Affinity fraud

Affinity fraud occurs when scammers exploit the trust and shared connections within a specific community or group—such as religious, ethnic, or social organizations—to deceive members into investing in fraudulent schemes. They often pose as trustworthy colleagues or leaders, using familiar language and relationships to gain confidence. Once trust is established, they persuade members to invest money, which is then stolen or misused. Because the victims share common bonds, they are less likely to question or scrutinize the scam, making affinity fraud particularly damaging within close-knit communities.