A concerned friend reached out to columnist R. Eric Thomas with a dilemma involving their friend who is heavily involved in messaging celebrities on Telegram. The friend has been in contact with four musicians and two have promised to visit her, but the columnist suspects these interactions may be a scam.
Thomas suggests that the friend and her family should take steps to bring her back to reality. He advises them to visit the FBI’s website for information on romance scams, as the interactions on Telegram bear similarities to this type of fraud. Thomas recommends walking the friend through the warning signs and expressing concern for her safety and financial well-being.
If the friend continues to believe the celebrities are genuine, Thomas recommends implementing a vetting system before making any plans. This may involve video chatting or sending specific questions for the celebrities to respond to. Thomas stresses the importance of setting clear boundaries and only giving money to celebrities by purchasing tickets or albums.
In conclusion, Thomas urges the friend to prioritize her safety and not be ashamed to seek help or question the authenticity of these celebrity interactions. The column ends with contact information for readers to submit their own questions to R. Eric Thomas.
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