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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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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.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • 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.

Monica
November 12, 2018

In reply to by Bella

I’m dealing with Andre Chris Robert right now. He says he is working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and his account has been on hold while he is away. His life is a serious of calamities. First it was money for his sick son, then his phone needed updated so I sent iTunes cards, then his son was robbed and needed a new laptop to continue his schooling. I’m out &1400 with this guy. Now he wants me to accept a package with money and precious jewels inside. I have told him many times no he gets angry and calls me names. He has my old address, email and phone number. Now I’m getting messages from a commissioner of police in Ghana wanting my current address to send the package to. Should I block this guy?
Turtleon't use…
March 09, 2019

In reply to by Monica

Yes!! Block him, and delete him from any of your online accounts. You are what the operation calls "tagged for a fool" in other words, meaning once he's gotten all the money he can get out of you, he will pass your information & details of your personality on to the next scammer; who in turn will prey upon you also under a different fake profile. You were lucky to get out. My advice stay OUT! that police would not demand your new address for any pkg. It's just one of the operation working with him. Run and don't be like Lot's wife in the Bible-- DON'T LOOK BACK
Tazimae
March 10, 2019

In reply to by Monica

Same guy, calls himself Justice Packer. Oil rig in Dublin. Same package dilivery request. Son in boarding in TX. Parents dead. Wife dead. He got mad at me cause I told him I sent his security problem to me detective nephew & Chgo cop brother. He blocked me on hang outs!
KayKay
March 29, 2019

In reply to by Monica

I hope you blocked him because all of it is lies. The Ghana police would tell you it is a scam even and not to send him anything. He is scamming you.
MINE
June 06, 2019

In reply to by Monica

Dont do that. Im pissed off with this guy also from oil rigs. Were in hangouts for 4 months now. Lets talk.
Monica
November 12, 2018

In reply to by Bella

If I send my email to you can you send me a picture of this guy?I think he is scamming me as well.
Teresa K Karho…
November 16, 2018

In reply to by Monica

H says he is working on the Katia for China Petroluem company pro
Baldwin1990
December 02, 2018

In reply to by Bella

I have been chatting with a man that sounds so similar too this, I too would be intrested in finding out if these two guys were one of the same. I could send you my email and we can exchange photos please
none
December 27, 2018

In reply to by Bella

I think we might meet the same man that he said he is a oil rig and worked at Saudi Arabia,He needed the money for pay shipping,and even sent me his fake travel itneary to come here for Christmas.I cut him off and he didn’t get any money ,But he used the name of Anatol Bobak . If you can ,I would like to see the pictures that he used on you ,The pictures he used with me all faked Asian man pictures ,He said he grew up in Poland . I would like see if he used the same email address or not . Thank you .
sising
February 07, 2019

In reply to by none

ususally they go to another country, waiting for their shipment that they should pick up the next day, then next day they send you a text saying they are in panic, the shipment is costing them more than what they budgeted, and ask you that they need let say 50k, they are trying to call friends so asked you if you can send anything you can afford, and they say what would I do without you my queen, honey, etc.
Shelcb52
August 09, 2019

In reply to by sising

Does anyone know a man by the name of Lucas Miguel? I think I'm being scammed! He claims to be from Italy but in U.S. for 15 years who us now working in Spain as a contractor/engineer? Has daughter in boarding school...please let me know it's been quite the ride!
shiro
March 28, 2019

In reply to by none

if u can,i would like to see his picture.im dealing with mchanical engr.now frm US and currntly lving in syria he asked me to help him and he will send me the money by a parcel
sadabout humanity
January 14, 2019

In reply to by Bella

Funny.. I am talking to an "oil rig Engineer" right now who wanted me to send him $3000 because supplies were held up at the coastguard. I wouldn't send it but I did send Itunes card.. and Chris is also part of his name..
Scammedheartstrings
March 01, 2019

In reply to by sadabout humanity

Does he say he works in the engine room? How can we share photos?
BrokenHearted
March 13, 2019

In reply to by Scammedheartstrings

Is this your Chris? He tells me that he works in the control room as well. From Denmark, is in Texas in oil rig. Says he lives in Nashville TN? Hasn’t asked me for any money or cards yet.
hey
June 24, 2019

In reply to by BrokenHearted

hey is his name chris becuasce chris lane is married the singer thats what happened to me.
chrissieg
March 17, 2019

