Technology
How scammers target grieving victims through online games
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For many people, games like Words With Friends are a relaxing way to pass the time. You play a few rounds, chat with opponents and enjoy a little mental exercise. But scammers have quietly turned these casual games into hunting grounds.
They look for players who appear friendly, are older, or are recently widowed. Then they start a conversation. At first, it feels harmless. A compliment. A friendly message. A question about where you live.
Weeks later, the conversation often shifts to money. Angela from Lake Mary, MN, recently wrote to us about a situation that has her entire family worried.
“My sister, who lost her Doctor husband of 56 years 1.5 years ago, is communicating with a man she met on an internet game, “Words with Friends”. She is buying him gift cards and giving him the number so he can cash them. My nephews took her to their local police dept and they told her it’s a scam! Dangerous and to STOP. She doesn’t believe anyone!!! Is there a way to find out where these emails and texts are coming from??? We are very concerned! Hope you have some advice.” Angela, Lake Mary, MN
Angela’s situation is heartbreaking. Sadly, it is also very common. Authorities consider these romance scams. They cost victims billions each year. According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams remain one of the most expensive fraud categories reported by consumers.
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Scammers are using casual word games like Words With Friends to target older and grieving players, often turning friendly chats into costly gift card fraud. (Anastasiia Havrysh/Getty Images)
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How the Words With Friends scam usually begins
Scammers often start inside casual apps where conversation feels natural. Games like Words With Friends allow players to chat during matches. That simple feature creates the perfect entry point for criminals.
The pattern often follows the same steps. First, the scammer begins a friendly conversation during a game. Next, they ask to move the conversation to email, text or a messaging app. Then they begin building emotional trust. Many claim to be widowed, traveling for work or working overseas.
Eventually, a crisis appears. They claim they need help paying a bill, fixing a problem or buying supplies. Finally, they ask for money through gift cards. Once the gift card numbers are sent, the money is usually gone.
Why gift cards are a major warning sign
Gift cards are one of the biggest red flags in scams. Criminals prefer them because they are fast and difficult to trace. Once someone shares the numbers on the back of the card, the scammer can redeem the balance immediately.
There is almost no way to recover the money after that. Legitimate people do not ask strangers or online acquaintances for gift cards. If someone you met online asks for them, treat it as a serious warning sign.
Can you find where the emails or texts are coming from?
Angela asked whether it is possible to trace the messages. Sometimes it is. Often it is difficult. Scammers work hard to hide their identity and location.
They often use:
- VoIP numbers such as Google Voice
- Email accounts created specifically for scams
- VPN services that hide their true location
Because of this, a message may appear to come from the United States even if the scammer is overseas. Still, there are a few steps that can sometimes uncover clues.
Check the full email headers for clues
If the communication is happening by email, the full email header may reveal the route the message traveled. Headers sometimes contain the originating IP address. That address may show the country where the email began its journey.
Free tools such as Google’s Messageheader analyzer, MXToolbox and Microsoft’s Message Header Analyzer can break down email headers and show the path a message traveled across mail servers.
While this information will not usually reveal the scammer’s true identity, it can sometimes indicate the network or country where the email originated.
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Romance scammers are moving from dating apps to online games, where casual conversation can quickly turn into requests for gift cards and money. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Reverse search the photos
Romance scammers almost always steal photos from real people. Those photos often come from social media profiles or professional websites. You can upload the images to reverse search tools such as Google Images.
If the same photo appears under multiple names or accounts, that is strong evidence of a scam. Showing that proof sometimes helps victims reconsider what is happening.
Search the phone number or username
Another simple step is searching for the contact information online. Enter the phone number, email address or username along with words like scam or romance scam.
Many scammers reuse the same identity across multiple victims. In some cases, other people have already reported the same name or number. Finding those reports can help reveal the pattern.
Report the account inside the game
If the conversation began on Words With Friends, the account can be reported directly through the game. Companies investigate reports and often remove accounts involved in fraud.
That action will not always stop the scammer completely. However, it can prevent them from targeting additional players.
