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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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.
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In reply to Look out and be aware for a by Gerhard Hudson
In reply to Does anyone know a man named by Don't usdairy448
In reply to From what I've experienced by Watch out!
In reply to Has anyone neard of a man by Don't kate
This sounds like a scam about a fake package. Someone is trying to scare you and get your money. You don't have to pay for a package you didn't order.
This is how the scam works:
You meet someone online. They offer to send you a gift or package. Or, they don't tell you the package is coming, and you get a surprise notice. Then, "customs people" or "delivery agents" demand that you pay a fee or taxes to get the package.
Really, there is no package. The person you are chatting with online online is working with the fake "customs people" or "delivery service." They are trying to get your money. If you pay, they will keep it, and might ask for more money.
In reply to Has anyone neard of a man by Don't kate
In reply to My oldest sister has a online by sisterincharge
Do you think your sister might read some comments on this blog, to see that a lot of people hear the same stories she's hearing?
If you go back to your sister's bank, you should know that state law allows Texas banks and financial institutions to temporarily stop transactions that seem questionable, and report potential fraud to the authorities for additional investigation. The law is meant to stop financial exploitation of older people.
If you think your sister's finances or safety are at risk, you could contact the Adult Protective Services for your region of Texas.
Read more here: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article191960544.html#storylink=cpy
In reply to Has anyone been contacted by by beachlover
In reply to Has anyone been contacted by by beachlover
In reply to So I been chatting with this by nightingale
Pagination