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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.

Search Terms
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military
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Topics
Shopping and Donating
Scams
Romance Scams

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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.

whateverbena2
October 27, 2021

In reply to by Ashley

yes your being scammed if they get mad because they ask you for something or want you to do something they get mad and claim you dont love him dont buy into it get out while you can thats what they do try to put th blame on us women make it look like its our fault dont do anything to send nothing they can fake id and papers to send thats how we dont think there fake but the more you talk the more stories will change and lies alot of lies. good luck get out delete and run...take care
So unreal
April 10, 2021
I can't honestly believe how many scammers I've come across in the last 2 weeks. Telling me they love me within days. Luckily none of them got anything from me and after asking for pics with Id they go silent...names are Patrick Anderson, Jordan Nelson Medina, Medina Cody Dickson and one was just Brandon. All from tinder. Be careful out there
xx
April 10, 2021
Did anyone talked lately with a guy called Alexandre Danilo (Alex on Tinder). I have a friend who felt in love with this guy...me and other friend found out that he is using pictures from Gerald Rogers, guy that wrote a book and is quite famous...she doesn't want to belive in what we are saying to her...his story is same as many, he is engineer from Germany living in California and now he is on project in Turkey...wife died in a car accident, having one son...he wants to marry her and come to her
PeaceJack
April 10, 2021
Has anyone been in contact with or communicating with a person named Mike Peace Jack?
Deedee
April 11, 2021
Has anyone been contacted by a leo labin, he even video chatted me, liked me on fb dating, asked me to go to hangouts so we could talk, even said he had a daughter 15, who just last had a birthday, his son his 5, he had his daughter whose name is Stella contact me, he's very good lookin, his daughter asked for steam cards so I did get her one and sent it to her. He's supposedly in Canada now, he got robbed on a train and asked me to send him all my information so his boss can put his money that is owed for working into my account, I did send him steam cards to trade he said for cash, I fell for it and I feel so stupid and hurt, he even got me to send him pictures of me. I was hoping this wasn't a scam, they are really good at what they do.
Needofinformation
April 11, 2021
Anyone out there been in contact with a someone named Lynn Owens! He says he is a widow, no family, works on a rig, 61 years old originally from Sweden but lives in Alaska. He was on a Rig off of Santa Barbara , California, and was the platform foreman (something like that) for the rig. He has been contacting a friend since December he has not asked for money, that we know of, but tried to send her 2 million in cash through a courier. We talked her out of signing for anything like that. He has indicated 4 times now that he was coming to visit but has not shown up yet, saying first he did not get paid and cannot leave without the money to pay his men, then it was he has to pay upward of $10,000 for a helicopter to get off the rig, then it was did not get his money from the company for the job and then this time was the money has not cleared in his account. He told her he would be in this Friday, but I do not think so and can't imagine what this excuse is. This man is very handsome, white hair professes his love for her and says he wants to take her around the world, buy her house and anything she wants. He asked her to look around for the house she wants and he will buy it for her. He says when he comes in to find him a hotel that he will stay in for a month while they are buying the house. Anyone dealing with this Lynn Owens please answer and if you have a picture great please share. We all think this is a scam but my friend is hook, line and sinker that this is real and she has met her ticket to retirement and someone to take care of her.
Pfk
April 21, 2021

In reply to by Needofinformation

Yes this is a scam definitely cut ties with this person but honestly you’re friend probably sent money already same scenario with my friend as well. She asked me for $8000 because he was trying to send a million dollars cash by courier. Courier was fake and website domain was based in Nigeria. Scary part was that scammer had all her info and she did not have any of his. Stay away!
Dcheckin inon'…
June 08, 2021