The hardest part of these scams
The emotional connection can be stronger than the evidence. Scammers spend weeks building trust. They learn about the victim’s life, their losses and their fears. Then they present themselves as someone who understands.
For someone who is grieving or lonely, that connection can feel very real. Experts often recommend approaching the situation carefully.
Avoid accusations or heated arguments. Instead, focus on protecting finances and calmly presenting evidence.
Family members may also help by monitoring financial activity or encouraging a pause before sending money.
GOOGLE SEARCH LED TO A COSTLY SCAM CALL
Experts warn that scammers often build trust for weeks inside games and messaging apps before inventing a crisis and asking victims to send gift cards. (Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
How to stay safe from Words With Friends and romance scams
Romance scams continue to grow. A few practical steps can help reduce the risk.
1) Be cautious with strangers in online games
Friendly chat inside games can easily become manipulation. Be careful when strangers try to move the conversation elsewhere.
2) Never send gift cards to someone you met online
Gift cards are one of the most common tools used in scams. Treat any request for them as a warning sign.
3) Reverse search profile photos
Running a quick image search can reveal stolen photos used by scammers.
4) Talk to family before sending money
A second opinion can stop a scam before it becomes expensive.
5) Report scams to authorities
If you suspect fraud, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Reports help investigators track organized criminal networks.
6) Keep conversations inside the game platform
Scammers almost always try to move the conversation to text, email or messaging apps. Staying inside the game platform makes it easier to report suspicious behavior.
7) Monitor credit and financial accounts
Some scammers eventually ask victims for personal details such as bank information or identification documents. Monitoring your credit reports and financial accounts can help detect suspicious activity early. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com.
8) Reduce how much personal information appears online
Scammers often research potential victims through people-search websites and public records. Limiting the personal details that appear online can make it harder for criminals to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
9) Watch for sudden emergencies or travel stories
Romance scammers often claim they are working overseas, stuck on an oil rig or deployed in the military. These stories are designed to explain why they cannot meet in person.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Angela’s story shows how easily these scams can begin. They often start in places that feel harmless. A simple word game. A friendly chat. A conversation that slowly becomes personal. By the time money enters the picture, the emotional bond may already feel strong. That is why families must focus on patience and protection. Helping someone step back from a scam can take time, but support and evidence can make a difference.
If a friendly opponent in a simple word game started messaging you every day, would you recognize the moment when the conversation turns into a scam? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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I’ve recommended several OLED gaming monitors to readers over the years, and I’ve finally taken my own advice to buy one. Alienware’s new 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED has all the features that I want and a low $350 price that was too tempting to ignore.
The AW2726DM model has five things that make it stand out for the price: a 1440p QD-OLED screen with lush contrast, a fast 240Hz refresh rate, a semi-glossy screen coating to enhance details, a low-profile design without flashy RGB LEDs, and a great warranty (three years with coverage for burn-in).
I’ve been using Alienware’s new monitor for a couple days, and I’ve already spent hours with it playing Marathon. It was my first opportunity to see Bungie’s new first-person extraction shooter in its full HDR glory, and I can never go back. Switching on HDR wasn’t automatic, though it already looked so much better than my IPS panel without being activated.
Enabling it transformed how Marathon looked for the better, but made everything else about the OS look pretty washed-out. It’s a Windows issue, not an Alienware issue. It’s easy to enable HDR every time I launch a game and disable it afterward with the Windows + Alt + B keyboard shortcut, but unfortunately triggers HDR for all connected displays. This includes my IPS monitor that imbues everything with a terrible gray hue when HDR is on. So, using the system settings is the best way to adjust HDR for just the QD-OLED.
I landed on this QD-OLED after having spent a ton of time researching pricier models. The unanimous takeaway from reviewers was that LG’s Tandem RGB WOLED panels are some of the brightest out there, but also tend to exhibit lousy gray uniformity in dark scenes. QD-OLED monitors, on the other hand, offer slightly better contrast than WOLED and don’t suffer from those same uniformity issues. However, blacks sometimes appear as dark purple in bright rooms on QD-OLED panels, meaning they’re ideal for rooms that don’t have a bunch of light bouncing around.
