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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.

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Topics
Shopping and Donating
Scams
Romance Scams

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

jameslisaboyer
June 28, 2016

In reply to by Army

Has anyone dealt with a very good looking service man in Homs Syria Needing money for a ticket to get home...he goes by James Boyer...Patrick boyer...James Patrick boyer....he is a real trick!!!

Robert Onne
December 07, 2015

In reply to by Robert Onne

I joined Our Time online dating. He asked for my phone # . He fell in love right away. His voice did not match his picture. When I asked for us to meet he said he was going to Turkey to build a building. He sent me a # from there. Then asked for a cell phone & for me to checks to check his bank account. When I said no he became angry & never heard from him. He has a picture on Linkin.com for working people say he attempted UCLA & lives in Hollywood. Help me report him lupedukes

turkey scam
February 22, 2016

In reply to by Robert Onne

I think I've been scammed by the same person--same story! What was his name?

such a fool
July 28, 2016

In reply to by turkey scam

I think I may be the latest. I didn't send any money thank god. He claims to be from Boston, went over to Turkey to build something. Asked me for money...his name is Chase...anyone else dealing with this guy? Really handsome looking.
Angel
November 13, 2020

In reply to by turkey scam

If anyone is in Instagram there is a guy that calls himself Preet or Gurpreet Singh that is a romance scammer. I’m sure he has accounts under other names. He is from India. He has an account on Facebook under Karan Ramgharia. He will tell you he loves you within the first week. He says his mom is sick and he needs money for her to see the doctor. Nigeria isn’t the only place that has scammers.
jomalsan4521
December 11, 2015

In reply to by Robert Onne

i think the person i meeet in facebook is a scammer please help me to find out if is real o lie
hot dog
December 15, 2015

In reply to by jomalsan4521

I have been talking to this man for three years
chetyle
December 18, 2015

In reply to by jomalsan4521

I all so have been talking to someone for all most two yrs on Facebook. His name is mike Smith profile Smith Mike suppose to be an engineer is he the same one you talk to?
karen
May 31, 2016

In reply to by chetyle

Hello, My name is Karen. I was asked to accept a friend request on FB. I accepted by mistake and he started mesg me. Since I didn't not know hiim and didn't not respond to his messages for quite a while. Then he tells me he knows a distant friend of mine so I replied with" who are you?" . After a convincing answer I started chatting with him. Started out to be casual chat, gave me his phone number, email address, chatted on the phone and then BOOM! He's telling me he wants a relationship with me. I chatted a bit more to see where this would go until he said he was falling in love with me. Good Grief! We never met. He's in New York, so he says. I'm live in CA. I dropped him and told him you are phony. His calls himself Gary Michael Smith. His email address is coolnewyorkdog . Com, his phone # is (925)xxx xxxx and he even has a post of his company listed on Manta website called G&R Environmental Services Inc. New Rochelle, New York along with his name Gary Smith. Gary, who I do not believe tells the truth and scams women into believing he is truly interested is a fake. There is a voice to Gary, he has a very strong India accent, which I barely understood his English. All I'm saying is his likes are from a few women who live in different countries and he never hits like...humm, red flag. Ladies out there be aware. He knows the right things to say and I'm sure if I would have not been wise he was either looking for money or lives in a love fantasy world. Please be careful ladies. Gary Michael Smith almost fooled me.

karenreynolds
September 21, 2016

In reply to by majestical

MeetMe dating service seems to be over run with scammers. A lot of dead wives and children with the nanny. Marine Biologists and Oil Company (BP and Chevron) personnel.
Carron
May 31, 2016

In reply to by karen

And since I reported Gary Michael Smith to FB because of his threats to me FB has removed his page and VoIP has blocked his ph number (925-xxx-xxxx) from sending and receiving calls and IM. I'm so glad I did my research and kept his IM mesgs so FB and the phone company could make his scammer life a bit more frustrating.                  was his email address. That's all you need to do is save their IM and report them. Works so easy.

