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 Do u have names of these men? by Flabasky
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In reply to I'm in it almost as bad as by zoey350z
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In reply to Sounds familiar but not exact by Devastated
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In reply to my scammer I met on OKC R by feeling stupid…
In reply to feeling stupid, we feel the by Thanks17
In reply to I was sent a friend request by Honey17
This person contacted me via facebook message this morning 5/28/17... Thanks to your post, it won't go farther... Blocked! Thank you so much!
In reply to This person contacted me via by Skeptic
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In reply to I was sent a friend request by Honey17
In reply to I was sent a friend request by Honey17
In reply to feeling stupid, we feel the by Thanks17
I wonder if we both got scammed by same man. I am now facing chapter 7 I've learned such a hard lesson. I hope and pray these mafia men get captured.
In reply to my scammer I met on OKC R by feeling stupid…
In reply to I feel the same, I am so by lostitall14
If you lost money to a scammer and paid by Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you can ask for your money back. You must file before February 12, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to learn how.
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In reply to OMG. i also got scammed with by Godloveus
Question: was this man, by any chance the name Peter Ben?? My girlfriends mom i think is getting scammed by a guy with the same story, I would love to talk to you and ask you about this. I have pictures and stories of this guy, He already took 200 from the mom saying that his car was broken into on the work site. Stole his wallet, phone and license.
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In reply to OMG. i also got scammed with by Godloveus
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Hi I was also scammed for 37,000 can you tell me how you got help to get ur money back ? Thank you
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Pagination