Debbie Siebers says a supposed Italian widower contacted her on TikTok and began a conversation that initially seemed believable.
The man’s profile contained only one photograph, but the request that changed the interaction came later. He wanted Siebers to leave TikTok and continue talking through WhatsApp and Telegram.
Siebers searched the pattern online and concluded that she might be dealing with a catfish or romance scam. She did not report sending money, sharing financial information or receiving a payment demand.
His TikTok Profile Had Only One Photograph
Siebers, who appeared on Season 2 of “The Golden Bachelor,” described the contact in a social-media video reported by Bachelor Nation. She said the man approached her through TikTok and presented himself as an attractive widower living in Italy.
Siebers later said its single profile photograph should have made her suspicious earlier, although she continued talking with the man because the conversation initially seemed normal. She did not disclose the username or publish evidence establishing who created the profile.
He Wanted to Move the Conversation to Two Other Apps
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Siebers became more concerned when the man asked to continue their conversation through WhatsApp and Telegram. She searched online to see whether moving a romantic conversation away from its original platform appeared in known dating scams.
The results persuaded her to stop treating the request as an ordinary change of messaging apps. Siebers questioned whether the person was trying to build trust before seeking personal information or money.
Siebers shared the encounter to warn other women about strangers who quickly try to move romantic conversations to WhatsApp or Telegram.
A Reverse Image Search Can Test the Profile Photograph
The Federal Trade Commission says romance scams frequently begin when someone creates a false profile or contacts a target through social media. The person soon asks to communicate through email, telephone or another messaging service outside the original platform.
The FTC recommends performing a reverse image search on the photograph used by a suspected romance scammer. The image can be uploaded to an image-search service to determine whether it appears under another person’s name, on unrelated social profiles or in reports involving similar approaches.
The person’s claimed name, occupation and location can also be searched with terms such as “scam” or “imposter.” A photograph connected to several names or a biography copied across multiple accounts would contradict the claim that the profile represents one genuine person.
The TikTok Messages Can Be Reported Before Blocking the Account
TikTok allows users to report either an individual direct message or the entire conversation. In the app, a user can open the chat, press and hold the disputed message or select the menu at the top, then choose the reporting option.
The platform also provides an option to report and block the sender. Saving the profile name, profile link, messages and photograph before blocking can help if the same person later appears under another account.
Anyone who receives a later request for money should not send a transfer to an online romantic interest they have never met. The FTC accepts reports through ReportFraud.ftc.gov and recommends notifying the social platform where the contact began.