In reply to by Needofinformation

this sounds like the guy Im talking to. They all seem to use the same story line..gonna come see you, gonna stay for a month to buy a house, needs money to get back to the states , cant access their accounts from the UK..will pay you back..has a sick son in The Uk boarding school, never tells what the name of the school, or what the name of the rig they were on, needed money for helicopter to get off platform, needs money for tools for platform. Does anybody ever get their money back? or do they ever catch these darn scammers? They all seem to like handouts or Whatsapp..do these sites do anything if you report them? But they all use different names so I imagine its hard to catch them..google image search, Rip and Scam, Oil rig scammers, ..Ive checked them all...NOTHING..but Im not giving up..says hes coming to see me...we shall see!
Duped
April 12, 2021
I’ve been chatting to a David Belman for the past week. He says he is a surgeon and is about to retire to Milan. He has a 14 year old son. I was also chatting to a guy called Curt who says he is in Ukraine mining diamonds and gold. Are these guys scammers ???
Lucky Lady
April 13, 2021
Hello Ladies, I have been corresponding with a gentle who says his name is Frederick Roland who lives in Texas and has a 14 year old daughter named Sandra who being taken care of by a nanny. He supposively is in Turkey working on an Oil Rig. He asked for a google play card, then he asked steam card and I couldn't find on so he said send him an amazon card, so I did. Now he wants to pretend to be his wife and receive money from a bank in the UK and I told him that I was not going to do that. He sent me a friend request on facebook, so beware, he sounds like one of the guys in one of these post.
Southern Gal
December 01, 2021

In reply to by Lucky Lady

This sounds like my would be scrammer, Tony Kent Robert. Claimed to be 61 year old widower with 15 year old daughter. Wife died of cancer. Lived in Buffalo Grove, IL but sent over to work in Istanbul, Turkey for about 4 weeks. When I confronted, he "confessed" said he lived in Nigeria and scammed women for money. Started 2nd scam attempt. Gave me a pitiful story about living conditions in Nigeria. Of course needed soom money for apartment. Sad.
Another Southe…
January 03, 2022

In reply to by Southern Gal

This sounds like my scammer. He goes by the name of Gabriel Kent James. 61 year old widower whose wife died of cancer a couple years ago. Lives in Chicago with 15 year old daughter, Rachel. For past 5 weeks he has been working on oil rig in Turkey, has been locked put of his account because didnt notify them he was traveling. Asked for steam cards, then apple card which I did send. Has a 15 yr old daughter, Rachel, who sent me flowers thanking me for loving her dad. Now he needs money to pay for ticket to come home, which I wont send. Ive been talking to him on hangouts since Nov. 5th. We met on Twitter. Have talked on phone...has thick accent. Says he was born in Texas, raised in UK then lived in Mexico (his mother is Mexican) Do you have pics of your guy?
Lalalal
April 13, 2021
Just told one of this scammers,whom I talk with for two weeks,good bye. If you will meet with Antonio Braya,who has 11 years old son Alex and lives in Florida,just run. It’s good,that I understood that he is a scammer,when he suddenly went for a contract work to China for 3 month and then asked me to make a transfers to his account,so he will be able to buy an equipment to start his work. Bullshit.
Rose
April 14, 2021
A week ago I met a guy on a dating app, we are in different states, after 3 days we moved onto another app to talk. He did started a lot of sweet talks and caring words, right after we start to talk on another platform. Since then we did talk about bringing each other to places that we went to that day when the opposite comes and visit. Also telling each other where we went and when we get home. He told me he trades bitcoin as interests. At the time he didn't proceed further about bitcoin trade. He started sending me photos of him (not anything sexually). Just normal daily photos of himself. I been careful about all the photo he send me. I even did a reverse image search on them, all photo results was 0 match. First time I felt something was wrong when he told me he just finish bitcoin trading and telling me how much it earns. At the time I have no idea how bitcoin runs, he even try to explain to me. He told me I should try it out too, I rejected and the topic was changed rest of the night. Second time he asked me again, and I directly told him I am not interested and I am not comfortable talking about it and can we stop talking about this in the future. This time he reply to me that maybe I don't trust him and we ended the conversation that night. In the past I have experienced romance scam but luckily I didn't fall into the trap of transferring any money. I don't know if I am just paranoid about this. I have deep feelings for him and I don't want to stop talking to him. Which I know maybe I should just stop and block him. We are still talking normally and that bitcoin topic never came up again. Can anyone give me advice if I am just overreacting because of the past experiences. He have never asked me personal details like address, date of birth, bank details. What he asked was only for me to consider trading bitcoin.
Catfished
April 14, 2021
Hi. I have been talking to a Norwegian (from Ohio) living in the UK says he owns a piping company. Calls on WhatsApp on a +1 number and is called George Adamski! His photos show no sign of being fake and we have spoken on the phone. He even got his daughter to ring me. Asked for no money in 3 months. It’s all suspicious as he does not like FaceTime but keeps talking about meeting me in June when he is back from setting up a job in South Africa! Is this a catfish?
Lotus
April 21, 2021