In reply to by Scammedheartstrings

I have just had a narrow escape thank the Lord for Google and this site. I have recently lost my husband and feeling very lonely when i got a Hello in IG and we were off! His name is Ashley Scott, from Texas and working on an oil rig in Tblisi with six months on and three months off Very early in the conversation he said that he had a problem with his bank account which had unauthorised transactions on it and had been frozen (oh the irony). Things got quite heavy and i was a silly old woman who told him all my life history and fell madly in love with him, the things he said just made me feel fabulous. And he was so Godly too, always quoting the Bible in earnest. He said he was studying for something or other to get promotion at work. apparently he'd worked with his company for 25 years and was 53, so I did swiftly think that was a little odd that he hadnt already been promoted lol!! Then a few days ago he asked me to buy him some Itunes cards because he needed books to study and couldnt get any money from anywhere. I said no but couldnt bear the thought of losing my gorgeous Texan hunk so decided after a couple of days that I would get them but, I googled Itunes scams and it was like a script had been written. I told him in no uncertain words to clear off and blocked him on IG and FB but this morning he managed to contact me by messenger and it all started again. I was almost on the hook again when I found this page and to my horror and relief realised I wasnt the only silly woman in the World. You'd think they could come up with a different script by now but thank goodness they havent. Im so thankful that I found this article before rekindling my affair with the Texan hunk!
Jo Dee
June 22, 2019

In reply to by chrissieg

Uh oh....we might have the same hunk. What's with the oil rig story? Can we privately chat??? I wanna see his pic. Mine asked me to send Google Play cards to his daughter. He calls me daily but his voice is very foreign. Flags everywhere.
Suzie
July 11, 2020

In reply to by Jo Dee

I think that he has proposed one too! Christopher Hanns. Met on Instagram. Had a daughter in Hamburg called Agnes who is being cared for by a housekeeper as her mother ran off with the accountant in her firm and took all his money too! Wanted google play cards for daughter first - think she was nine? Then came requests for larger amount of money. German, articulate, professed live, proposed.x lots of poems, songs and heAts dnd rose sent. Beware! I am now in debt.
Don't use your…
March 17, 2019

In reply to by sadabout humanity

Yes I was scammed, he claims to be an Exxon contractor working on a oil rig, professes love and marriage in less than a week, but needs iTunes cards to complete his paperwork, $150.00 , then comes back a week later with I need $500.00 more I ask for pictures of the oil rig he’s working on and low and behold they are the exact pictures from the internet, now it gets better his security company is closing and he wants me to be his beneficiary and accept a 1.6 million dollar paperwork and to hold it safely like the bank, so I ran for the hills not going to accept anything nor am I going to go to jail for this enormous lie, please be carful these people are so slick
Linda
March 30, 2019

In reply to by Don't use your…

I am dealing with a guy that is foi g this to me.. security company closing, beneficiary. The whole nine yards.. Can i ask what his name is??
Cheryl
April 12, 2019

In reply to by Linda

I think I am talking to the same person, he has been talking to me since September of 2017, confesses his love for me and wants to marry me and is coming home to me. I have sent ta an address for his kids he says phones, ipads and money. But, I recently found out from my phone service that the phones where being used in Nigeria, they took the sim cards out and put in sim cards that have a Nigerian phone service. All phones have an IM number that can be tracked no mater if you switch the sim cards or not. Now he has asked me to pay $25,000 to this Security company that is closing and he wants me to be the beneficiary because he has no one but two children and they are off in boarding school. He assures me everything is legal and that he would never do anything to hurt me. He is a sweet talker..... But then I get a friend request from someone else who looks like him or is him with a different name. This guy says he was hacked by the other guy that I am chatting with and he said don't talk to him anymore he is trying to steal my identity. then the one I am chatting with I told him and he said that most me the guy that took my phone and all my pictures and he knows about you because of our chats and your pictures. I am so damn confused. I know that they are both the same person . Big fat liars...... I wish I could talk to you and compare pictures .
Fran
June 03, 2019

In reply to by Don't use your…

I’m talking with a guy with the same story line. Needing money .. Has a daughter in boarding school in Italy . His security company is closing their doors. Wants me to be his beneficiary to accept his money of 1.2 million but it’s being helped in Germany at the airport. But if I send a large amount of money they will release the money to be forwarded to me.Working for BP in the Gulf if Mexico and can’t receive it . The company that is closing is called Safegold. His name is on the Hangout site is lovely man. He is a scammer.
Westies2
September 16, 2019

