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Image of cupid and heartNot everyone using online dating sites is looking for love. Scammers create fake online profiles using photos of other people — even stolen pictures of real military personnel. They profess their love quickly. And they tug at your heartstrings with made-up stories about how they need money — for emergencies, hospital bills, or travel. Why all of the tricks? They’re looking to steal your money.

As if all that isn’t bad enough, romance scammers are now involving their victims in online bank fraud. Here’s how it works: The scammers set up dating profiles to meet potential victims. After they form a “relationship,” they come up with reasons to ask their love interest to set up a new bank account. The scammers transfer stolen money into the new account, and then tell their victims to wire the money out of the country. Victims think they’re just helping out their soulmate, never realizing they’re aiding and abetting a crime.  

Here are some warning signs that an online love interest might be a fake. They ask you to:

  • chat off of the dating site immediately, using personal email, text, or phone
  • wire money using Western Union or Money Gram
  • set up a new bank account

Did you know you can do an image search of your love interest’s photo in your favorite search engine? If you do an image search and the person’s photo appears under several different names, you’re probably dealing with a scammer. And if the person’s online profile disappears a few days after they meet you, that’s another tip-off.

Here’s the real deal: Don’t send money to someone you met online — for any reason. If your online sweetheart asks for money, you can expect it’s a scam.

Unfortunately, online dating scams are all too common. There may be tens of thousands of victims, and only a small fraction report it to the FTC. If this happens to you, please report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

A woman looking at a dating site on her computer.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Sick of These …
November 16, 2021
Cedric Raiden is a scammer, he is on facebook and his instagram is @raicedric22. He is still active and recruiting for his next victims. Claims to be stuck on a construction site, keeps saying he will be back soon all the time taking money from innocent victims. I hope all these scammers get caught one day
JKK
November 16, 2021
This person sound familiar to me. I also get scam by him. Know him for tagged application. Claiming himself as Mahres Bung. From South Korea and currently lived in UK. Working as a manager at Grosvenor Casino. I have lose my money because of him
Mark78
November 17, 2021
Another red flag is every comment is about investing. The new scam is trying to get you to invest in bit coin, but the website they send you to is fake. I asked a scammer what her hobbies are and what she likes to do for fun, and she told me about investing as her hobby.
Love scam
November 21, 2021
I got in a love scam. He conveyed me to invest in Bitcoin and I refused firstly but then relationship got worse. So I have invested. I feel they hacked my phone and I sent him a screenshot of my bank to show that I sent funds through his vendor. I called to the bank to explain the situation. I have also filed a report to FBI on the person which identity they stole as I think. I also called to my bank to report a fraud. I have asked him to send me money back and he said he will not do that that’s how it all started.
JackieE
November 23, 2021
I'm talking to one now, well I think no professing of love 5 mi uses after meeting, I have pictures and ive done the reverse image with all 4 pictures nothing. Captain in the US army in yemen. He's not getting anything
Sick of These …
November 23, 2021
Covid put many at a disadvantage and we were all looking for comfort. Scammers preyed on this. Forget about talking on the phone or video chatting, if you can't meet the person within a week I now think of them as fake! Report them and report them everywhere, here, scamhatersunited, fake-scam.info, male scammers, romance scammers. I doubt my scammer will be using that photo anymore and now anyone I talk to online I reverse image on tineye, google image and yandex image
Diane
November 23, 2021
Met a man calls himself Robert Johnson, widow, wife & daughter died car accident 8 years ago and has a son named Johnny age 16. I have a photo of this man and has blue eyes and gray hair with a g-tee. He works on an oil rig and wants an Apple card with money on it for his job?? He is very romantic, fell for it sent one for $100 now wants one for $50. I ignored him to do this research as something sounded fishy. I did not talk to him on Hangups for 1 day and now says he is going to end his life because I promised I would Love him but he is never there for me or my questions. He is always asking if I am healthy and if I have eaten yet. Has anyone out there have this in common as I believe I am being duped for money. He is 67 will retire in July 2022 and wants to marry me sell his home and has a Benz for a car? Please, anyone, share the same story as I am 76?
Kay1234
November 23, 2021
How long did it take before your scammer asked for anything? I’m so mad and scared that he has my name and address. What should I do?
Catherine.
November 24, 2021
Am chatting to a guy on supposed to be oil rig.his name samuel mc clian.his wife died.daughter in boarding school.no family members.wants me to send money.
Worried for Sis
November 24, 2021
Has anyone heard of a doctor by the name of Williams Malthe?
Heartbroken
November 26, 2021
Anyone heard off Joe Stewart? He came across my profile on fb and was drawn to me immediately. We’ve raked for several months. He lives in Cleveland works for Marathon Petroleum and is on business trip in South Africa. He seems to be short getting back to the states. Well spoken African or UK guy. Sound familiar to anyone?
Riverat
November 26, 2021
Usually it will be someone very close to you fro. My experience i only lost a couple hundred playing their game but i learned who how and they didn't get the money its still tied up in the shamery lol and them also blind to the fact i kno i guess im saying (with out a doubt look right under your nose you will see the answer) the phrase( keep it simple) wise words from an old freind..............
Springtown Jane
November 29, 2021
I just had someone ask me for $500 worth of Bitcoin to “reactivate” his wallet. I know that Bitcoin is crypto-currency. He claimed he could get a million dollar contract if he got his wallet reactivated.
Hopeful52
December 04, 2021

