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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.

OilSlick
August 26, 2018
His name is Dave Wilson. Parents dead, raised by Italian Uncle, wife killed in attempted robbery, 13 yr old daughter in boarding school. Private contractor,crew leader on oil rig . Asks for money,gifts for daughter, and cards. Has been on his way to visit numerous times, but something always deters him, then needs more money. Says he can't wait to be married. Lives in Texas when in the states, but is building dream home in Cal for after marriage. A real smooth sweet talker, pray together but he is a bit controlling. Anyone else talk to Dave Wilson?
Smartoldlady
August 27, 2018
This guy was on Instagram and he posted pictures of his interior design only he said he lived in New Jersey but works out of the country in hungry and Nigeria and after knowing him for a few days he started giving his woes about his money problems when asking him questions he didn’t respond Properly. He asked me three different times in three different ways to send him money he asked for iTunes cards because he had to upgrade his phone so when I called Apple they said if he wanted iTunes cards he could order them from anywhere in the world online and they would email them to him or if he needs to upgrade his equipment he can do that through Apple and pay through his Apple ID number which has the credit card attached to it no comment on this got mad because I called him a liar so he contacted me I did not contact him . So ladies watch out on instagram
Smartoldlady
August 27, 2018
Watch out on Instagram for James Twedt khan. Says he is an engineer interior design blah blah blah shows pictures of his interior design he starts talking to you and tries to suck feeling take a sweetheart and then start asking you to do the first thing my eyes open a bank account so he could transfer money into it and then you take out your portion and send him the rest like he’s doing you a big favor and then secondly he said he couldn’t get into his bank account because he lost his iPhone so I asked him how come he couldn’t download his information from the cloud which would give him all his bank information back never got an answer to that then I was asked to buy iTunes card so he could upgrade his phone and I called Apple and they said you don’t upgrade your phone on iTunes you buy apps if he needs upgrades he would go to the Apple store and when you get an Apple account you get to enter a credit card and everything would be charged your credit card though got no answer on that I asked him how long he’s been in international business he says over 10 years and he needed $6000 to pay for insurance to get a job in Nigeria and I said if you’ve been in the business that long how it is that you have not worked out your banking arrangements in 10 years it should not involve a third-party who doesn’t even know you so watch out for him he contacts you he goes through his list of people who are on your Instagram account and tries to get hooked up with them
Sonyainvt
August 27, 2018
The guy i spoke with is in the army. His named he usedd is william michael. He has a son named david living with his mom lucy in texas. He asked me for an iphone for his sons birthday.
Sonyainvt
August 27, 2018
The guy i spoke with is in the army. His named he usedd is william michael. He has a son named david living with his mom lucy in texas. He asked me for an iphone for his sons birthday.
wordsmith
August 27, 2018
I think I've got one of these scammers on words with friends--said he's from Topeka, KS...and is on peacekeeping mission in syria as an orthopedic surgeon...
Awesome grandma
December 23, 2019

In reply to by wordsmith

I had a message on facebook messenger when i accepted friend request from a man named patrick Robert. A physician who is in syria with UN as an orthopedic surgeon. Thought it was weird because he acted like he found me on a dating site so i quickly thought that was weird
ndr
August 27, 2018
Anyone know a person using the name Of PATRICK MORRIS says he is in the army in Syria
Cassie
June 23, 2020

In reply to by ndr

no but I have one named Jesse Morris have several pictures to if you can describe him would be helpful
Rt
June 26, 2020

In reply to by Cassie

My friend is talking to someone named Alex Morris. Says he’s from California and stationed in Syria. He sent her a picture and she sent it to me. He is kind of smiling, beard, maroon shirt.
Nardbc
August 27, 2018
I’m a guy and someone messaged me on Instagram: a woman. She is single, broken hearted,and she’s looking for a serious relationship. She gave me her gmail account and we use Hangouts App to continue conversations. A lot of good intentions and promises that later on she gave her ‘heart’ to me.... I don’t know what next. We’re still having conversations. Gonna update what would happen. I know legit it’s the same scam I read on the comment section.
Confused
January 12, 2020

