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 My scanmmer told me his name by paevere
In reply to My scanmmer told me his name by paevere
In reply to My scanmmer told me his name by paevere
In reply to My scanmmer told me his name by paevere
In reply to My scanmmer told me his name by paevere
In reply to My scanmmer told me his name by paevere
In reply to Im pretty sure this romance by Amber1
In reply to Im pretty sure this romance by Amber1
In reply to Im pretty sure this romance by Amber1
In reply to I think this may be happening by Heatherrae1111
In reply to Im pretty sure this romance by Amber1
In reply to Im pretty sure this romance by Amber1
In reply to Im pretty sure this romance by Amber1
In reply to Jenifer , what site are you by aly
In reply to I too had a Ben Hodges asking by Don't use yfak…
In reply to I have been readind these for by Sunshine
In reply to Sunshine do you by chance by betty boop
In reply to There is an engineer in Dubai by Lolly
Hey! I have a guy named Ryan Hofmann who just flew over to Dubai for work... he says he’s a civil engineer He has been doing everything but asking for money, but i’ve only known of him for two weeks, how do I check out his photos?? His English is very bad, and he won’t tell me what his other language is!
In reply to Hey! by Lonnie
In reply to There is an engineer in Dubai by Lolly
In reply to There is an engineer in Dubai by Lolly
In reply to Please be aware of Alex by sassysnookie25
In reply to Do you have a picture of him? by lovemysons2016
In reply to Please be aware of Alex by sassysnookie25
In reply to @Sassysnookie25 Oh yeah, I by SMARTY
In reply to I'm trying to get info to by Trying to help her
In reply to Does he say he needs money by Cat
In reply to I'm trying to get info to by Trying to help her
In reply to Is anyone in contact here by Rue
In reply to I am in contact with him. Can by Sweetybabe
In reply to I'm trying to get info to by Trying to help her
In reply to @Sassysnookie25 Oh yeah, I by SMARTY
In reply to Thomas L Harry on words with by Twiggy
In reply to The reason I’m responding to by Faith
In reply to The reason I’m responding to by Faith
In reply to Thomas L Harry on words with by Twiggy
In reply to I was speaking to a Thomas by RDM
In reply to Is he an American chinese? by unsure
In reply to I was speaking to a Thomas by RDM
In reply to Thomas L Harry on words with by Twiggy
In reply to Omg. Ive been talking to this by Woodybales
In reply to Thomas L Harry on words with by Twiggy
In reply to @Sassysnookie25 Oh yeah, I by SMARTY
In reply to I am talking to this guy by Anaid11
In reply to @Sassysnookie25 Oh yeah, I by SMARTY
In reply to Please be aware of Alex by sassysnookie25
In reply to Did he get your email address by Joistic53
In reply to The man that was sending me by Joyce3336
In reply to The man that was sending me by Joyce3336
In reply to Did he get your email address by Joistic53
Pagination