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 Omg Is the same guy I'm by Andreab
In reply to is anybody ever chat to a guy by in lu my
In reply to Can we set up a private FB by Stacia
In reply to Can we set up a private FB by Stacia
In reply to Can we set up a private FB by Stacia
In reply to That is a great idea to start by Marie
In reply to Please contact me I have been by Duped
In reply to That is a great idea to start by Marie
In reply to Hello I have somebody saying by Melissa
In reply to I had a gentleman, working as by asiLLisa66
In reply to Hello I have somebody saying by Melissa
In reply to That is a great idea to start by Marie
In reply to That is a great idea to start by Marie
In reply to That is a great idea to start by Marie
In reply to is anybody ever chat to a guy by in lu my
In reply to Chatted with a guy named by marilyn
In reply to I've been chatting with a by Dawn
In reply to Seems the Netherlands is a by Southern Miss
In reply to I've been chatting with a by Dawn
In reply to Chatted with a guy named by marilyn
I think I shall report this swindler from zoosk. His profile is not searchable now. (account name was"charles", Sacramento, CA) but I think to avoid other ladies becomes his victim, His linkedin profile is : https: // www. linkedin. com/ in/ charles- kovac-86458598/, however it's possible also fake. Saying he had a project at Malaysia in mining business (he is Geotechnical engineer), born in US, lived in UK... The email he use is: c. kovac 1970@ outlook. com, full name in" Charles Kovac"
In reply to Chatted with a guy named by marilyn
In reply to Hi Marilyn by Australia
In reply to Chatted with a guy named by marilyn
In reply to I've been chatting with a guy by Cheryl
You can't use iTunes cards to talk on the phone.
You can use iTunes cards for music, apps and books on the iTunes cards. Some scammers ask people to send them iTunes cards, or the codes from the back of an iTunes card. They use the cards, or re-sell them.
In reply to Chatted with a guy named by marilyn
In reply to Chatted with a guy named by marilyn
In reply to is anybody ever chat to a guy by in lu my
In reply to Also, do you have a picture? by marilyn
In reply to Also, do you have a picture? by marilyn
In reply to is anybody ever chat to a guy by in lu my
In reply to Similar story... widower from by Angie5
In reply to Also talked to same person I by Momoblev57
In reply to I have one stuck in China by Tobieye
In reply to Tobieye what is his name? and by leenie
In reply to Whats the background story by Finding truth
Some scammers use people to help them transfer stolen money. They meet someone online, create a relationship, and then ask their new sweetheart to use her bank account to receive and transfer money.
If you do this for a scammer, your name is on the bank account and on the money transfer forms. If you get involved with one of these schemes, you could lose money and personal information, and you could get into legal trouble.
In reply to is anybody ever chat to a guy by in lu my
In reply to Omg Is the same guy I'm by Andreab
In reply to I’m talking yo the same guy by Deanna101
In reply to Any chance this fellow is by AZMamaBear
In reply to I have been talking to a by Charlie222
In reply to I’m talking yo the same guy by Deanna101
In reply to I’m talking yo the same guy by Deanna101
In reply to Omg Is the same guy I'm by Andreab
In reply to Wow your moms story sounds by Undercover
In reply to Sounds familiar but not exact by Devastated
In reply to I know how you feel. I was by pogi wowo
In reply to I am writing for 8 months by Carmela 86
In reply to I've been talking to a by Jermaine
In reply to OMG! This happened to me too by BeenBetty'ed
In reply to I met him on lavalife.com He by Devastated and angry
Pagination