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 @sweetnie just out of by cubsbballgirl
In reply to I have one trying to scam me by Toosmart22
In reply to I'm sorry you have the same by Sweetnie
In reply to I knew immediately that this by Playing the game
In reply to I knew immediately that this by Playing the game
In reply to I knew immediately that this by Playing the game
In reply to So I read these comments and by TotallyTakenForARide
In reply to Did this happened to be a by I’m probably next
In reply to Is his name Keith Williams. by Kimo
In reply to Is his name Keith Williams. by Kimo
In reply to I think I was talking to him by Ckhall73
In reply to ive been talking to phil gray by Don'the use yo…
In reply to Did this happened to be a by I’m probably next
In reply to i have a man from aleppo by me too
In reply to I am looking into a “military by Cole
In reply to Yes I was scammed by somebody by Knew better wa…
In reply to Did his picture have picture by Maggie
In reply to I am looking into a “military by Cole
In reply to Sounds so familiar. I had a by Isabella
In reply to I am looking into a “military by Cole
In reply to @Cole I may know him.his name by mipple
In reply to @Cole I may know him.his name by mipple
In reply to i have a man from aleppo by me too
In reply to I met someone on June 2nd by Knew better wa…
In reply to I met someone on June 2nd by Knew better wa…
In reply to Did this happened to be a by I’m probably next
In reply to So I read these comments and by TotallyTakenForARide
In reply to Do you mind me asking what by I wanted to believe
In reply to Same here Dr Wayne Dylan Gano by Border
In reply to Do you mind me asking what by I wanted to believe
In reply to So I read these comments and by TotallyTakenForARide
In reply to I too was taken in this by suzlef5
In reply to I'm currently talking with a by Weezy
In reply to Do you have a picture? I by CBLB2012
In reply to So I read these comments and by TotallyTakenForARide
In reply to So I read these comments and by TotallyTakenForARide
In reply to Hi, Debbie. I, too, was by 3goldkats
In reply to I have read everyone's by 49gallegos
In reply to I have read everyone's by 49gallegos
In reply to Hi, Debbie. I, too, was by 3goldkats
In reply to I may have been taken by the by Theoigeeky
In reply to Hi, Debbie. I, too, was by 3goldkats
In reply to Hello I think I have went by Missed informed
In reply to Hi, Debbie. I, too, was by 3goldkats
In reply to Hi. I have similar by LM
In reply to Hi Nancy, by Debbie
In reply to Hi Nancy, by Debbie
for someone who hasnt met or known u for 2 years in real life avoid any excess sharing of money that you will regret later play but always try your best to be safe! ;)
In reply to John Williams? Engineer on by Nancy
Omg i really hope this is not true for my besties sake but she has been talking to a man on Hangout that sounds like the one you were scammed by I knew something was wrong from the beginning he has already asked for her bank account to send money and she sent him an Itune card he's done told her twice he would be coming home but again another lie this scammers name is Kelvin Teddy and he's on Hangout and he works in the OCS oil drilling if this man is as fake as I know he is how can I find out I have been looking everywhere online
In reply to Omg i really hope this is not by Cherylw
In reply to My SIL is getting badly by Allie
Pagination