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Behavior patterns

Pushy about personal details early

1 report mentions this, in the last 90 days.

Before you've settled on a first name, they want your full name, where you live, where you work, your birthday, your kids' names. It can feel like interest. It's also everything needed to guess a password, answer a security question, or find you.

What it looks like

  • A rapid-fire list of questions that feels like a form.
  • Interest in your finances: do you own your home, what do you do, are you the one who handles the money.
  • Asking for your address to 'send a gift'.
  • Getting the details, then going quiet.

Why does a stranger want your address, birthday, or employer?

Personal details have value on their own, and they make every later step easier: a more convincing story, a targeted text, an account takeover, a visit. Because the questions come dressed as getting to know you, refusing feels cold. Genuine interest is patient. Data collection is in a hurry.

What to do

  • Share slowly. Nobody needs your address, employer, or date of birth in week one.
  • Never share answers to security-style questions: first pet, mother's maiden name, first school.
  • If you've shared a lot and something feels off, change passwords and turn on two-step verification.
  • Look up their number here and add what happened.

More in the tips: Dating and new online friends.

Numbers people reported for this

Top 1 number by reports mentioning this in the last year

Latest reports

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