In reply to by Don't use your…

Hi, I think I have the same thing happening to me. He says his name is Anthony McCarthy and is from Washington USA but working on an oil rig near Scotland and it has been 3 weeks of chatting and him ringing me on Hangouts and telling me he loves me and wants to marry me, he also preaches about God and the bible. I know his photos are fake and he doesn't sound american more like African/French and his English is quite good but not that good and his text messages were never right, I was always saying they weren't correct or I didn't understand but I have been playing along with him to see how far he can get. So last couple of days and nights he tells me he is worried and then explains this by telephone and text : He has deposited money £1.2 million in a company called Safeway Contracts in Turkey and they are closing and need him to accept his money in person within 2 weeks or he loses it. He says he can't go as he hasn't finished his contract on the oil rig. Now he has asked me to be his beneficiary and wants me to email them and give them my full name, address, email address, telephone number and passport photo to prove who I am so that they can give it to me in person and look after it until he comes to see me at the end of October. I have already asked him so many questions and he tries to explain but I am not stupid and so I told him that this is not how you do things and I won't give my address or phone number out to just anyone. He says he is going to ring me later to explain but I am not going to do this and not be fooled. This is why I thought I would google about scams and fake men and I came across this forum and so glad I did and that is why I want to share my comments.
Samatha
April 03, 2019

In reply to by sadabout humanity

I also deal with a guy who is civil engineering. he told that has project at Turkey for 3 weeks. He did send photos about the project and he went around at Turkey. Suddenly, sent an email to tell me his has big problem because this equipments are seized by ministry of Turkey. He has not enough money to get back the equipment and want to lend money from me. Lucky I did not do that. Not sure whether we met the same person.
MySharona
April 05, 2019

In reply to by Samatha

Dealing with a man who claims a veteranarian and was in Turkey to treat sick animals. Was a 3 week contract. Suddenly, email claims his equipment kept on ship and he doesn't have money to get it back. I sent money. He was working for the ministry of Turkey. The story goes on today. Name he gave is Michael Wong. Originally from Hong Kong, owns home in Scotland.
Lostinwords
January 07, 2020

In reply to by MySharona

I am dealing with a sweet talker at the moment..Asian, Chinese Singaporean, ship engineer, claimed wife cheated on him, has a mole on his left top of his lip.. Attractive.. Romantic, and convincing. Pls exchange picture if possible..
PunkRockChick
January 14, 2020

In reply to by Lostinwords

Hi. Did he mention where he was from? Has he given you photos?
Ohmygosh
April 09, 2019

In reply to by Samatha

Me too!!!!!!!!!!! Did he send you photos? I got word that his laptops weren’t working in Turkey and he needed me to send them to Cyprus...?
cc
July 12, 2019

In reply to by Joey

I have been dealing with Charles Luke for a very long time. Gem stone dealer stuck in Turkey, wife died 3/4 years ago, cancer, has a daughter and grand daughter. French American, is that the story?
Trav216
August 10, 2019

In reply to by cc

I‘ve been dealing with a gem stone dealer who is in Cyprus for a job. He is really convincing. Sent me a copy of the ‘contract‘ and his itinerary for his return trip home to Florida. Both look good, but almost too good. He was mugged and even sent a photo of the ‘police’ report, that wasn’t really anything other than a letter. He was desperate for me to send him 2 MacBook pros and an iPad to run the software for the gem mining equipment. I made him send me a picture saying that he loved me. The photo was obviously photo shopped. He says that he’s from Denmark, lived in Canada where he was married to an American woman, now divorced. He had a daughter that died in an accident. Lived in Tennessee and now Florida. Goes by name of Daniel Giel. Needless to say, I didn’t send the laptops or iPad.
Brittany B
April 10, 2019

In reply to by Samatha

Hey Samatha, This sounds like the same guy I was just Dealing with that gave me the same story. Can you please let me know what name did he use? Did he have a son or Deceased Wife?
somebody2
April 15, 2019

In reply to by Brittany B

Did anyone else have a Christopher Wood s who was a engineer and his wife is dead has a son? I have a picture!
Sickfeeling
April 19, 2019

In reply to by somebody2

I have a feeling I may have the same guy talking to me. Only he said it was his ex wife but she is dead and has a son. I have a picture too. Please respond. Engineer working on oil rig
qsilver1965
June 11, 2019

In reply to by Sickfeeling

I think we my be talking about the same guy but he goes by a different name
Dragonflies16
June 14, 2019