In reply to by Springtown Jane

That sounds very familiar to me. Almost identical. Money to reactivate and million dollar deal. I'm seriously considering staying single!
Hopeful52
December 05, 2021

In reply to by Springtown Jane

This is exactly identical to what has happened with me. On top of this I was really wanting to like this guy. He has said everything perfectly. Even talked about spending the rest of his life with me. I am so angry and heartbroken. I have to just walk away. Help!
Audette address
December 28, 2021

In reply to by Hopeful52

As much as this will hurt, walk away. My guy wants to spend the rest of his life making me happy. He hasn't asked for money yet but I am sure it is just a matter of time. Yes, I too was starting to really care. He fits the profile of all of your stories. So sad.
love2222
November 29, 2021
i have too get this out names can not be mentioned for safety purposes.i had someone i met online from a business standpoint at first then as things progressed he confessed he loved me and that were getting married .considering now i havent chatted with this person or even met him.just texting was only permitted.i was also told that if i back out i could really hurt this person emotionally.What do u think?anoumously curious
Josr71
November 30, 2021
My wife is having an email/telephone afair/scam with A man who calls himself Robert Potter so far she has sent him over $30000.00 . She does not suspect that I know. I don’t know where to turn to.
Marie
November 30, 2021
I am possibly speaking to a scammer too. It's been about a week and I'm 90% he is. I've been asking particular questions for my own verification and then someone told me to search his pics he's been sending me. So I did. 2 of the pics came up as a dating scammer sites info, etc. I have a grainy video but can't seem to search it. I haven't searched the latest two pics he sent that are actually really clear, considering the others. I will do that today. Anyone have the name Dr. Mike Stevenson, orthopedic surgeon, works for UN, german and English speaking and gave me a pic of his ID card that isnt coming up on a image search either(?). Comments are welcome. I wish we could find the guy who keeps getting impersonated with his pics and tell him. (Of the pics of the guy I am talking to).
Feel so stupid
November 30, 2021
I thought I’d come here and share my story too. I recently got contacted by a man on FB named Robinson Trae Fuller with a similar situation like the many I have read. He messaged me on Messenger and then asked to go to Google Hangouts to chat. I did like an idiot. We texted back and forth for about four hours a night for almost a week and a half. Did everything right and said all the right things. Very very charming. He was a soldier in Syria who did supply drops at the border. He’s divorced…although, I think his FB profile says that he is now widowed. He has a daughter who is 13 and claims that she is special needs with a brain tumor, but is responding well to the treatments. Both parents are dead. His mother died in a car accident when was very young and his father followed a few months later by heart attack. Everything seemed to go well and was always calling me Sunshine and always asking if I ate. About 3 days in he tells me that he was falling I love with me. Immediately this sends off the warning bells and I begin to panic when I realized what was happening. I felt so stupid because I really wanted to like this guy. The pics he sent, he seemed so handsome and so real. I decided to play along to see where this was going and sure enough he wanted to come here and buy me a ring because he didn’t want any other guy to sweep me off my feet. Things changed drastically when he wanted to meet. I told him that I felt like things were moving way too fast and I wanted to slow things down and I wasn’t ready to meet yet. This only made him angry and I was breaking his heart and how could I do that to him? The weekend came with very little communication. It certainly wasn’t like it was before and then last Sunday rolled around and that’s when