Consumer Alert
Faking it — scammers’ tricks to steal your heart and money
Not 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.
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In reply to Has any one heard of Scott by Tonicabrera56
In reply to I met a guy on line thru by Susiep64
In reply to It kinda almost sounds kinda by Don't use your…
In reply to Does anyone come across with by Mrs. Emmanuel …
The story sounds like a scam. When you meet someone online, and they soon ask you to send money by Western Union or MoneyGram, it's usually a scam.
Scammers often change the names and photos they use when they communicate. If you hear a story that sounds like a scam, don't send money, and don't him tell your bank account or other personal information.
In reply to HAve a guy claiming to be a by steponme
In reply to I am not sure if I am being by Josie
This sounds like a scam.
A person who works for the United States Secret Service is a federal employee. A federal employee usually will not use his personal bank account when he travels for government business; the US government handles his business expenses.
Some scammers use people to help them transfer stolen money. They meet people online and create a relationship, and ask their new sweetheart to use their bank account to receive and transfer stolen money.
If you do this for a scammer, your name is on the bank account and on the money transfer forms. If you get involved with one of these schemes, you could lose money and personal information, and you could get into legal trouble.
Other scammers send fake checks to their new friends. They ask the friend to deposit the check, and then quickly transfer funds overseas. It can take days for the bank to find out a check is fake. If you transfer money before the bank has fully cleared the check, you can lose money. If the bank finds out the check was fake, but you have already sent the money, you will have to repay the bank all the money you sent.
In reply to I have been talking to a guy by Wishful thinking
Hi Wishful Thinking, Can you describe what he looks like and what his daughter looks like too?i have also been talking to a guys for the past 5 months and he sounds just like the guy you are talking too. Thank you
In reply to I have been talking to a guy by Wishful thinking
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In reply to Is there a scam about widowed by simone
Yes, there is a scam about sending you a box of valuable items.
The scam works like this: you meet someone online. He lives or works outside your country. After you talk for a while, he suddenly learns he must ship a box of valuable items. He says you are the only person he can trust, and he must send this box right away. He says the box will come soon, and he shows you shipping paperwork. But then you get a phone call, or email from "customs" or a "shipping company" and they say you must pay thousands of dollars for taxes or fees for this box. The calls are very demanding, and your "sweetheart" also wants you to pay. He promises he will repay you very soon.
This is a scam to get your money. There is really no box of valuable items, and no "customs" or "shipping company." Those are scammers who want your money.
In reply to Yes, there is a scam about by FTC Staff
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This is a scam. Don't send money or personal information to this person.
If you keep communicating with him, he might ask you to send money to help him transfer the "millions." Or he might say he will ship the money to you. He might show fake paperwork to prove the "shipment" is coming. But, then you will get calls and email from a "shipping company" or "customs office" demanding that you pay taxes and fees for the shipment.
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It's can be really hard to help someone understand that they are dealing with a scammer. Some victims stop talking to scammers when they realize scammers are criminals, and they use the money they take from victims for criminal activity.
Some scammers use people to help them transfer stolen money. They meet someone online, create a relationship, and ask their new sweetheart to use her bank account to receive and transfer stolen money.
If you do this for a scammer, your name is on the bank account and on the money transfer forms. If you get involved with one of these schemes, you could lose money and personal information, and you could get into legal trouble.
Other scammers send fake checks to their new friends. They ask the friend to deposit the check, and then quickly transfer funds overseas. It can take days for the bank to find out a check is fake. If you transfer money before the bank has fully cleared the check, you can lose money. If the bank finds out the check was fake, but you have already sent the money, you will have to repay the bank all the money you sent. Also, your bank might charge you fees, or close your account.
In reply to It's can be really hard to by FTC Staff
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