In reply to by Catfished

I believe this is a catfish. Adamski is not a Norwegian name. George Adamski was an American author (1891-1965). This person is fake
MissT
April 14, 2021
4 days ago a guy messaged me on Instagram. His name is Phillip Joe, he is 55 years old and has a son that is 15 years old. His wife died from breast cancer 5 years ago and his dad also passed away. He is from Houston Texas, but he is currently in Yemen contacted as a doctor and would like to retire once his contract is over. He sent me a picture of him and his son at the beach holding surfboards. I'm not ready for a relationship so I wasn't really into him, but I felt sorry for him as he said his wife died and I lost someone close to me a few years ago too. Over the past two days I have been extremely busy at work so I haven't been chatting to him which obviously upset him because he kept messaging me asking if I'm upset with him and he tried to phoned me multiple times while I was at work. When I got home from work I messaged him and said I am not obligated to message him as I am not his girlfriend and not once did I show any interest in him so how can he be heartbroken after 4 days. I had a strange feeling about him since he invited me on Instagram. HERE'S THE STRANGE PART!!!!! After I told him I am not obligated to respond to him he didn't read my message so I checked his Instagram and he deleted his account but the name he had on changed back to the original name sule_samaila which is a Nigerian name. Be careful!!!
Babydoll
April 29, 2021

In reply to by MissT

The guy I am talking to is also a Phillip. He sent me a dozen photos his company website in Texas which I googled n it came up. Everything he does the way he talks is like a scammer but one day I emailed the company owner and told him somebody may have stolen his profile n identity n he should report to FBI. My guy got the email n said to me what are you doing? This past Sunday we were texting when he said he is going out for a walk. Then surprise he sent me a video of him walking showing it is him. But he has asked for money in several occasions and keeps asking non stop. Very confusing. I think these scammers are pros.
sunnygirl73
April 14, 2021
Anyone talking to an engineer named Nicholas Benson?
Joseph Nandkishun
April 15, 2021
Can everybody share their scammer number
Jewel's 1220
April 16, 2021
Has anyone else heard of a scammer named Anthony Maxwell.
Mm
April 16, 2021
Anyone deal with a Maricon Escosis
Margo
April 17, 2021
Has anyone and talking to Rick Hermann supposedly from Germany but living in the US for the past 8 years. I met him on a dating site and a few days before we were supposed to meet, he got called to work in Libya where he is now supposedly. He asked me twice for Google Play cards and then wanted my Social Security, birthday, and my banking information so I could check his banking information because he was not able to check it from his location. I gave him nothing. I am sure he is a scammer
Pfk
April 17, 2021
Stay away from Richard Albert, he says he’s an oil Engineer in the gulf of Mexico never facetime only texts and then asks for money!
Joy45
June 07, 2021