karenelley
January 08, 2016

In reply to by chetyle

Hi, I just read your post re: Mike Smith. Wow, 2 yrs. is a long time to chat on FB. But, I understand how smooth they can talk. I googled the phone # he gave me and some weird college pops up in a forgien language. Yes, Gary Michael Smith, good looking man, says he is 50 yrs old, has dark hair, looks like a normal white man but when I forced him to talk on the phone I could hardly understand is broken English. He sounded like he was Arabic or from India. I insisted he give me his address so I sent him a 10$ gift card for Starbucks just to see how he would reply. He really couldn't give me a straight answer and kept changing the subject. Most of our communicate was on line so he could pause to come up a believable answer. I finally got sick of his game and blocked him on FB. Phone and email. Oh, the gift card was sent to a city called Killfish, New York. I googled that and found out a woman with this Arbic name lives at that address. I've never been scammed before and I wanted to see/understand how a true scammer opperates. Hope my reply helps you and anyone else that is contacted from a fool.
Carron
February 29, 2016

In reply to by chetyle

He is using the name Gary Michael Smith. His page is still up. He is 50yrs old had, dark hair and very good looking almost Middle Eastern looking. shows no friends and he never comments on his posts. His post says he graduated from Pasdena college. He's disgusting and try to encourage me into having phone ---. Omg!
Ralphmylove
March 20, 2016

In reply to by chetyle

Been speaking for about a month now. An Contractor. Has a contract with the government of Dubia. But, Raymond Smith
Ralphmylove
March 31, 2016

In reply to by Ralphmylove

Has anyone been approached by a man going by Raymond Smith? Independent Contractor working in Dubia? Also a contract for 5 million dollars that was sent via Viber to me?? Anyone know this name? Please reply. From Denmark, but passport which I have, New Mexico?
Rosey
August 22, 2020

In reply to by Ralphmylove

Been talking to Raymond Smith for about 3 months performance now claims he is a engineer that he travel to London and that he sent me some jewelry some money and wallets and purses and then when it was supposed to come to me I was to pay $300 in order for me to get it unfortunately I did and then a couple of days later message comes that I have to pay $400 for taxes and then I will get the package to the package never came and I didn't pay the $400 and I told him I'm not paying it because if he sent it he should pay it in the meantime he still coming after me to pay for the money I met him on a dating site called Badoo he stated that he had put some documents in the package when he sent it to me and now he can't get out of England and less I pay the $400 and then he says well I'll send you a hundred and you try to get the rest but that's not what I'm going to do and I believe he is a scammer
Ralphmylove
April 04, 2016

In reply to by chetyle

I have been talking to Raymond Smith for 2 months. Started asking for money the fifth day. He is a Engineer in Dubia. Has one Daughter. Widowed for 2 years. I've been playing him from the beginning. Will never send money to him. But, I'm making him hope and giving him a lot of stress.
angel22
December 21, 2015

In reply to by jomalsan4521

ask for more photo of him and search in the web below. possibility he uses the same photo over and over for all his victims
moel Kennedy
January 08, 2016

In reply to by jomalsan4521

Sent me pictures of u.s.navy officer said he has a daughter whose mother is dead says his cell phone he gave a way because a person needed help also asked if I could borrow him.1000 because his goods have been detained also false documents
Broken hearted
February 18, 2016

In reply to by moel Kennedy

Regarding your post, I have been talking to someone thru Yahoo emails since 1/11/16, he didn't say he's a navy officer but an antiques collector and he is supposedly from Boston but went to Nigeria on business with an 8 yr old daughter, who's mom abandoned when she took off with his friend. Now his goods have been ceased by customs because of some tax clearance certificate he needs and he's out of money and can't access his account. Of course he only trusts me and has me to help him because his parents both died of cancer and he has no siblings. So he is asking for me to trust him with my bank details so he can transfer money and then wants me to send it to him thru Western Union. He also claims he sold his phone so he and his daughter could " feed", and so he calls me from a Nigeria # with a cheap phone that he can't Skype from. His supposed name is Simpson Lincoln, and he is American and Italian but on the phone he has a thick accent which I can't decide if it's Nigerian or Italian. He has sent me thru email some good looking pictures of a white man with a spec on his left eye but yet I asked him to send me a picture of his passport and it was blurry and seemed altered, also the picture looked like the same man but the spec was on his left eye! Hmmm he has romanced me like no other and now I'm so broken hearted because my instincts are telling me I'm being played. Thanks for sharing all these stories. Hope mine helps someone too!
Maylen
April 03, 2016

