When Civic Engagement Opens the Door to Online Exploitation

It Can Happen to Anyone

Online exploitation can happen to anyone.

It does not matter whether you are a woman or a man. It does not matter whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, an independent, or someone who does not identify with a political party at all.

It does not matter how educated you are, how successful you are, or how careful you believe you are.

And there is never an excuse for a single mother, or anyone else, to be taken advantage of online.

I know because I experienced it myself.

My experience became much more intense during the 2024 presidential election, when I became significantly more active online around the Harris Walz campaign and the election. The 2024 general election was held on November 5, 2024.  

But there is something about my story that I want to make very clear.

I am a Republican.  ( At the time I was actually an Independent)

I was not a Democrat.

I wanted to see a woman become president so badly that I allowed that desire and the excitement of being part of something bigger than myself to override my normal instincts.

I did not go with my gut.

And looking back, I understand how important that was.

But that is neither here nor there.

Because political affiliation does not explain or excuse financial exploitation.

Nothing about participating in civic activity gives another person permission to manipulate you, deceive you, gain your trust for personal advantage, or financially exploit you.

I Thought I Was Making a Difference

Imagine the delight of hearing Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, and Michelle Obama saying words that you wrote and hearing those words come out of their mouths.

For me, that feeling was powerful.

I thought I was contributing to something meaningful.

I thought I was working alongside people I admired.

I thought I was making a difference.

As a person of color, I believed I was contributing to something larger than myself.

Who knew that becoming more active online would also open the door for me to become a target?

I encountered online predators, bad actors, and what I came to describe in my own experience as the world of teleprompter readers.

People who appeared to represent something bigger.

People who appeared trustworthy.

People who appeared to be part of something meaningful.

And eventually, I experienced financial abuse.

I am sharing this because someone else may be sitting behind a screen right now having a similar experience and wondering whether they are imagining what is happening.

You are not alone.

Trust Should Never Be a Vulnerability

You meet someone online.

You think you can trust them.

You extend kindness.

You believe their story.

You believe the relationship, opportunity, friendship, professional connection, or community is genuine.

Then they exploit your trust and your kindness.

**That is not right.

And it is not your fault.**

Being trusting does not make you stupid.

Being kind does not make you weak.

Being a single mother does not make you an easy target.

And participating in civic life does not make you responsible for someone else’s decision to exploit you.

Trust should never be a vulnerability.

Financial Abuse Has Entered the Digital Space

Financial exploitation no longer requires someone to physically enter your home or take your wallet.

It can happen through a phone.

A direct message.

An email.

A social media account.

A seemingly legitimate opportunity.

A relationship that moves too quickly.

A request for money.

A request for account access.

A fraudulent work from home opportunity.

A deceptive investment.

Digital debt.

Romance scams.

Impersonation.

The methods continue to evolve because people who commit fraud understand that people are looking for connection, opportunity, belonging, purpose, and sometimes simply someone they believe they can trust.

The Federal Trade Commission encourages people who encounter scams or fraud to report them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, noting that reports can help investigators identify patterns and build cases.  

That is what makes online financial abuse so dangerous.

The manipulation often begins long before the money changes hands.

This Is Bigger Than Politics

My political experience is part of my story because it was the environment in which I became significantly more active online.

But this conversation is not about choosing a political party.

It is not about telling anyone how to vote.

It is about recognizing that people should be able to participate in civic life without becoming targets for exploitation.

People enter online spaces for many reasons.

They want to contribute.

They want to connect.

They want to build businesses.

They want to advocate for something they believe in.

They want to find community.

None of those things should require surrendering their financial safety.

Especially for Single Mothers

Single mothers deserve particular attention in this conversation because financial exploitation can have consequences that extend far beyond the individual.

A single mother may be responsible for housing, food, transportation, childcare, education, medical expenses, and an entire household.

When someone exploits her financially, they are not simply taking money.

They can be disrupting the stability of an entire family.

That is why I refuse to frame online financial exploitation as simply a matter of someone needing to be more careful.

Yes, we should all be cautious.

Yes, we should verify people and opportunities.

Yes, we should listen when something does not feel right.

But prevention does not eliminate responsibility for the person doing the exploiting.

There is never an excuse for taking advantage of someone.

Why I Am Speaking About This

I am speaking about this because silence protects the wrong people.

I want people to understand that exploitation can happen in places that initially feel safe.

It can happen when you are trying to make a difference.

It can happen when you are trying to build something.

It can happen when you are trying to connect with people.

It can happen when you believe you have finally found people who understand you.

And it can happen to people who never believed it would happen to them.

It happened to me.

That experience changed the way I look at online relationships, online opportunities, and trust.

But it also gave me something else.

A reason to speak.

Because if sharing my experience helps another woman, another single mother, another entrepreneur, another parent, or another person recognize a warning sign before someone takes advantage of them, then something meaningful can come from what happened.

Your kindness is not the problem.

Your desire to make a difference is not the problem.

Your political affiliation is not the problem.

Your desire to belong is not the problem.

**The exploitation is the problem.

And it is never your fault.**

If Something Does Not Feel Right

Slow down.

Do not send money simply because someone creates a sense of urgency.

Do not provide account information because someone says you have to act immediately.

Verify identities independently.

Question opportunities that seem too good to be true.

Talk to someone you trust before making a significant financial decision involving someone you met online.

And if you believe you have encountered fraud or a scam, consider reporting it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.  

Most importantly, do not allow embarrassment to keep you silent.

Predators depend on secrecy.

Speaking up can protect you and potentially help protect someone else.

Trust Should Never Cost You Your Financial Security

I wanted to make a difference.

I wanted to be part of something meaningful.

I wanted to believe that the people I encountered online were who they appeared to be.

I trusted.

And I learned a difficult lesson about what can happen when trust is placed in the wrong hands.

But I refuse to let that experience become a source of shame.

I would rather turn it into a warning.

Because this can happen to anyone.

Republican.

Democrat.

Independent.

Single mother.

Entrepreneur.

Parent.

Professional.

Student.

Man or woman.

None of us should have to surrender our financial safety in exchange for connection, community, opportunity, or the chance to participate in something we believe matters.

**Trust should never be a vulnerability.

And there is never an excuse for exploiting someone’s kindness.**