Stay Safe on Scrabbin

Learn how to recognise spam, scams, and phishing attempts on language exchange platforms. Your safety is our priority.

Common Spam Patterns

Scammers on language exchange platforms typically follow predictable patterns. Here are the most common warning signs:

  • Romantic language from strangers — Messages like "Hello my love", "You are beautiful", or overly personal compliments in a first message. Genuine language partners introduce themselves and talk about language goals.
  • Claiming to be wealthy or important — "I am a banker", "I have a business proposal", or mentions of large sums of money. Real language learners talk about languages, not finances.
  • Asking for personal information — Requests for your email address, phone number, home address, bank details, or ID documents early in a conversation.
  • Moving off-platform quickly — Pushing to continue the conversation on WhatsApp, Telegram, or email before you have established trust. Scammers prefer platforms with less moderation.
  • Sob stories and urgent requests — Sudden emergencies, medical bills, travel expenses, or "I need help" messages designed to create emotional pressure.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is when someone tries to trick you into revealing personal information by pretending to be a trusted person or organisation. On language exchange platforms, phishing can look like:

  • Messages with links to fake websites that look like Scrabbin or other trusted sites
  • Requests to "verify your account" by entering your password on an external page
  • Links to fake payment pages, surveys, or prize claims
  • Files or attachments that could contain malware

Remember: Scrabbin will never ask for your password via message. We will never send you links to enter payment information. If you receive such messages, they are not from us.

How to Spot a Fake Profile

Not every profile is genuine. Here are signs that a profile may be fake:

Red Flags

  • Generic or stock photo profile picture
  • Vague or empty profile description
  • No specific language learning goals
  • Location does not match claimed nationality
  • Account was just created

Good Signs

  • Detailed profile with real information
  • Clear language learning goals
  • Talks about languages in first messages
  • Consistent information across profile
  • Willing to keep conversations on Scrabbin

How to Protect Yourself

  1. Take your time — Do not share personal details with someone you just met. Get to know your language partner gradually.
  2. Keep conversations on Scrabbin — Our platform has tools to report and block suspicious users. Moving to other platforms removes these protections.
  3. Never send money — No legitimate language partner will ask you for money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or financial help.
  4. Do not click suspicious links — If a message contains an unexpected link, do not click it. Especially links that ask you to log in or enter personal details.
  5. Trust your instincts — If a conversation feels off, it probably is. There is no harm in being cautious.

How to Report Spam

If you receive a suspicious message on Scrabbin, reporting it is easy and helps protect the entire community:

  1. Open the conversation with the suspicious user
  2. Click the menu in the top right corner of the chat
  3. Select Report spam

Our team reviews all reports and takes action against accounts that violate our community guidelines. Reporting helps us keep Scrabbin safe for everyone.

You can also delete the conversation from the same menu to remove it from your inbox.

Learn More

Safe Language Learning Starts Here

Join Scrabbin's community of genuine language learners. We take your safety seriously.

Get Started Free