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 Has anyone been contacted by by Entertained
In reply to Does anyone been talking with by Kat racine
In reply to Don't trust any website that by Ichigo3030
In reply to I met this guy 3 weeks ago by confused lady
In reply to Hi anyone chatting with guy by Ctal
In reply to Hi what about email from by TROOPER
The story about a soldier finding a large amount of cash or gold is a scam. The person sending the messages is a scammer, and he does not have any cash, gold or treasure.
The scammer might ask for a copy of your passport or driver's license. If you share that information, he can use if to commit identity theft. Or, the scammer might ask you to pay to ship the cash or gold. If you send money, you will lose it, and you will not get any cash or gold.
In reply to Hi, say I'm waiting for my by Nvragn-72
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In reply to My daughter is being scammed by Leelee
In reply to My daughter is being scammed by Leelee
In reply to My daughter is being scammed by Leelee
You or your daughter could call the Western Union fraud hotline at 1- 800-448-1492, or your state Attorney General. Maybe someone could talk with your daughter about imposters who pretend to be celebrities.
Also, many counties have resource centers with services for people with disabilities. To find a center near your daughter, call 1-800-677-1116 or go to www.eldercare.acl.gov. Look for "Aging and Disability Resource Center" by zip code.
In reply to My daughter is being scammed by Leelee
In reply to Why do they ask for full by Johnny C
If you tell someone your personal information, they can use it for identity theft. They can use your name, address, birthday, driver's licence information or other details to make a new identity or to interfere with your identity and credit. If you give your bank or credit card information, they can take your money.
In reply to Why do they ask for full by Johnny C
In reply to Why do they ask for full by Johnny C
In reply to Has anybody heard from a by Samantha
In reply to Hi there. I experienced the by Missy123
In reply to Hi there. I experienced the by Missy123
In reply to Hello, by Concerned friend
Your friend could be at risk if people deposit bad checks or stolen funds into her account. Also, if you tell someone your bank account number they can take your money - even if they say they are going to make a deposit.
Scammers may ask people to accept money or cash checks into their acccounts, and then send money to another person - or buy something with the money and send the goods.
If you withdraw money right away, you can lose money. Under federal law, banks generally must make funds available to you within a certain time. However, just because funds are available doesn’t mean a check is good. It can take weeks for a bank to discover that a check was a forgery. If you withdraw money quickly, and then the bank finds out a check is bad, you must repay the bank all the money you withdrew.
You're responsible for the checks you deposit in your bank account, even if you don't know they are fake.
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