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 look what this guys said to by perezazul12
I can just SEE that on the news on Spam Report, being acted out dramatically. I can just SEE Adam Schrager & co. ripping apart that thing you got. I know this is a pretty serious website, but, hey, if we make fun of the scammers, people might realize how ridiculous they are. And, yes, scammers are ridiculous, so, let's ridicule them! Why not?
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In reply to I have seen this a couple of by Jeanne
In reply to I also met someone on by Karen
Hi Karen, I'm speaking to a man with a very similar story, but hasn't asked for money yet. He calls himself George Woodworth. He says he's an oil mandate from Texas and is currently in Nigeria on business. Supposedly after winning a contract to pump and transport 4 million barrels of oil back to the US. I've spoken with him on the phone once, very briefly. I so want this to be true, but after several other men trying to scam me from Match, I'm very concerned. I am beginning to have feelings for this man. He sent me flowers a few weeks after I met him, and was 'in love' pretty quickly. I think I know in my gut he is a scammer. That's why I have been doing some research. Since your story is so similar, I'm thinking I uncovered a rat. :-( If you see this let's talk somehow and compare notes. -Amy
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In reply to Amy , does he send you lots by Karen
In reply to Karen, I think we may have by Nisey8284
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In reply to Karen, I think we may have by Nisey8284
In reply to Amy , does he send you lots by Karen
Karen, Amy, Nisey8284, I think I might be dealing with the same guy also, or their may be a group of them from what I am understanding.. It's very sad that these kind of guys play with so many people's emotions and don't even care or bat an eye..! Pm me on Facebook(xxxx). I would love to compare notes and several pics too!!
In reply to Karen, Amy, Nisey8284, I by LAK69
We don't post personal information on the blog.
In reply to Karen, Amy, Nisey8284, I by LAK69
I cannot understand why I have become so attached to someone I have never met . I know he lies about his son because I caught him at it . His son was actually a Chinese boy who was abuse d and there was a story written about him and his situation online . I would love to talk with you . Email me At
In reply to Amy , does he send you lots by Karen
In reply to Hi Karen, by Amy
The oil story sounds familiar, only Tullow Oil in Kenya. He sent pictures and has a very shallow FB presence, He says his name is Thomas Klose. I googled, reversed Searched no digital way to authenticate.
In reply to The oil story sounds familiar by ReadytoScream
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In reply to Ive been talking to her too. by Suckdin
You can help law enforcement by reporting this. File a complaint with the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
You can also report it to the wire transfer companies that you used to send money to Texas.
In reply to You can help law enforcement by FTC Staff
In reply to Someone- I was scammed by by somebody
You can report a scam to the wire transfer company you used to send the money. If someone took money from your bank account, you can report that to your bank.
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In reply to Not all people who need by Not s scammer
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In reply to Scammed by a super handsome by kimberlyannest…
Hi , I've been chatted to this guy called Frank Ben but he's sounds exactly the same guy as he's wife's passed in the car accident, he's had 2 kids twin Jenny and Mark they are 12years old lived with nanny in Miami Florida while he's working in uk as petroleum engineering. I must say he's very sweet and passionated I did feels for him but my head telling me he Isn't real and my heart said what if he's real , so I ended and same things he's stopped talking to me instantly, do you have a pic of him , he's fb is Frank Ben , and he's Skype is Frank.ben35 please ladies be aware
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In reply to I have been contact by a by Joyous
This could be a scam. Ifyou meet someone online, you don't know who he really is. You don't know if the pictures he sends are true. You don't know if the story he tells is true.
Many, many people write comments about hearing stories from men they meet online. The stories are similar to yours: the man is a professional, he lost his wife, he has a child who needs school fees or money, he is outside the US on business and will come to the US soon.
If you give this person your address and show your ID, like your drivers's license or Social Security number, he can use that for fraud. He knows your name and email, and maybe phone number. If you tell your address and ID, he has a lot of personal information about you. He could commit identity theft and use your information to open a new account with your name.
In reply to I have been contact by a by Joyous
In reply to I have seen this a couple of by Jeanne
In reply to I have seen this a couple of by Jeanne
I am this person Sorry dude i scammed hem for money in facebook hahaha its me i cant believe it
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