In reply to by Nardbc

That sounds familiar to me about the person I'm talking to did she mention gold?
some Where out…
August 27, 2018
Michael did the same to me. Military seargent. Special forces dead parents marriage proposal but I tracked him down. he is serving life sentence for rape. Always concerned with my cell and wanted me check on things online for him. Acted really jealous controlling and insecure. Once confronted he apologized and told me a lot of guys in prisons do this to survive. All use the same script and sometimes share the women. I got gifts from him. Flowers clothes a stereo he even sent me a debit card. He wanted me to put some money on his prepaid card. I cried broke and he sent me money instead. Ladies protect your wallet and your heart. I was devistated when I learned he was a prisooner.
Becarefuloffrauds
August 28, 2018
Pls be careful everyone. I'm a victim of scammers too and learnt my lesson the very hard way. Don't be deceived by their good looks and background. All are fake. That's reality.
ampi
August 28, 2018
Anybody has come across Victor Ronald victorronald1971, he claims to be an enginer from Austin Texas, he added me on Instagram and then we Went on chatting on hangout, he said he is divorced on count of his wife were cheating, no children a desised mother and an elderly father, he as not yet asked for Money and he his declaring his love for me after only been chatting for a month. He says he is 45 and in his Pictures he is very good looking.
gandyponn
August 28, 2018
Is it me or are there a TON of girls who are half American who live in Ghana? What is this? They are asking for Itunes cards for their phones, who cares? I say no of course, due to the axiom "Do not send money to someone you have not met in person." Anytime a girl asks anything financial that should be an automatic red flag @ 10 x 50FEET
Joseph
August 28, 2018
So sad
Miss Liz
August 28, 2018
I need help guys I met a guy on POF. I have done the reverse image search and nothing. He says his name is Jeff and he lives in Kentucky and in the military. He has not asked me for any money he has sent me a bunch of pictures he even sent me a selfie with a personal message to me. I have talked to him on the phone he does have an accent but he said he is Ukrainian he is in military. I am scared of being scammed but what if he is legit. I have tried everything I can think of to catch him in a lie but I have not been able to. What else can I do
fiona
August 28, 2018
A man named vin diesel sent me a message through twitter. he seemed very nice. sweet even. he sent me flowers online, said to get hangouts so we could talk. said i was a special person to be able to talk to him as many others would like to be in my position. i googled him. to my huge surprise it was the movie actor!! of all people. We talked for 3 days. then he said he would lie to ask me a favor. ok i said. he asked me to buy him a $100 itunes gift card from walmart. What?????? I thought, no, this cannot be right. i made excuses, he got upset, then very conciliatory. said he would video call me on hangouts so i could see it was him. is that failsafe? i don't know. all i know is that it was very disappointing. i think i can be certain that the real mr. diesel would NEVER do such a thing. am i correct in thinking that? how dreadful that someone would pretend to be him and besmirch his name and reputation by doing it. it left a bad feeling with me. of course i would have loved to be talking to the REAL mr. diesel, but whatever would he want to talk to me about? i am someone he most surely does not know. very sad.
In shock
August 28, 2018
I met a Bill Anderson through Instagram Seemed nice Romany I fell for him We exchanged family pictures Told me his lost his wife to cancer 3 yrs ago, had a 8 yr old daughter. Then after talking for almost a week he said he was UN journalist and was leaving for 5 weeks and that it was his last assignment to retirment . 1st week was in London for assignment then rest of week in Yemen in assignment when I asked for work ID said his job was classified Trust me it felt so real I felt I has found my Prince His daughter stays in boarding when he travels on duty Ana when home nanny helps Put he even sent me pictures of his sa Called daughter Stupid me fell for all the BS Then finally triggered my suspicions is when he told me he received terrible news that he had invested large sums of money and Gold in a security company on UK who invests in a security company Then I told Him I could not do that he then begged me I was the only one he could trust I said well then I will help and he needed to give me the details hebthen said details are In the box and all I needed to do is email The company he has given me Idiot thought I would fall for that I cut him immediately fortunately I did not get scammed He always wanted to talk on hangouts
Norma
August 28, 2018
I'm not sure why but this site is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I'll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.
haledav
August 29, 2018
Ok, so here's my scammer story. I was on a business trip and got a friend request on my FB page from a very attractive looking young lady ... went to her page before agreeing, as I always do and it was very plain vanilla. But you know us guys ... we think with something other than our brain a lot! Anyway, she immediately contacts me through Messenger and says she is a E6 Staff Sargent stationed in Kabul on a peacekeeping mission and says she had her heart broken by her last boyfriend and just wants to find a good man to have a relationship with, blah, blah, blah. I'm sort of buying in and start conversing, but I realize after a bit that some of tha answers I get back seem sort of canned, like they are being cut and pasted. At some point, and this is on the first conversation, she says she can tell I am a really good guy (helps not to know me ;-)) and that she really likes me .... long story short, I was bored, in a hotel for two days waiting for a convention to start, and I played along. She tells me she is in love with me by the second day, having never met me, but having seen the pic I sent in response to NUMEROUS scantily clad pics she sent to me, and asking for "coins" so she can continue to send me pics. I now know for sure I am being scammed and refuse, but she keeps sending me messages that she is coming back soon from Afghanistan and will be opening a jewelry store with me and how we will live happily ever after .... having never met me for one split second of course. I mean, isn't this how J-Lo and Alex hooked up? Finally, at the end of the trip, she says she wants to send me a box filled with jewels and other personal items that she wants kept safe until she finishes her last mission. I demurred and finally had to delete Google Hookups (the app), just to stop all this nonsense. Do you think Jobs had any idea of the havoc that would come when he invented personal computing??? Good luck everybody!!!
Binky
August 29, 2018
Hi. Does the name Marcos Smith, elderly goodlooking military gentleman, from America ring a bell with any of you ladies? Was contacted out of the blue on FB messenger, told how beautiful i am and may we chat per email. Im worried now...
Deborah68
August 29, 2018
I have bern scammed. I fell in love with my scammer but a big part of me was suspiciously cautious. We have been talkibg for months and the more we talked tge more comfortable and trusting I became. I bought two Itune cards eith my own money. When I told him I had no more mobet to spend he had a brillant idea that I fell for. He was injured on his oil rig and ended up having surgery in a hosputal in Mexico. He had a friend pay $700 on my credit card abd with that mobey I vould buy Itune cards which I did for two months. The third month the $700 payment was returned to hid friend's bank. My credit card was closed. He didn't get his cards and I lodt my credit card. He always claimed he was a rich man. I told him rich people always had access to their money and they had people to tske care of things. It gets crazier he is still in hospital and his surgery was in June. I have been asking him questions about his long hosputal stay and he has started making mistakes on his story. Today was the final straw. He supposedly sold s house in Austin Texas and wanted to have his agen wire the money yo my bank account. I started firing off questions ehy the money can't be wired yo his Chase bank account. Why do I have to be involved and do on. So far he has not answered any of my questions. All I have lost is $300 and my credit card which I have to pay off in the amount of $767. I feel angry with myself and stupid but reading the stories here I don't feel do alone. Thanks everyone.
Sandra
August 30, 2018
Ryon Leon Jeffrey Anyone heard about that name. Is 42 and originally posted himself as Dr Andy Baxter (a gorgeous man that was originally on the bachellor. When I threatened to expose him He gave me a confessional text and sent me a picture of himself. Still asking for itune cards and $. If the last pictures he sent were true he is not a bad looking dude. Wish we could put pictures up
Curious
March 03, 2020

