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.
In reply to Yes dear,I had the same thing by Cindylynn
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In reply to Just curious what this guys by LAK69
Yep me too I have figured out the same thing u can tell how established they are by lots photos and friends but not always I had a supposed to be military had two accounts . He also said his dad died in Army and mother killed in auto accident on her way for vacation to Italy and he was an only child. On the other account last name was different same guy posing with his brother in military uniforms with last name different he goes by Nicholas Johnston on one and Nick Millinger on other claims he's in Afghanistan working as civil engineer making $30,000 a month but could not get access to his account to apply for a leave which raised a red flag I knew that was not true because I had brothers who got their checks and sent them home to save,0.
He never asked for money because he knew I was on to him. I really liked him and much older so I said he could be my Godson and so it was we discussed the Bible and he told me how much he loved me an wanted to meet me and be a part of my family. I texted him fb and told him I found out he has lied to me haven't heard from him since I outsmarted him and some others who were scammers and now I won't accept friends unless I know of them or know them especially men all this fairytale love at first sight is bogus as I have always said u have to meet and spend time together to find out about them so don't let go of ur money if they need money u don't need them
In reply to Just curious what this guys by LAK69
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In reply to Scottyspd, what a similar by MaCing
This sounds like a scam to get your money. The scammer said he would send expensive gifts, but only showed you a picture. He pretended to send you expensive gifts, but he made you pay before you could get the gift!
It sounds like he was trying to get you excited, and then take your money.
In reply to This sounds like a scam to by FTC Staff
In reply to Bridget Small-FTC, it really by MaCing
If you sent money to an individual person, you could start by contacting that person. Or you could ask someone at your bank for ideas, or contact the bank you sent the money to. If someone tricked you into giving them money, it might be something to report to law enforcement.
In reply to If you sent money to an by FTC Staff
Bridget, if I transferred money from a Wells Fargo account to someone else's Wells Fargo account, and later found out I was scammed, is there anything I can do? I filed a complaint on the ic3 site, but haven't heard back. I provided the bank checking account information for the person who the money went to. Do I have any recourse?
In reply to Bridget, if I transferred by iblori
If that person knows your account number, they can take money from your account. Talk to your bank about protecting your account.
Depending on the details of what happened, you could make a report to local law enforcement, or to the online site where the person contacted you. If the person used the US mail, you can give envelopes to your local post office. You can also report to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give the FTC goes into a database that the FTC and other law enforcement use for investigations.
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