In reply to by Broken hearted

I talked to a guy from Ghana,,, said he was a sound engineer,,, he loved me after 2 month,,, a bit slow,, he is egar that i go to Ghana so i could see for my self he is a real person,,, wich i doubt of course,,,, no plans what so ever to go to Ghana
Angels
April 06, 2016

In reply to by Maylen

I actually went to Ghana and met with a black guy and I went there because he had convinced me to marry him. A woman from the U.S. had told me he was a wonderful man and very well educated - but after a little while he asked me for phone (iPhone - over a thousand dollars), then he started needing things, and you know you fall into that trap, he would be sick, or he would needed something for an emergency, he had a brother, but I think these guys actually work in groups.

I am happy I never married him, but I met with him in Ghana and he was a scammer. So beware there are some guys in Ghana that actually meet with you and keep on asking you for money. And it sounds so familiar because actually those are the words he used, asked me to go and see who he was and what kind of a person he was, so that I could see how wonderful he was.

Does he tell you he is going to love you till the end of time? And his love is pure love? These are young guys that convince you, but I think there is also other people involved in this. They actually have places that they say they live in and they show a lot of poverty. They show you how much they suffer, and you of course want to save the world. Be careful, these people don't really even need the money. Their families have house(s), nice cars that they don't show you. But in FaceBook they show a lot of riches. These men are just lazy and they are hustlers.

Merit
April 11, 2016

In reply to by Angels

These Ghana guys who are anxious to meet you, and will even marry you, are only after one thing. Or, maybe two. A permanent payday they never have to work for, and / or a visa to, and future residence in, your country. I was due to go to Ghana to marry my 'fiance' last May. When I saw how glibly my future husband was proposing to spend my money when I arrived, having already had a small fortune from me to help him keep his business running, I broke the engagement. There's more, but I don't need to write a novel. Lol
Angels
April 13, 2016

In reply to by Merit

Did this guy ever sent you his real picture? I did the same last year - I went to Ghana and there were plan to marry him but we never did get married. Is this a black young guy that plays soccer? What kind of business did he have? Something like special woods business? (which of course doesn't exist) - did a woman from the U.S. talked to you about how good he was and how lucky you were to have this guy? Did he say he was the son of a king (chief in his village)? Did he get a lot of money from you? He got a lot of money from me and he said he would pay it back - till today nothing (of course). Please let me know - it maybe the same guy. Does he have a brother and did he tell you in case something would happen to him his brother was supposed to take care of you and protect you?
Merit
April 17, 2016

In reply to by Angels

Yes, Angel,I had a million and one photos of him, his small son, his family, his friends, all his usual locations, his home, his father's home, funerals he attended, weddings and all sorts of occasions. We also Skyped. He was using his real name, not hiding behind a fake identity. However, although there are many similarities with your story, ie, he wanted me to believe the business I had funded and helped him set up (an electrical goods store) had burned down, he often used stories about what his son needed to get me to send money, he had a very great deal of money out of me, over an 18 month period, some of it borrowed, which is clear I will never see again, (yet, after the 'fire', he was able to build a house from the previous proceeds), he's definitely not the same guy. My guy is in Tamale, he's nearly 40, he's Muslim, his father is a retired driver and, although he does have brothers, one of which I got to know, there was never talk of him protecting me, should anything happen to my darstardly cheeky chappie. Also, his name doesn't begin with an 'E'. Playing the 'marriage game' is becoming more and more common amongst young guys in Ghana. They have everything to gain and little to lose. Their foreign wives, however, have everything to lose and often do, with extremely little to gain.
Angels
April 22, 2016

In reply to by Merit

The guy I went to see in Ghana took me to the house he was supposedly building. He has two girls though - not son, but then again he could have been lying. His house also burnt, his other tribal like name starts with A and his last name sounds like something we have most everyday. He took a lot of money - with sad stories out of me and the funny thing is that when I was there he said he was going to Tamale to find a job. He was young though (plays soccer).