he hit me up for money. He wanted to get his daughter a laptop and he needed me to help him out because Monday was her birthday. When I flat out refused he got angry with me saying that this was heartbreaking and how hurtful all this was. On Monday I finally called him out for what he was and he totally flipped the script. He placed all the blame on me, calling me a liar, I was rash and irrational, cold hearted and mean. I was a disgusting person who failed to recognize his feelings in all of this. This man or woman, because I’m sure that it wasn’t him in those pics, but they definitely display some narcissistic traits and can be very hurtful and degrading when disagreeing with them. I really couldn’t find much out about him online, but I just wanted to put this out here and hopefully somebody finds this helpful.
Confused
December 01, 2021
I have recently met a Russian female online her stories all seem to check out she's even sent me official or what appear to be official Russian documents such as passport Visa and she actually gave me Bank details but I've never sent money she has sent me copies of flight details many pictures but has never asked me for money she does not appear to come from a lot of money but has purchased flight ticket on her own as well as other stuff for travel the only thing she has asked for help with is showing financial solvency to prove her finances are secure enough to stay in the US and even provided a letter from the Russian migration service to substantiate this cost please advise as I do not know what to do thank you
Iwaswarned
December 01, 2021
Oil rig engineer met on FB dating. His equipment broke. Now is ill. Always concerned not to stress. You are my queen. Started in August 2021. Needs I tune cards
Joe mama
December 01, 2021
I think I might get scammed she is texting me on what’sapp I will copy and paste the first thing she texted me…Hey friend, my name is Elizabeth the young girl you help at the airport with $300 after explaining to you that I lost my wallet. You personally gave me your contact to inform you when I arrive on my trip in Canada, I want to use this medium to appreciate you for being so kind to me. My trip was successful thanks once again. I’ve never gone to the airport these past two months and she texted me at 1:43 am
Unknown
December 03, 2021
Had anyone spoken to an Alan, met on Hinge, lives in London, apartment in Canary Wharf, townhouse in Elephant and Castle, reckons he has a dog called bread, parents and sister live in Paris, trades in Bitcoin majority of the time, exports fruit from Australia for London market, messaged on WhatsApp then couple of days later messaged off a different number saying British government blocked his WhatsApp because he talked about business a lot. Originally from Singapore.
Iwaswarned
December 03, 2021
Oil rig contractor of gulf of Mexico. Machine broke down. Wanted I tunes and money for repairs. Widow no family left. From TX. Eric Jones is what he says his name is. Very handsome man. Claims he travels . Sent photos of his travels. FB is where he contacted me in late August 2021
Bohannon9
December 03, 2021
Does anyone know kelvin darlene ? If they do please tell me.
PJS1972
December 03, 2021
Anyone heard of Ronald Bira Thomas from Sacramento? Working in Lagos?
Hopeful52
December 04, 2021
I've been chatting with a guy I think/thought could be wonderful. I was so hesitant to try online dating. Everything great at first. Supposedly his birthday is coming up. He's military deployed far away. Things have moved quickly...which I'm no young chick so it was decent. He's supposed to come home sometime in December. We have video chatted. Now he has said he can't get his wallet activated and asked me to help manually at a bitcoin atm. Basically asking me to put money in. Same thing. He didn't like that I was telling him he's asking for money??...when he says he needs to be able to access his wallet. He is in a bad place,war zone. I'm new to all of this and have kept that to myself. I would really be grateful for any input. Thanks
Vulnerableme
January 12, 2022

