to check their profiles.
You should also document everything. Save screenshots of conversations, keep records of what you’ve purchased or sent, and note any details about the person’s identity. This information might be useful if you decide to report the scam or if you want to warn others.
Speaking of warning others, consider sharing your experience. Many victims stay silent because they feel embarrassed, but your story could prevent someone else from being scammed. You can report the person’s profiles to the social media platforms they’re using, share your experience in online communities, or even write about what happened to you.
Finally, be kind to yourself. Being scammed is a form of emotional abuse, and it’s normal to feel hurt, angry, embarrassed, or sad. Give yourself time to process these feelings. Talk to friends, family, or a counselor if you need support. Remember that the scammer’s behavior reflects their character, not yours.
Gift scamming might seem like a minor issue compared to scams involving large sums of money, but its impact is significant. Victims lose not just money and possessions but also their trust in others. Many people who have been scammed become suspicious of genuine connections, making it harder for them to form real relationships in the future.
There’s also the cumulative financial impact to consider. A scammer like E’m Sunny Blue isn’t targeting just one person. He’s likely running this scheme on dozens of women simultaneously. If each victim sends a few hundred dollars worth of gifts, he could be receiving thousands of dollars in merchandise every month. Some of these items he keeps, others he likely sells for cash. It’s a business model built entirely on manipulation and deceit.
The rise of gift scamming also reflects broader changes in how we connect online. Social media has made it easier than ever to meet people from around the world, but it’s also made it easier for bad actors to find and exploit victims. The same platforms that allow genuine friendships to form across borders also enable scammers to operate with relative anonymity.
The best defense against gift scammers is awareness. Now that you understand how they operate, you’re much less likely to fall victim to their tactics. But protection doesn’t stop with yourself. Share this information with friends and family, especially those who are active on social media or dating apps. The more people who understand these scams, the harder it becomes for scammers to find victims.
Be especially vigilant about protecting vulnerable people in your life. Elderly relatives, people going through divorces or breakups, and anyone who might be lonely or seeking connection are prime targets for scammers. Check in with them about their online relationships and make sure they know the warning signs.
If you’re active on social media or dating platforms, approach new connections with healthy skepticism. This doesn’t mean being paranoid or refusing to trust anyone. It means taking your time to get to know people, being alert to red flags, and never feeling pressured to give money or gifts to someone you haven’t met in person.
Remember that legitimate relationships don’t require you to buy someone’s affection. If someone’s interest in you seems conditional on what you can provide for them, that’s not a real connection. You deserve relationships based on mutual respect and genuine care, not transactions.
The case of E’m Sunny Blue is just one example of a phenomenon that’s affecting thousands of people worldwide. Gift scamming is real, it’s growing, and it’s devastating lives. But by understanding how these scammers work and recognizing the warning signs, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from becoming victims.
If you’ve encountered a gift scammer or have information about someone running this type of scheme, I encourage you to report them to the platforms where they operate and share your story to warn others. Together, we can make it harder for these manipulators to find victims and hold them accountable for the harm they cause.
Stay safe, stay skeptical, and remember that your kindness is a gift that should go to people who genuinely deserve it.
The rich life of a beggar E’m Sunny Blue
Have you encountered a gift scammer or similar online manipulation? Share your experience in the comments to help others recognize these tactics. And if you found this article helpful, please share it with friends and family who might benefit from this information.
