If you’re on Sugar Book, you must be aware of a dangerous scam involving someone claiming to be named Cliff Anderson, using the email cliffanderson@gmail.com and phone number 1(347) 819-0499. According to a victim’s complaint, this scammer is operating out of New York, NY, and has been targeting people through Sugar Book, a platform used to connect individuals for sugar dating. Apparently, there are Sugar Book scams you should beware of.

In this case, the scammer convinced the victim that he would pay off their credit cards, which he initially did, giving a false sense of trust and security. However, the situation quickly spiraled into manipulation and threats.

After gaining the victim’s trust, he began pressuring them to send large sums of money—through platforms like CashApp, Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal—to other women he was allegedly involved with. The victim was coerced into sending thousands of dollars, believing they were in a relationship and trying to avoid harm. After making these payments, the scammer reversed his original payments to clear the credit cards. As a result, the victims not only lost the funds they sent but also found themselves $120,000 in debt, left to deal with the aftermath of both fraudulent transfers and personal financial ruin.

When we look at the situation, there is no doubt this is a classic romance scam. The scammer’s ability to pay off credit cards only to reverse the charges and force the victim into debt demonstrates sophisticated fraud tactics.

Complaints We Received

An individual reported being involved in a romance scam that started on the dating platform Sugar Book. After meeting someone who claimed to be financially well-off, the victim was manipulated into providing their banking information. The scammer showed them a fake account on a financial website, Empower, which appeared to contain millions of dollars. Believing the scammer to be trustworthy, the victim followed instructions to deposit fraudulent checks into their bank account via mobile banking.

Soon after, the scammer coerced the victim into sending money to multiple third parties through Venmo and CashApp. Over several days, the victim sent money to various individuals, following the scammer’s directions, thinking they were part of legitimate transactions. By the time the bank flagged the checks as fraudulent, the victim had lost $7,500. The financial damage left the victim in significant debt, unable to recover the funds already sent.

This case illustrates a common pattern in romance scams: scammers build trust by showing fake wealth and using emotional manipulation. After establishing a sense of security, they lead victims into financial traps, including depositing fake checks and sending money to other parties through untraceable payment platforms. The platforms used in this case, Venmo and CashApp, make it difficult for victims to retrieve their funds once the scam has taken place.

The Bottom Line Regarding Sugar Book Scams

Sugar dating platforms like Sugar Book provide a perfect hunting ground for these predators, as they prey on those who may be in vulnerable positions or seeking specific types of relationships. You must be extra cautious on platforms like these, especially when someone offers to help you financially, only to later manipulate you into a situation like this.

These scams clearly remind us how dangerous it can be to trust someone too quickly, especially when money is involved. We’ve seen the same tactics in other romance scams: building trust, financial manipulation, and leveraging the fear of violence or severe consequences to extract more money.

These stories serve as a strong reminder to be cautious of anyone offering financial help online, especially if they ask for money to be sent through these types of payment platforms. It is clear that this is a well-coordinated scam designed to take advantage of emotional trust and financial desperation.

If you’ve encountered Sugar Book scams, please report it immediately and seek legal advice if necessary.