There’s no perfect choice, and honestly I got tired of doing research, so I jumped in with the cheapest OLED. I’m glad that I did. Shopping for an OLED gaming monitor can be hard, but it can also be this easy. AOC makes a model that’s discounted to $339.99 at the time of publishing, and its specs are comparable.
As expected, the AW2726DM isn’t a cutting-edge monitor. Its QD-OLED panel isn’t as fast or as bright as some other pricier options, and it doesn’t have USB ports for connecting accessories. Considering its low price, it’s easy for me to overlook those omissions. I’d have a much harder time accepting them in a pricier display.
The fact that I mostly use my computer for text-based work at The Verge is what prevented me from upgrading to an OLED monitor. My 1440p IPS monitor is bright, it’s good at showing text clearly, and it has a fast refresh rate for gaming. Alienware’s QD-OLED is less bright, and some might be bothered by how text looks (I have to really squint to see the slight fringing from this QD-OLED’s subpixel layout). But I have a life outside of work, which includes playing a lot of PC games. That’s the slice of myself I bought this monitor for, and I’m so happy I did.
Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge
Technology
Michael and Susan Dell surpass $1 billion in donations backing AI-driven hospital project
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Billionaire Michael Dell and his wife, Susan Dell, have become the first donors to give more than $1 billion to the University of Texas at Austin, funding a massive new medical research campus and hospital system powered by artificial intelligence.
The couple’s latest investment includes a $750 million gift to help build the UT Dell Medical Center, a planned “AI-native” hospital expected to open in 2030 as part of a more than 300-acre advanced research campus.
University officials said the project will integrate research, clinical care and advanced computing to improve early disease detection, personalize treatment and expand access to care in the rapidly growing Austin region.
The Dells’ support builds on decades of contributions to UT, including funding for its medical school, scholarships and research programs.
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Michael Dell and Susan Dell attend the Breakthrough Prize ceremony as they become the first to donate more than $1 billion to the University of Texas at Austin. ( Craig T Fruchtman/WireImage)
“By bringing together medicine, science and computing in one campus designed for the AI era, UT can create more opportunity, deliver better outcomes, and build a stronger future for communities across Texas and beyond,” Michael Dell and Susan Dell said.
The gift ranks among the largest in the history of higher education, alongside major contributions like Phil Knight’s $2 billion pledge to Oregon Health & Science University and Michael Bloomberg’s $1.8 billion donation to Johns Hopkins University.
The new UT Dell Medical Center will be developed in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center, integrating cancer care into a system designed to connect prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
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The University of Texas at Austin campus at sunset. (iStock)
“We will deliver better outcomes for patients by providing research-driven cancer care that is precise, compassionate and hope-filled,” Peter WT Pisters, president of UT MD Anderson, said.
Officials said the facility will be built from the ground up to incorporate AI, rather than retrofitting older infrastructure — an approach they say could transform how hospitals operate.
Independent experts have cautioned that AI in health care can introduce risks if not carefully validated. A widely cited study published in the journal Science by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Chicago found that a commonly used healthcare algorithm underestimated the needs of Black patients due to biased training data, highlighting broader concerns about equity in AI-driven systems.
The project also includes funding for undergraduate scholarships, student housing and the Texas Advanced Computing Center, where officials are developing one of the nation’s most powerful academic supercomputers.
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Artificial intelligence technology is expected to play a key role in diagnosis and patient care at the planned UT Dell Medical Center. (iStock)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the investment will help position the state as a national leader in healthcare innovation.
“Texas already dominates in technology, energy and business, and now we will further cement our leadership in health care innovation as well,” Abbott said.
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The university said it plans to break ground on the medical center later this year and has launched a broader campaign to raise $10 billion over the next decade.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Cursor has also given SpaceX the right to acquire Cursor later this year for $60 billion or pay $10 billion for our work together.
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