In reply to by Hopeful52

The same thing happened to me. I busted him yesterday. Can anyone believe that my heart was broken over someone that doesn't even exist? We had been texting 2 weeks, A LOT! He was talking marriage, sending me sappy love songs, talking about terminating his contract to come be with me. Then, the fairytale ended.
Salsamom
December 05, 2021
Has anybody heard of a Dr. Malcom Peter orthopaedic surgeon, deployed by the UN to a Military base in Pakistan? Not sure if he is a scammer .But he wanted a excite certificate for a Vacation form the Military base, the Un wrote me back that I have to pay for it and wanted all my banking info to put money in my account in return for his upcoming vacation. Of course I know I was being scammed If I replied. What I don’t understand is I FaceTimed with him , he seemed to be a verified person, but then this letter from the UN which did not make sense.
Southern Gal
December 05, 2021
Watch out for Tony Kent Roberts. Nigerian scammer. Says he lives in Buffalo Grove, IL. Has 15 year old daughter. Wife died of cancer and parents are deceased. Works as an Engineer. Was sent over to Istanbul to work. Never asked me for money but I confronted him. Confessed to being a scrammer in Nigeria. Started second scam to get my sympathy about the proverty he lives in. Be careful.
Katzanova1
December 05, 2021
Everyone beware of someone claiming to be Hannah Mercy on hangouts. This person will say anything to gain your trust then ask you after a week to send her money to Ghana or Lagos. I have blocked her on hangouts you should do the same.
UK R
December 06, 2021
Anyone know Michael Jon? James Rodriguez? Both ask for money and gaming cards
Dethz
December 06, 2021
I have the same feelings too..He ask me to send money for his package to deliver jn my country. He ask 13, 000php In order to complete the bill package. The bill package is worth 350$ but he just give a 100$ to his friends. So the remaining bal. 250$ that was they as me to pay the remaining bal . He is in the forest training now for 4 month. He cannot get out for his training coz his is not aloud yet. That why he what me to secure money for his package...
campos.santos
December 18, 2021

In reply to by Dethz

OMG. The man I'm talking too, is seems to be the same story . He is working, and can't leave till contract end.
Sam
December 07, 2021
Hi am talking to this man but I got photos of him but he keeps asking me for my card to build a house and he sent me voice message but I don't know if he real or if that's his voice what can I do
yfg_little
December 08, 2021
Has anyone come across a Neurosurgeon working for UN that goes by the name Stephen Milton Frimpong ? He added me on facebook, so I accepted it and we have started chatting. After viewing all your comments, he has one pro pic no other pics and his profile pic looks like it's been photoshopped.
Audette address
December 28, 2021