In reply to by Sandra

You may not be able to post pictures but you can describe how he looks! Let all social media USERS know what he looks like! Maybe he slipped and gave someone else that same pic! Let all social media USERS know!
subieloo
August 30, 2018
i think i am being scammedi been chatting to us soldier in nigeria supposedly on some peace keeping mission, i tackled him about it being a scam when i wouldnt let him come visit after only chatting few times (im in uk) got all humpty about it but was ok after i explained why, he rekons he a widow with a daughter, hes 47 but pics looks lot younger, changed his name from rex wellington, to john leo and told me all military have alias, has sent me inappropriate pic today and claims army is fining him for doing so, $600 and will loose his internet device unless he pays it say he no access to his own finances , i really have been sucked in by him but i am a bit more cautious than he credits me for. do you think im right
Broken-Heart
September 01, 2018

In reply to by subieloo

Hello, Can you describe what he looks like and also have you seen pictures of his daughter too? I’m also talking to a man who is currently working in Nigeria also but hasn’t asked me for money yet. I just want to know if we are talking to the same guy?
GrandmaSmart
September 07, 2018

In reply to by Broken-Heart

I may be able to help. I just cut off communication with a very handsome guy with green eyes, who has a 10 year old daughter, and has pictures with known actors here in the US. He won't ask for money soon, but will tell you that "you are GOd-sent". He has about 45 or 47 pics on his site, and I met him as "georgiepoohpoo". Stays that he was a "back room" or "back-stage" actor. Picture of "him" doing a high-dive on his site. Profile says he lives in Denver, CO, and is 'circumstaintally divorced'. never heard of that, but 'late wife' is Maria.
KATHY
August 30, 2018
i to was contacked on facebook 14 months ago by someone named nelson anderson and he said he a privet oil contract and was going to make alot of money from it when the contract was compleated well he still hasnt but has asked me for money to fix repares on two different occations plus itune cards and amazon cards but now he has stoped talking to me
silly old woman
August 30, 2018
On face book I accepted friend handsome man . Told me he was a milatary surgeon working in Jordan , I thought why not chat . No harm many miles away . Claimed his wife died accident . Son in boarding school . After 3 days said he loved me and wanted to meet me . But I would have to e mail united nation to grant him leave ... Then after 3 weeks asked for air fare to come over . By this time my girls intervened and said it was a scam . So blocked him . He even messaged my daughter and said he was going to be her step dad .as he loved me . Thing is we found another account on f b of him with Islamic connections . So ladies take heed he is very good. Name he goes by is Frank William
Can't believe …
August 30, 2018
I have been playing Words With Friends...and, all of a sudden, have had an avalanche of men falling in love with me. LOL George Stoller, James Lugard, Greg Williams...not of Brady Bunch fame, Alex White, Donald Smith, Gregory Johnson, and Thomas Greg. Most are engineers, wives all died tragically, leaving all of them with young children to raise alone. Most are on oil rigs in the middle of the ocean and need iturnes cards so they can call their children...who are being cared for by nannies. None have working credit cards. All of those men are hopelessly in love with me. LOL All of them send roses...pics of roses...not real ones. I had numerous other ones. I even had a General in the French Air Force...on a peace keeping mission. He had the name of a real French general, but he was 30 years younger than the real one. They must think American woman are stupid. I know it would be easy to fall for their lines of BS, but I'm skeptical and think anything that sounds that good can't be real. All of them want to go to Hangouts since they don't have time to play Words. Oh...yeah...there was a surgeon, too. I asked what kind and he said a medical surgeon. DUH!!! I like to play along for a while...then...tell them I have had a better offer. I told the general that I had a better offer from a medical surgeon. The surgeon told me to pick out a home in Florida, one with all the bells and whistles. LOL Now who else is going to offer me something like that! Please, please be aware of who you are talking to!!!
Don't use your…
September 05, 2018

In reply to by Can't believe …

This got me laughing! All the guys that love you! They love my beautiful face lol on Instagram. Last week l thought someone (my scammer) had posted my profile on a men's locker room wall!!!
Can't believe …
August 30, 2018
