how would be more horrible? well for example your friend could be, unbeknownst to you, a bot. maybe it would simulate feelings and a personality and you could fall for that and maybe ultimately give out some personal details or something. one measure of trustability is the duration of friendship (or relationship). so when the bot has been your "friend" for long enough, it would "have an accident" as a result of which he would need 500$ or something.
now depending on situation ofc, most people would, if they have the money and the friend is good enough, actually give the money. especially when they think that they have known that "person" for years·, because with time caution is slowly forgotten with close relationships.
well this is one example.