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While plenty of successful relationships begin online, scammers also use online dating sites, apps, and chat rooms to trick you into sending them money. These imposters create fake profiles to build online relationships, and eventually convince people to send money in the name of love. Some even make wedding plans before disappearing with the money. It’s a big problem: reports to the FBI about online romance scams tripled between 2012 and 2016, and imposter scams were among the top reports to the Federal Trade Commission for both the general population and the military community.

These scams can take a military angle with imposters stealing servicemembers’ photos to create phony profiles. They might claim to be servicemembers who can’t get into their accounts overseas or who need money fast. The first sign of a scam is an online love interest who asks for money. But the Army’s Criminal Investigative Service (CIS) says that the military doesn’t charge servicemembers to go on leave, get married, communicate with their family, go online, or feed and house themselves on deployment. We have also heard of scammers re-using servicemembers’ photos again and again, so it can be helpful to do some online research on the love interest’s name, photos, and details to check the story out.

If an online love interest asks you for money:

  • Slow down and talk to someone you trust. These scammers want to rush you, often professing love right away; or pressuring you to move your conversation off the dating site.
  • Never wire money, put money on a gift card or cash reload card, or send cash to an online love interest. You won’t get it back.
  • If you sent money to a scammer, contact the company you used to send the money (wire transfer service, gift card company, or cash reload card company) and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask to have the transaction reversed if possible.
  • Report your experience to the dating site and to the FTC.

For Military Consumer Month, share this video to help military consumers steer clear of online romance scams.

 

 

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Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
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Romance Scams
pitiful
April 26, 2019

In reply to by Mexico49

Sounds like the guy trying to get ITUNES cards out of me. Dr. on a cruise line. Has a 15 year old son. Widowed lives in FL. Went by Jayden Martins Sparks. I google everything he is a ghost. He is an older man, every handsome. He should be stopped. I didn't sent him anything, but I know there are women that will
t use yobetty …
July 14, 2018
I've been scammed by a guy claims to be in hospital in Afghanistan and was hurt in a bus accident going to the airport. He claims he loves me and wants to be with me forever. He needs money to get home because the flight home was increased in price. I've already sent him $1600 for flight and at least $1000 more in iTunes cards to communicate with me. I never talked to him on phone even though he calls me,we communicate by Hangouts. Is this definitely a scammer? His name is Roger Carpenter and claims to be an engineer with the government and a captain in the Army. Beware of him
MattDaniels
July 15, 2018
Anyone scammed by Matt Daniels. Photo of him in a khaki uniform standing in a kitchen?
Suzie
August 23, 2018

In reply to by MattDaniels

Is photo of MattDaniels left arm colorful tattoos? Could be an older photo with no tattoo? Probably same half Italian, half American Orthopedic Surgeon that’s trying to scam me. Please reply. Thanks
Bonny
September 23, 2018

In reply to by Suzie

Same one with colorful tattoos. One photo with cat and one photo with dog. Orthopedic Surgeon Doctor working for Military on contract. Exactly the same
Anonymous
October 28, 2018

In reply to by Bonny

Someone I know has been talking with a Matt Daniels the past few months, and he fits this description perfectly. How has he been scamming people? Has he asked anyone for personal info or money?
Anne
January 11, 2019

In reply to by Anonymous

I have been emailing a Matt Daniels orthopedic Surgeon sent to Syriah, wants to send me $ to My acct to send to his son in Military school??? Pics have Tattoos met on POF he did facetime me looked real enough. says he wants to send 10.000 to my acct that I can send his son???
Ann
April 08, 2019

In reply to by Anne

I've been talking with someone by the same name and profession. Hasn't asked for anything as of yet. I'm not sure how to handle. I wish there was a way to exchange more information.
Lgilbow
November 17, 2019

In reply to by Anne

I’m talking to a guy name Glover Luis and sounds like the same man you all are talking about. Nice Body, left full of colorful Tattoos. He looks Asian but keeps telling me he is from Brazil. And he has 12 year old son. And his wife died of cancer. I knew if BS!! But I like our Conversation. And we have been talking since the end of July. Up until now. This man done tried everything.to get money me . First it was those Steam cards the he graduated to back loan, Talking about waiting for his Benefits to get in there he said he works for the CIA and he was supposed to come home to be with me, but he can’t leave because of the money he owes for the Apartment. Oh and he is asignment is in Istanbul Turkey.!! Might be the same man!!
Parklll
November 29, 2020

In reply to by Lgilbow

Hi I believe I’m talking to this person you posted about he’s going by David Medina but also gets called Donnie
Harley
August 10, 2019

In reply to by Suzie

Would love more ingredients, I feel like I'm in this situation now
Military Zone Email
August 30, 2020

In reply to by MattDaniels

Anybody heard of Marco Antonio Jackson? He is from LA, his family is from Monterrey Mexico. He has a daughter named Wendy and his ex wife used up all of his money while he is away on a mission. He is very handsome, tan and tall.
Karma''s A B!!
July 16, 2018
Be on the lookout for a Sgt. Daniel Jason Cooper supposed to be in the U.S Army stationed in Chad and supposedly His MOS is CID 40 Years Old with a Son who's 6 Years Old and supposedly very sick with life threatening illness. He played the heartstrings and sympathy card about his son boy did I fall for his crap, but I did my own investigation . These scammed are linked here in the U.S too Don't let them fool you! I have everything I need to nail him to the wall along with his accomplices. I hope they all pay for what they've done.
Djinn
October 08, 2018

In reply to by Karma''s A B!!