In reply to by yfg_little

I am talking to a man who claims he is a neurosurgeon. working for the UN in Syria. He claims to be on a three-year contract. He calls himself Benjamin Walter and is very good-looking with a rather sad expression so I started to hope he is real. He hasn't asked for money yet but says he wants me to request him to leave the base so he can come to me and for me to meet his son.
Hopeful52
December 09, 2021
I have probably...most likely been scammed. I haven't dated in years as I was raising my child. I desperately wanted his feelings to be real. I still wish they would be but I'm trying to be real. At the present time I am feeling really sad and disappointed. How can people be so cruel? I'll take any advice in getting through this. I really wanted this to be the real deal. I'm a bit naive. Advice please! Thanks
Big Idiot
December 09, 2021
Hi. I've just paid out £3k I'm sire I am being scammed but still gone along with it. How embarrassing that I'm so desperate. Anyhow, has anyone else experienced a scammer linked to gold mining? He goes by name Philip Jones. Working in Brazil, and close to resignation/retirement. Actually says he's from Florida, but had an English father, widowed, mum and dad passed when young. No family really to speak off. Just very interested in anyone's comments. I am waiting for the hit... Then I will know for sure I'm scammed.
Madeleine
December 10, 2021
Anyone chatting with Trevor Jones from detroit - beware.says all the right things then asks for money. Claims to be divorced, single father, abusive exwife. Is an architect but no website or ability to validate.
Candryoung
December 11, 2021
Ok so i have been seeing a doc surgeon orthopedic he works for united nations in Syria says he does anyway. Exwife died has a son Kelvin boarding school somewhere from Washington State . Name he goes by John Philips. He is the person in his pictures i made him hold a paper with time and date and he wrote me a letter on it as well and took a pic while holding it. Cant access his money has a bank manager but asking for log in info to my bank to deposit a check . I would not do it. But now wants a copy of my id front and back to give to give to the contractor to draw up paper work to get leave says that my name has to be on there as his fiance. Im pretty sure scammer but the pic and paper thru me. Help. Im confused and we also we had a bit con mess
Pipsqueak
December 11, 2021
Anyone chatted to an Orthopaedic Surgeon by the name of Dr Billy Wesley based in Turkey with US Care Services
auntipup
December 11, 2021
Does anyone know a Harry Tennyson who says he in contract for two years by the UN. He is from Watertown NY both parents dead has one 15 year old daughter, he is suppose to be an orthopedic surgeon in Somalia. Wants an early out only has $500.00 and needs another $500.00 for a form. I do not believe they charge anyone that belongs to UN money for forms. I know ladies I was taken in too, but I did not send any money to him. Blames me for not being able to get home early to "ME" he is truly in love with me and wants to get married. Luckily for me I saw too many red flags. Please if anyone has texted to a Harry Tennyson in Somalia let me know.
JenaS62
December 13, 2021
My sister is talking to a man named Albert Williams. Claims to be in Dubai working on an oil rig. He was able to go there at the height of Covid because he travels on private jets. (sure). My sister believes that he is a millionaire and that he is going to marry her. He claims that his fiance died and he has a 6 year old son. Claims to be from Turkey originally but has homes in Beverly Hills, Miami and NYC. After nearly a year, my sister has not met this person in person and I know that he has to be a scammer. Anyone else know of him?
shirley
December 14, 2021
I meet a guys who said that he is us marine who deployed in somalia but i never meet him in person he told me he cannot make video call or phone call due to security reason then oneday he told me he have dangerous mission over there in somalia they attack the terorist and he told me he have compensation or reward money which Is worth of 350,000 us dollar then he ask me to help him to secure his money because he told me the money need to deposit on his account but his account is dormant and the account manager call him that need to open another premium diamond account to make it sure the money is secure and he ask me to open an account which is worth of 1500 us dollar so i trust him and transfer the money to the bank after that they create me an account which have money inside and ask me to transfer the money on my personal account but the problem is cannot transfer the money they ask me to pay the cot code which is worth of 76,000hkd but i dont have that money on my hand thats why im thinking and search online if this is a scam pls help me if this is really a scam because im so scared and worried
Soledad
December 16, 2021
Someone meet with angelo terry luca he say is from Italy working in Alabama living in demver has a daughter Someone they meet him he's working in a rig oil company in the ocean his in tiktok too
Florlady
December 16, 2021
I found out Lucas Gray claiming to be an orthopedic surgeon is not real he’s a fake . He’s the handsome guy with the salt and pepper hair . Ladies please don’t fall for this guy. He will romance you from day 1 . I actually fell in love . After time he started asking for money . Saying he’s wife dead and he has a son away in boarding son in Canada with cancer . First he asked for $3000 then emergency with the son he needed chemo and surgery and asked for $4000 . I think the person impersonating him is from Ghana. He always asks if you ate and send a lot of love messages.
Mama bear
December 17, 2021
I have been talking to Joe F. Supposedly lives in Elko, Nevada. Acts rich. Last contract before retirement. Hasn't asked for money. Anyone else talking to him.