The defining feature of a Sugar Daddy romance is that it pays the bills.  That might explain why there are at least 2.7 million students in the U.S. signed up to the sugar daddy dating platform Seeking Arrangement.  After all, why date for free when there are loans, accommodations and textbooks to pay for?  Unfortunately, that arrangement is sometimes turned on its head through the sugar daddy cash app scam.  Find out what it is, who it targets and how to avoid it. 

What Is a Sugar Daddy?

Not to be confused with a paternal guardian, a sugar daddy is an affluent romantic partner who offers financial assistance to a “sugar baby” in return for companionship, dates or simply sex.  Often associated with cash-strapped college students and younger people in search of a simpler dating dynamic, sugar daddy dating has risen in frequency since the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The safest way for sugar babies to find a match is through a dedicated platform that does background checks on members.  Many people, however, find theirs through dating apps or social media, accepting unsolicited approaches that slide into their DMs.  That creates a perfect opportunity for romance scammers.  

How the Sugar Daddy Scam Plays Out

The sugar daddy scam is really just a fresh take on the advanced fee fraud.  The fake sugar daddy gets in touch with their target, establishes trust and offers to provide a large sum of money when prompted.  

In one version of the scam, the fraudster will actually make a payment using a bounced check or stolen credit card.  In the other, they will promise the transfer is imminent.  In return, they claim, they require a small payment from the victim, either to cover fees or as a proof of loyalty.  

The victim makes the transfer, the scammer collects the funds and usually blocks the victim, just in time for the check to bounce or the credit card company to reclaim the initial transfer. 

How To Spot a Sugar Daddy Scam

Sugar daddy scammers exploit the fact that most victims are too embarrassed to report them.  But most give themselves away before the scam can work, provided you know the telltale signs to look for: 

• The sugar daddy requests a payment using a nonrefundable gift card.
• The request for money comes before you have met in person.
• If they have a social media account, it has very few followers and updates.
• Their messages are formulaic, with some basic mistakes in English.

Some healthy skepticism is advisable for any message that drops uninvited into your inbox.  The fact is that genuine sugar daddies are in short supply.  On Seeking Arrangement, for example, just 1 in 6 members are background-checked daddies.  There’s little reason for any sugar daddy to be actively searching for a match. 

Even more pertinently, any sugar daddy who is requesting money has seriously misunderstood the arrangement.  That in itself is a red flag. 

 Alarmingly, some sugar babies allow their benefactor to “pay” for student loans and other bills.  Not only do these payments bounce eventually, but they also give scammers access to sensitive personal information. 

How To Catch a Fake Sugar Daddy

To nip the scam in the bud, use Spokeo to run a thorough search of the sugar daddy’s phone number and social media accounts.  Many scammers use the same number across different platforms and clone photos that will instantly show up as fake.  You may also want to use Spokeo’s name search for extra peace of mind that your sugar daddy is who they say they are. 

References:

• SCMP – Fake ‘Sugar Daddy’ Scams Target People Left Financially Insecure by Covid-19 Pandemic
• EQ – Beware of the Sugar Daddy Scam