Angels
April 16, 2016

In reply to by Merit

Tell me if his name started with "E" - he probably wanted to marry you and me. Was it in Accra? Did you meet his father and mother? What kind of business he had? I was there in the middle of September. Wouldn't that be something if it was the same guy. Did he have a brother? Was his father a chief of one of the villages?
Great Girl
January 23, 2016

In reply to by been scammed

James Bongani - was on NZ Dating site, be careful ladies, very charming, calls you sweetly, photo shops his photo, says he works for a dredging company, or construction Company... He's Dodgy.....
BEWARE
December 22, 2015

In reply to by Be alert

I've been dealing with a man for over 4 years with the same writing style as above and says babe, sweets, honey, my wife etc. The name doesn't matter as it changes for every victim. Anyway I've been doing my own research/investigations into the gang as I have kept all emails for IP's, phone numbers, names of money recipients etc. I was dragged through his crap from Nigeria, Malaysia, Dubai, UK, South Africa, America and recently he contacted again and yep demanding more money and believe it into bank accounts in Estonia and the Czech Republic and the account holders behind the business accounts are Nigerian as I checked company records for these countries. Anyway in summary these despicable Nigerian are all over the world working in gangs. I think in most cases the police just give up as there are just too many complaints but I'm surely going to shut down the big guys behind my gang very soon ie PRISON where they belong! Any man asking for money overseas is a scammer especially if you picked him up from a dating site and if they are genuinely stranded with problems in another country well then their Embassy/Consulate office will help. DO NOT SEND MONEY!
Carron
May 31, 2016

In reply to by Be alert

That's how they start the conversation. Hello Baby and how was you day. I finally told him I know what you are doing. He has threatened me and my family. He s so stupid he wrote it in an IM. I reported it to FB. Waiting for FB reply. His name is Gary Michael Smith. Lives in New York. Has a business called G&R Environmental Services with his name and phone number the same when he calls me. Ph # 1-925-xxx-xxxx.
LouLou
September 09, 2015

In reply to by perezazul12

I had the same kind of scammer talking to me. We even talked on the phone. And let me tell you, his voice could melt icebergs. Fortunately I didn't fall for it, although I came close. You know, I have met more scammers wanting money for some reason or other than I have met legitimate men. It's really sad but I think I have heard them all now. I'm very discouraged.
kannada
October 26, 2015

In reply to by LouLou

I am nearing 10 total that have tried scamming me. But, after losing my only child. Then my mother, husband leaving me as if I were some sort of freak...I found myself extremely lonely and turned to the computer for something exiting. The family that I was actually blood kin to - left me in a time of need unlike any Mother should ever have to endure. Let alone aimlessly looking for someone to share an ordinary but good life with someone that could be GENUINE for once. Anyhow, I was not in my right mind to say the least, not an excuse - unfortunately, a very hard fact! I sent so much money that Money Gram and Western Union have redflagged me as an extremely high risk. Thank you for sharing here and letting this all too horrible crime that is going on and on. And yet nothing or nobody really care enough to help those of us like myself seek and fine real answers.
mini
November 21, 2015

In reply to by kannada

The same thing happened to me. At time when felt lonely, I fell for the guy who only called me love, honey, darling and my beloved wife as he never called me by my personal name. The most annoying of all is I fell for him who contacted through Skype. He was Skyping me every day twice a day for several hours. Made me convinced that I am his wife and he is my husband. The second day I started talking to me he sent his son's photo. As I had a daughter who was 1 years younger than his son. He told me to email him, was very determined that he would be happy to hear from me. I stared to send considerable amount of money by Western Union and Money Gram for emergency medical for his son and then for his doment ATM card. I thought that would be the end but as he had my phone he/someone called and said that they need more money gave me their names and text me the details through to me. That's when I realised the person I spoke to sounded like the same person with his writing style. Alarm bells started ringing and I blocked and reported him on Skype and blocked the phone calls as well. However like the lady said there is not a lot of websites where you can search for email address and nobody to help. I felt so vulnerable even though I search on Internet there are no way to find whether someone is real or not. I strongly feel that there should be helpline or something of that sort to help people. Even people who are educated can fall victims because of the romance and love they bistore on their victims. As love can be blind. Another important thing ladies be aware they would even sound like genuine people and would assurance and saying they are Godly and quoting from the bible to convince you that they are religious.
near-victim
February 16, 2016

In reply to by mini

My scammer operates under three names, so far. Jeremy Gulliver,(FB) Garrett Davidson (LinkedIn)and Shawn Thomas Lyons (FB). Scenario and tricks very similar. I hope you will get out of this hell. Be brave.
Rockford
December 07, 2015