One of my scammers told me he wanted to add me to his daughter's Hangout account. He wanted her to see me because I was going to be her Muddy. She needs to know her Muddy. He apparently didn't pay attention in English class. I told him I was too old to be his 9 yr old daughter's Muddy. He accused me of not loving her and being cruel. I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with not sending her an iTunes card. LOL One of the engineers on the oil rig wanted iTunes cards so he could look up information on how to fix something on the oil rig. He said if I didn't send the card, he would be stuck there for 6 more months and I would be responsible for shutting an oil rig down that multiple countries rely on. Oh Dear...I never imagined I was THAT important. I play along with their stories, just to see how they will try to get money. They beg and beg, then beg some more. I finally tell them I believe them to be a scammer...and... POOF...they are gone. Sad...so sad....that you can't do anything online without running in to scam artists.
hello
August 31, 2018
what if it's someone u met online using other apps but not dating apps and we were chatting at first, but after 3months, we started talking on phone and then on video calls almost everyday. and he lets me know everything about his financial situation and work and family. Now after 6 months , he asked for a loan for an urgent credit payment which he didnt know he was due for a thing he bought (which i knew and saw), not much about 100$ and he didnt pursue on it when I was kind of reluctant and said he shouldnt ask for it. I trust him enough to meet him in person in next few months but now Im not sure after i have read all comments from here. He's nothing like the profiles you guys mentioned and I am a very cautious person from the start... but now I started feeling like i cant trust him enough. what should i do?
Mazfarn
August 31, 2018
Anyone talking to a guy called Ethan wayne. Claims to be 7ft 2. From Alaska but in Australia as he's a horn player. Very short hair greyish beard. Rather good looking. Around 45?
beautiful life
August 31, 2018
BEWARE: 1-Cristian Russo - met on Bumble - 57 yr old widow living in East Tennessee - salt and pepper hair attractive man living in East Tennessee - raised in Italy - mother an Italian artist in Rome raising his 14 yr old son - father, German, deceased - wife died in a tragic car accident - wants to meet but suddenly has to leave for Berlin for an awarded contract to install solar panels from China on a project there in Berlin - requests for Bitcoin joint account (NOT) - send Apple money (NOT) - receive a coin box from Gana with money (NOT) - sent pictures of himself in a pool at hotel in Berlin - became indignant when I questioned that it was March, that the hotel he claims he is staying at only has indoor pool, and that there are no palm trees in Berlin. Blocked and reported. 2-Benjamin Raymond Tucker - met on Match - 60 - German but raised in Australia - favorite place to vacation was Bahamas - recently moved from CA to middle TN because a friend advised he come there after his 2nd divorce - no children - construction engineer - sent pictures - set to meet when he had to go to Alaska for project - once in Alaska he said his funds were frozen in his account for the project and asked me to arrange for helicopter from Valdez to Anchorage so he could meet bankers face to face (NOT) - blocked and reported. 3-Steve - met on Match - 60 yr old widow - allegedly lives in Bradyville TN with elderly mom and his adult daughter - wife died of cancer 4 yrs ago - set to meet when he had to leave for Capetown South Africa to build a small municipal airport - couldn’t get materials for project out of customers, begged for monetary help - his pictures were the same pic as Benjamin Raymond Tucker !!! when confronted, became indignant and said the other guy stole his identity !! - blocked and reported 4-David Jamez - met on Bumble - extremely attractive 54 yr old widow from Nashville - born in Italy of a German father (deceased) and Bahamian mother - mother now resides in Bahamas and that is where is 27 yr old daughter resides as well - construction engineer (Smart Construction LLC) - all set to meet when he has to go to Cyprus for a project - begged for money to help finish project so he could come back home (NOT) - blocked and reported 4-Mark Forsberg - met on Match - 59 yr old widow - no kids - from Sweden - wife died of cancer 5 yrs ago - allegedly lives in Mooresville AL - set to meet when have to go to Sacramento about a project for a couple of days - couple of days turned into a week and then, of course, awarded a project for solar panels out of China on a project in Cyprus - I asked if he was installing solar panels for David Jamez (above) - LOL - blocked and reported ALL of these men professed love way too early, had foreign accents that could be associated with where they claimed to be born and raised, used numerous terms of endearment, copied and pasted phrases, poetry, etc., made promises and more.
kelly
April 01, 2019