In reply to by Sickfeeling

Many use alternate names. Say ex wife or wife died from cancer. Then his only son died in an accident. Spent almost 2years talking to him. AlwYs an excuse why he wasn’t able to come home yet... asked for Steam cards, google play & iTunes cards. Needed money to pay for equipment ; his rig hAd a fire the day before he was done contract;yet I can’t find any news to back it up. Uses: Jason brian cares@
Feeling duped
July 08, 2019

In reply to by Dragonflies16

I am talking to a guy who claims to be a supervisor on an oil rig. I got the we had a fire story too which pushed back his coming home for 2 weeks. Then he needed money for medicine to be flown out to the rig. He couldn't get it bc his wallet was lost in the fire. He asked for 3000 and I was stupid enough to send 200. I just reverse imaged his photos he sent me and came up with 9 other aliases. When confronted with this he claimed his account was hacked and I didn't trust him. I know now he is a fraud but I am going to let it play out until the end of the month when he is supposed to be home and see what excuses he has. I won't be stupid enough to fall for it twice.
Daniela Santos
August 27, 2019

In reply to by Dragonflies16

I am just encountered creep and have all pictures. Same story! Hes on IG just goes by William Churchill.
Cake1541!
March 01, 2020

In reply to by Daniela Santos

Hey send a picture. Pretty sure I talked to him last summer. Got real pushed when I didn’t send him my bank info to filter $ to pay for a rig accident. Haha
Possession in …
July 24, 2020

In reply to by Daniela Santos

I think I was scammed by the same William Churchill so apparently he’s still making a living off using women. Told me he was stuck in Saudi Arabia working on this million dollar contract with Exxon. Machines were malfunctioning and he needed to get them fixed so he could finish his job and get back to the states. Son was in New Jersey. He was divorced as well. Convinced me to send him money and also had money deposited into my account and then had me send it to multiple places. I can’t believe I fell for something so stupid. It’s extremely embarrassing.
Lovelylady22
August 25, 2020

In reply to by Possession in …

I communicated with the same guy “William Churchill” last year for a few months. He gave me a similar story, divorced, deceased mother from cancer, elderly father who was taking care of his son and living in Jamaica. I should’ve known something wasn’t right when he couldn’t FaceTime or video call, using google voice numbers, always posting random pics on IG, claiming his account was hacked and had to create a new IG accounts, would send me pics of his room on the rig which would look like a 5 star hotel room. Once he asked me to open a bank account so that he could send me money so that I could pay for equipment for him that he needed on the oil rig, all the red flags went up and especially after I refused to do comply. Soon after that he told me that he was getting back with his ex since she was able to help him and that he had no other choice because he was stuck in this situation and could possibly loose his million dollar contract with ExxonMobil. I fell for him hard and he’s very good at manipulating you by telling you he loves you after a few weeks of communicating and always sending all these poems with images and love messages. As I think back to all of things I overlooked because I was seduced into thinking I was in love with this person and I kept convincing myself it was real. But once I started researching and questioning him (which he didn’t like) and kept telling him that I wasn’t comfortable with doing any type of banking transactions with someone I never met, he got upset and was very annoyed. I’m so thankful I didn’t fall for this scam.
KatEyez
October 15, 2020

In reply to by Lovelylady22

Lovelylady22, could you please email me regarding William Churchill. Thank you
Untrusting
June 18, 2019

In reply to by Sickfeeling

Me too.... Quick romance and surety that I'm the one for him. Said his wife died 4 years ago and has a son and a granddaughter here locally. From Belium but lives here...supposedly. He won a contract in Netherands so he left for his trip and has been in various ports (supposedly) delivering oil on his ship, as he is supposed to be the captain. Continuous talk about can't wait to get home to meet me. Then last night word that the ship folk down and the middle of the ocean and was worried that their contents were not safe because a pirates. Contacted the engineer to come fix it ... Even provided a video of this suppose that person leaving via helicopter from the ship. Of course, he has to come up with $8000 for the new part but because of their location on the 'middle of the ocean', he can't access his funds. Said he has raised most of the money now but is still very short and wanted to know if I could help. I told him no - he knew I was unemployed and had no income...but then he proceeded to see if any of my friends can help and I said if they can't even help me with my rent, why would they help someone they don't know? Very suspicious at this point. He says his name is Maurice Charlie... Which is suspicious enough. When I have asked various questions he has avoided answering them. We were going to meet in a week and I am suspecting that this is all a Scam. Not surprised
Mia1010
June 26, 2019

In reply to by Sickfeeling

Does the guy in the pics have a hard hat on with "Captain Thomas" on it? If so, that man's name is Thomas Madsen. He is a gay man happily married to a man. Google his name.
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