In reply to by kannada

rso how do you feel now... and where does that scammer says he is from
Diamond10
December 28, 2015

In reply to by kannada

This same scam has happened to my mother. They cleaned out her account asking for continuous wire transfers their goal is to leave their victims penniless. As a result my mom has been in the hospital for 2 weeks she's had a stroke and can't walk I fear to tell her she will probably never see her money again and I kept warning her that these people are scammers and she still sent him or them money without telling me what was happening I believe she has dementia, but these cons continue to call her home their has to be someone that can help stop these loser's.. This is very sad and the victims are left with no place to turn.
Maria
December 14, 2015

In reply to by LouLou

I was talking to someone by the name of Jerry Goldberg his email was jerrygoldberg he wanted me to get a paypal I told him I didn't feel comfortable doing that and now we haven't spoken for 3 days yah he a scamer. I did speak on the phone and could barley understand him sounded like an Africa with a English accent.
Becca
October 16, 2015

In reply to by perezazul12

Watch out for Nigerian scams on POF dating site. I have had 3 different men who claim to be in US military overseas and asking for money to get by or help their mom or need a new phone. They all 3 had Mike as their first name, had kids and their pictures showed Caucasian males about 30-40 yrs old. They always ask for small amounts of money so be careful....small amounts of money add up. And they always want it sent Western Union. Names they used are Mike Bolar, Michael Cotton, Michael Barkley. They always call you baby or honey. Mike Bolar said he would be back in 2 weeks...then a month...then another couple of weeks. Asked if I could wire his mom some money and when I said no, but I'll take it to her, he got mad and accused me of not trusting him and questioning his integrity. He kept texting me for over 2 months after I quit talking to him and I never answered the texts. If they claim to be in the military, you can call that branch of the service and have them looked up or if you have a friend in the same branch of service like I did, you can have them looked up. I told Mike Bolar he didn't exist in the Marine database and he flipped out on me stating I was going to get him killed because he was deep under cover. If you think someone is fake, tell them you called their company to verify their employment. That should make them move on if their scamming you. Phone numbers I have for these idiots are 850-390-4762 in Florida, 210-802-7592 in Austin, Tx and 817-405-2802 in Texas.
FTC Staff
October 16, 2015

In reply to by Becca

These are useful details to put in a complaint. Please report this to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The information you give goes into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.

Blog comments don't go in the database.

Becky
November 03, 2015

In reply to by Becca

There was a online scammer usingthe name Jim Oliver claiming he was in Afghanistan and his wife and kids died in a fire. Never asked for money and had too many compliments for someone he didn't know. I'm not stupid, I knew ire was weird from the beginning and it was only a friend request, I am with someone andwasn't looking for amother partner but I blocked him front my f.b. Page
willysjeepgirl
December 03, 2015

In reply to by Becca

just had one that goes by David Martinez- sent me a few picks - said he was in training but was about to be deployed. He said that the army had frozen all his accounts and he had no access to money and need me to send him some so he would talk and text me on deployment - then I had him email me to my government email. ( I am a government employee) it can from a .usacom account - and in came in from a none dod- source - when I confronted him on this he got extremely I mad - said he was going to post our conversations for the world to see on face book - he just turned very rude. SAME MO though tells you he loves you with in a few days always calling you baby. my love sending you sweet poems - all via text. We talked on the phone a few times - he said he was Hispanic but he accent was not that of an Hispanic person I have ever interacted with. He also keep saying that his commander would do this for him and do that for him. But he never gave his rank nor his commanders. PLEASE BEWARE!!!! This is the 3rd person I have had approach me - if your gut tells you that something is off listen to it.
Buckyb
December 18, 2015

In reply to by willysjeepgirl

I just got done talking to a so call soldier that was texting me. Everything seemed ok and then all of a sudden he wanted me to open a bank account to send me money to send to his son. I refused. I felt in my Spirit this was a red flag. Now I haven't heard from him for a few days. Now,another person said he is Martinez Michaels' friend and that Martinez is in the guard house because he got caught messaging me. Now this Brock David Patrick wants me to send money to get Martinez out. I watch for all the red flags that will end up showing after a little while.
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