In this lesson, we will be discussing scams, fraud, catfishing, swindlers, and blackmail
lesson plan, B1 – B2
scam
Warm up
💬 Example answer:
email scams, dating scams, fake websites, lottery scams
There are facts about scams, each accompanied by a number
Try to guess the numbers, then check your answers and say which one surprised you the most and why
- In 2020, Americans lost over $____ billion to scams and fraud.
- Phishing scams can fool ___% of targeted individuals on average.
- Romance scams often target older adults, costing victims an average of $____.
- The “lottery ticket” scam has its origins in fraudulent schemes from the ____s.
- It is estimated that ___% of people in the UK have been targeted by a scam.
- Just ___% of scams are reported.
- In 2020, Americans lost over $3.3 billion to scams and fraud.
- Phishing scams can fool 30% of targeted individuals on average.
- Romance scams often target older adults, costing victims an average of $2,600.
- The “lottery ticket” scam has its origins in fraudulent schemes from the 1800s.
- It is estimated that 48 % of people in the UK have been targeted by a scam.
- Just 5% of scams are reported.
New vocab!
Let's match the words with their definitions
Complete the gap-fill sentences using the new vocabulary
He lost all his money in an online __________ .
The email was a clever __________ .
He was __________ with private photos.
The __________ pretended to be a rich investor.
She was __________ by a fake profile.
The __________ made people believe he was a doctor.
That email was a __________ attempt.
The email was a clever __________ .
He was __________ with private photos.
The __________ pretended to be a rich investor.
She was __________ by a fake profile.
The __________ made people believe he was a doctor.
That email was a __________ attempt.
He lost all his money in an online scam.
The email was a clever fraud.
He was blackmailed with private photos.
The swindler pretended to be a rich investor.
She was catfished by a fake profile.
The con artist made people believe he was a doctor.
That email was a phishing attempt.
The email was a clever fraud.
He was blackmailed with private photos.
The swindler pretended to be a rich investor.
She was catfished by a fake profile.
The con artist made people believe he was a doctor.
That email was a phishing attempt.
Let's discuss!
Let's read some stories from people who were scammed or catfished
Read the blog post from Twitter and match the highlighted words with their definitions
I never thought I'd get caught up in something like this. Last week, a stranger I met on a dating app—who seemed so charming and modelesque—turned out to be none other than a scammer. I had swiped on them because their profile was so well put together, at least it seemed better than the usual. He suggested meeting so we met in the flesh. Everything was fine, we kept in touch for a week. The only time I felt overwhelmed was when he asked for a morsel of money. Then It happened again.
One day I got a blackmail message I was asked $1000 in exchange for not leaking some of the private conversations we had sexted about. I couldn’t believe it, and I was freaking out. He did this too easily; it felt like part of a larger, pre-planned setup.
At this point, I found myself ugly crying, while trying to figure out what to do next. So, here's my advice: be careful and double-check who you're meeting. Don’t let a promising profile, no matter how modelesque, lead you into a trap.
One day I got a blackmail message I was asked $1000 in exchange for not leaking some of the private conversations we had sexted about. I couldn’t believe it, and I was freaking out. He did this too easily; it felt like part of a larger, pre-planned setup.
At this point, I found myself ugly crying, while trying to figure out what to do next. So, here's my advice: be careful and double-check who you're meeting. Don’t let a promising profile, no matter how modelesque, lead you into a trap.
How do you think this story ended?
Tick the option you think is the most likely:
She paid the money, but he kept asking for more
She ignored the threats and nothing was ever leaked
She reported him to the police and blocked him everywhere
She changed her phone number and deleted her dating profiles
She told a friend who helped her find a support group
She ignored the threats and nothing was ever leaked
She reported him to the police and blocked him everywhere
She changed her phone number and deleted her dating profiles
She told a friend who helped her find a support group
Read how the story ends and see if your prediction was correct
I was scared at first, but then I decided to take action. I saved all the messages and reported the scammer to the police. They told me I had made the right choice. I also contacted the dating app, and they deleted his profile. After that, I blocked him on everything—his phone number, email, and social media. It was hard, but I felt stronger and hoped my story would help warn others.
Answer the questions using new vocabulary
let's watch!
Watch the video below and answer the questions
There is another story from an American blogger and host of 'Call her daddy' who was catfished by a man she first met in the flesh after talking online on a dating app
What is the main story or event described in the video? Who are the main individuals involved?
What was the outcome of the situation?
Grammar focus: reported speech
Direct speech
Reported speech
“I’m broke.”
“I started to question if this man exists.”
“I’m your roommate.”
“I started to question if this man exists.”
“I’m your roommate.”
She said (that) she was broke.
She said (that) she had started to question if he existed.
He told me (that) he was my roommate.
She said (that) she had started to question if he existed.
He told me (that) he was my roommate.
Verb tense changes (present → past)
Complete the table
present simple – ______________
present continuous – ______________
past simple – ______________
present perfect – ______________
will – ______________
can – ______________
may – ______________
should – ______________
have to – ______________
must – ______________
present continuous – ______________
past simple – ______________
present perfect – ______________
will – ______________
can – ______________
may – ______________
should – ______________
have to – ______________
must – ______________
present simple – past simple
present continuous – past continuous
past simple – past perfect
present perfect – past perfect
will – would
can – could
may – might
should – should
have to – had to
must – had to
present continuous – past continuous
past simple – past perfect
present perfect – past perfect
will – would
can – could
may – might
should – should
have to – had to
must – had to
Time expressions may also shift, let's complete the table
this – __________
here – __________
today – __________
yesterday – __________
tomorrow – __________
tonight – __________
next (week) – __________
last (month) – __________
a (year) ago – __________
here – __________
today – __________
yesterday – __________
tomorrow – __________
tonight – __________
next (week) – __________
last (month) – __________
a (year) ago – __________
this – that
here – there
today – that day
yesterday – the day before
tomorrow – the next/following day
tonight – that night
next (week) – the following (week)
last (month) – the previous (month)
a (year) ago – a (year) before
here – there
today – that day
yesterday – the day before
tomorrow – the next/following day
tonight – that night
next (week) – the following (week)
last (month) – the previous (month)
a (year) ago – a (year) before
Rewrite these quotes from the video into reported speech:
Watch the video again
Find 5 sentences in direct speech and transform them into reported speech
let's speak!
Go back to the story from the blog
Retell what happened to the author using new words and reported speech
swiped on (someone)
sexted
morsel of cash
setup
freaking out
leak
double-check
in the flesh
overwhelmed
scam
fraud
blackmail
swindler
catfish
con artist
phishing
sexted
morsel of cash
setup
freaking out
leak
double-check
in the flesh
overwhelmed
scam
fraud
blackmail
swindler
catfish
con artist
phishing