In reply to by Pfk

Im so glad that I found this site! Richard Albert contacted me telling me he is an engineer and that he loves me and wants to marry me, I was suspicious so I googled his name which led me to this site. Thanks for sharing your experiences allowing me to avoid a scam!
Ashtay37
April 18, 2021
I think there should be a way to find out if they are really who they say they are and if it is a lie they should be punished in some way Impersonating a military officer can’t be allowed either
Scimscammed
April 18, 2021
Hello Has anyone heard of a person named Edgar Miker. I have been talking with him over 2 yrs. Sent him money a long time ago. Says he is in the UK as an engineer.
Too good to be true
April 18, 2021
Anyone hear of a Richard Alexandra?
CGranger
April 19, 2021
Has anyone been contacted by a female calling herself Beatrice Smith, she has been asking for money
Scared of love
April 19, 2021
I just started talking to a guy who says he is in the Army deployed in East Africa. First he asked for a picture of my drivers license, I looked it up in scams and told him no he got very angry and stopped talking to me, then came back apologizing we talked it n out he said he just wanted to see it , I said no. Now he is asking me to open a Willa App , gave me a code and is asking me to send him a screenshot. Is this a new scam? He and I really clock socially and I m newly divorcing so I m scared of getting scammed out of what little I do have or going to jail. Please advise me on this.
Elberto
April 19, 2021

In reply to by Scared of love

Don't... If anything provide him some kind of fake ID or if you want to send him you id change the number (AND your address!!! pls don't send your address.. some of these people are really bad news and if they have your address do you want things or odd people turning up???) on it in photoshop.. he surly doesn't need your correct ID ... Yes be careful.... if you have his first email or contact copy the whole script and do a google search on it (I have searched a whole page from a few people I thought were genuine only to find the word for word to many other peolpe.. promising love etc - if a scammer he has probably tried to scam others (just another angle to check) .. Sadly if you haven't met them face to face be very very very cautious as so many people want to scam money from people (I know it is terrible but some people it is apparently their income.. they get lots to fall for it) .. best of luck but be cautious ALbert Australia....
Lucky Lady
April 20, 2021

In reply to by Scared of love

Be very careful, don’t send any racy pictures, DON’T send any money or open any accounts, don’t give any personal information. Keep your guard up.
JEN
April 19, 2021
I have been taking to a guy i have met online for about a year i have sent £3450 over the year via his children's nanny, he says he is a pilot and needs the money to get out of his contract to transfer to the UK, he says he has sold his car to get the remaining money. He has now asked me to set up a UK bank account for when he transfers and wants to move his money from a Dubai account to the UK which has made me very concerned. After an argument i stupidly gave him my sort code and account number to return my money and i have worries this will be misused. Iam guessing this has been a year long scam
Pfk
April 21, 2021