In reply to by beautiful life

I was contacted by David Jamez as well. Said he lived in Toronto now. Widower and 27 year old daughter. Smart Construction. Said he spent a year in jail due to a fatality on the construction site in Cypress. He suddenly had to go back to finish the job. He asked me for $3,000. I refused and then he told me it was down to $1,600. Made me feel very bad for not giving him money. This all happened in November.
Kathy
May 08, 2019

In reply to by kelly

I was scramed out of $3000.00 dollars by a David Jamez He said all kinds of Crap He said He had a 24 year old Daughter living in Germany with His 84 year old Mother and was stranded in Cyprus and need Money to come back Home to Augusta, Georgia please beware of Him.
Susie.
June 05, 2020

In reply to by Kathy

I think we’re talking to the same man. He texts and talks about love and is very attentive even though he’s in Cyprus. His worker was hurt in a construction accident. He’s starting to hint that he needs money a and a computer. I’m really upset right now.
Scammed
June 18, 2020

In reply to by Susie.

Susie & Joni - did the same thing to me and more at the exact same time he was doing it to you ! Even cried with me !
Susie.
June 05, 2020

In reply to by Kathy

I think we’re talking to the same man. He texts and talks about love and is very attentive even though he’s in Cyprus. His worker was hurt in a construction accident. He’s starting to hint that he needs money a and a computer. I’m really upset right now.
joni
January 02, 2020

In reply to by beautiful life

Amazing - Mark Forsberg contacted me through facebook dating. he says he is 62 - he claims he is an engineer - he claimed he lives in NYC - had to go to cyprus for a project but somehow it is really extended - what is his scam? Besides wasting my time.
Susie.
June 06, 2020

In reply to by joni

I really hope you respond. Would love to talk to you and compare notes about Mark Forsberg. He has a really nice voice and is totally charming Professes his love constantly but now he’s stuck in Cyprus after a construction accident with no cc cards and a broken computer. He’s hinting he needs money.
Scammed
June 16, 2020

In reply to by Susie.

Joni & Susi - Mark Forsberg - - Me too !!! Will be back with details just found out recently - Too upset to talk but same exact time as you both !
Scammed
June 17, 2020

In reply to by Susie.

I replied once already / I can not see my response here - but I too have been scammed by him / same period of time / same issues / plus issues you haven’t mentioned ! My story is much more extensive !!!!!
Sexy girl
August 16, 2020

In reply to by Scammed

I’m turning the tables on him still talking to him read all your comments Mark Forsberg he’s been professing his love I’m laughing so hard because he’s falling for it
Marina
December 12, 2020

In reply to by Sexy girl

I spent several weeks in September and October corresponding with Mark Forsberg (met through Facebook Dating). My experience with him matches what everyones else is describing. Luckily I found this site and when he eventually sent the message about his worker getting injured and loosing his computer I was expecting it (and it was so obvious that it was a cut+paste job!!!). I challenged him on it , he turned nasty and we stopped corresponding. I almost wish I had gone along for a while longer to see what came next. Did he ask for money?