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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I wish I could believe you WERE A FOOL! Your story is almost identical to mine. I am crying now as I reply. My heart is so fragile as it is. I believed too that he is my perfect match, directly from God Himself! Part of me wishes I'd NOT find this site. I want him to be real with all my being. I'VE spoken with him via skype WITH video so I know his real face. I thought I knew his real heart. I've not sent any money - I don't have any! But I have still be very much scammed as far as it sounds from this site. I"m going to bed now so I can cry myself to sleep. I really thought I had my guard up enough to catch such a game. :( If you have read enough stories on this site, you have no option BUT to believe he is a scammer. Tis clear we are not the only ones.
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You say someone is threatening you and your daughter over the phone and email. You can choose to stop communicating with the people who are threatening you. You can block them on your phone, email and social media. If you think you are in immediate danger, call 911.
You said you got a credit card that you didn't apply for. That could mean that someone stole your personal information to get a credit card. You can call the credit card company and cancel the card, and it's important to go to IdentityTheft.gov.
IdentityTheft.gov is a secure federal government website. You can report that someone got a credit card in your name. You will get tips about what to do, like how to put a freeze on your credit, and how to check your credit report.
You can report a scam to MoneyGram (1-800-926-9400) or Western Union (800-448-1492) Tell the wire transfer companies what names these people are using, and the locations where they pickup money.
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You're right, that could be a scam. Some scammers find a person, and after they form a “relationship,” they ask their new friend if they can use their bank account. The scammer transfers stolen money into the account, and tells the victim to wire the money out of the country. The victims thinks she's helping out, but she doesn't realize she might be aiding and abetting a crime.
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