In reply to by JEN

Yes this is a scam pilots are paid well and have access to their money. Never give out your personal info especially bank info.
Prancersmom
April 20, 2021
Scamming a friend. Says she is owned by Chinese mafia. Needed them to be paid off to let her go. Posted a photo after they supposedly beat her. Now claims after he's paid all this money that the driver delivering her to him ran off with her.
Harper
April 20, 2021
Anyone come across a man with an accent who says he’s an engineer and just want to contract and hast to go to India. He asked me to delete my account immediately and so did he. And he’s being all lovey-dovey instantly but he will not send me a selfie on the spot. He’s using the name Jose Branco
IyaBear
April 20, 2021
I recently talking to a a guy who followed me on Instagram we first talked in Instagram he has pictures and he said he is a 35 year old doctor from US he is currently working on a government isolation center. He told me he loved me and he was so happy that he found the love of his life, he called me love, honey or my queen. He never asked me any money I always asked if we can video chat but he said it is against government law he might lost his job i was so scared because we been exchanging picture. I wanted to make sure I wasn't dealing with a scammer. He also told me he is an only child his mother is from Sabah Malaysia and father from Missouri city Texas. I was unsure but i don't want to expose him because he might be a real person.
IyaBear
April 21, 2021
Its me again.. He send a package to me as he said and it supposed to arrived today but the courier ask me to pay 50 thousand Philippines pesos I told him that and he went nuts he will exposed my photos and everything..i don't know what to do..this might be a dangerous person.. i was so caught up on his romantic words, we are talking in whatsapp
ForestDweller
April 21, 2021
Yes just had this guy wanting to rush into a relationship, but i am doing this whole enjoy being single thing and still calling me baby. Claimed to be a surgeon , some story of losing his mom 15 years ago being part PuertoRican and here in America land of his fathers. shared photo of "him his dad and aunt" ..day 2 asks to be wired a nike or steam gift card or something because banks having issues with pandemic but also claims it is joint account from office. then i remembered on facebook the profile picture seemed more northern look and though it said Canada at first but guy claims to be in miami. Photos do not seem to be same person and definitely using love connection lingo still despite just getting to know each other etc. Either bad at faking being bad at english or bad at remembering what level of bad english comprehension to fake . Though i imagine if moving here with his dad at least 15 years ago that english comprehension would be a bit better .
Facepalm1
April 21, 2021
How about a Richard Figueroa. Says originally from Ukraine. Working in Singapore, widowed, has a son in Ontario living with his disabled aunt. Or Joseph originally from Greece living in Glendale. Parents & sister died in car accident. Girlfriend cheated 3 years ago. Either one sound familiar
IyaBear
April 21, 2021
Its me again.. He send a package to me as he said and it supposed to arrived today but the courier ask me to pay 50 thousand Philippines pesos I told him that and he went nuts he will exposed my photos and everything..i don't know what to do..this might be a dangerous person.. i was so caught up on his romantic words, we are talking in whatsapp
IyaBear
April 21, 2021
He gave me timeline on paying 50thousand pesos and I don't even have that kind of money. I asked my Instagram friends to report and block him posted it on Instagram so they can help me. I blocked the number that is asking for the money.. i reported him and blocked him in Instagram. I wanted to block him in WhatsApp but I am scared he might do something but if I did not pay him he will still do something. Im so scared and don't know what to do
Hope
April 22, 2021
He goes by Franklin Harrison saids he is Orthopedic stucked in Dubai Customs. He needs $5k to get back to Houston. I gave him $2k in Steam cards. Always huzzling me for money. He said he is a widowed & he has a son named Kelvin that stays with the Nanny. He promised me to buy me a Million dollar home, a car & always loved me. Always called me at 5:AM. Said he was in Syria & escaped War. Traveling with $4.2 Million Dollars &$500 K Blocks of Gold. He didn't declared it in Customs in Dubai, so he has to pay a Fee for his release. I almost sent him $15 K for his released from Customs in Dubai.
J.B.
April 22, 2021
I started talking to Edvin Erickanders, a petrochemical engineer from Norway, living in Austin, Texas and working on an offshore oil rig in Dubai. Both his son and mother have contacted me to say hello. He’s supposed to be back in Texas next week, but suddenly there was a tragic accident on the rig and as the person in charge the government has taken his passport and there will be fines. He hasn’t asked for money YET but I have a bad feeling about him. Would love to see other people’s photos of their scammers.
Flyrabbit21
April 26, 2021
I've being talking to a guy name Jacob Logan. He says he live in london and works in a vessel at the ocean. He said that he download software and direct vessel. He ask me for steam cards I gave him 1,400.00 dollars in steam cards. He also ask me for my bank account so he can have his manager to put money weekly in my bank account to pay for equipment for vessel. I said no so he broke up with me. I'm really hurt and depressed I had to get help from doctor. I know he scam me. He also say he has a dog name jack and a sister dying of cancer. I met him on meet me app. He has and account on instagram but he block me. I've being scam I wish i could post his picture.
Curious
April 29, 2021
is anyone talking to Goktas Hasan? He is on LinkedIn and says he is a doctor and a us solider assigned to the United Nations on a peace keeping mission in Syria .
Angelbrooke96
May 04, 2021
Anyone talked to a Greg walker? Says he is an independent Marine engineer. Lives in Pensacola. Says he is on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico for over 6 weeks.
Jknsk
May 04, 2021
Anyone have any interaction with a Wills Clifford???
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