I was about to be scammed when I realized what was going on I confronted the person, he was pretending to be a Army Captain based in France, when i did my research all is wrong and english is hilarious. Ive contacted and warned the real person or so at least I thought its the real person but he blocked me. Why would I get blocked unless he is a fake one as well correct?
Badoo
July 24, 2018
So I Have been on this website for a couple of years, and so far nothing but scammers, from military to so called contractors. Sometimes I wished the FTC would pay me money for every scam! My latest one called himself Nathaniel Brown, supposed to be from Arizona, but is doing a million dollar contract in Cyprus! So after talking to him for a while, he asked me if I could get him 3 MacBook Air with everything, because his card was compromised. And then he wanted me to send them to a coworker named Ozay Seydali in Nicosia Cyprus. Told him right out I am not going to be scammed, he got upset and called me several names. I am pretty sure , he is talking to someone else already. Be careful, Ladies!
Redssidekick
July 29, 2018

In reply to by Badoo

Sounds like my friend's "Danish contractor" who just landed a 3 million dollar deal in Cypress but needs utube cards to talk to her or some sort of nonsense. First asked for $50.00 card. Then another amount..because his card was compromised..needed to work on contract proposal..speaks with Danish accent..says he knows 6 languages. She has Skyped with him. He's in oil Riggs offshore I believe. I referred her to this site..has a daughter in boarding school- 16 years old. His wife died when she was 8. That's the story!
susan day
September 11, 2018

In reply to by Badoo

do you have a photo of the Cyprus scammer you can post? A friend is involved with a guy who is in Cyprus - hasn't met him yet.
AD
September 27, 2018

In reply to by susan day

I think I have just been scammed by this person. His name is Bruno Desi claims to be a petroleum engineer. He has a 6 year old daughter and has been a widow since she was 2. Asked me to access his bank account to wire money to a vendor for supplies. His account was locked because of a foreign IP address trying to access his account then he begs me to pay for the supplies until he returns from the sea. I googled him and found his LinkedIn account, business website all seem to be in order. Then he got held by customs on his way to the US by customs for traveling with the money that he was paid for his job, over 200,000 € that was not declared and is asking for me to pay for an attorney.
heidram
November 25, 2018

In reply to by AD

Do you have a pic of this man? I have a few pics to share and compare
Madison146
December 02, 2018

In reply to by heidram

Did you ever get into his bank account on his behalf??? Mine give me login information and everything in wiring instructions then I went in wired money from his account to his vendors and it was millions of dollars ... now he is saying because I logged in from somewhere different then where he was that the bank closed his account ... I don’t know how hard it is to fake the web page that looks just like a bank account seems difficult to me ... he apparently can’t leave to straighten things out with the bank because he’s on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean and the bank is in the UK ... I’m so heartbroken
maytrang
December 18, 2018

In reply to by Madison146

Is it Metro bank? My case is similar to this but I did not access to his bank account. I just happened to help him placed order of material and forwarded wire confirmation because he had issues pulling his email due to poor internet connection on the rig.
Concerned relative
January 23, 2019

In reply to by Madison146

He probably had you clearing out someone else's account. Had you do it so it could not be traced to him. It seems a common theme that these scammers involve their victims in money laundering and some victims have been prosecuted after "helping " their new fictitious friend. I have been doing alot of research as I have a family member being taken advantage of.
Don't use your…
November 12, 2019

In reply to by Madison146

I got the same thing ..just wondering if his name was mark wilsin
Dotti
February 05, 2020

In reply to by Madison146

Is his name David Liam? 55 and widower architect?
Scammed
April 17, 2020

In reply to by Madison146

I think I am scammed by the same trick. He used the name Felix Cheng, 38 years old, parents dead, only child. He claimed to be a steel framing contractor. We were supposed to meet on a Sunday, but his best NY friend’s wife got diagnosed with cancer, he had to fly to NY on the Saturday before our date to be with them. Later he won a contract From a Malaysia oil company. He had to fly there to complete the contract agreement. He sent me a photo of the contract. He must start the work the next day in a oil rig because the contract was to fix an oil spill in a rig, and the oil company required the phone be switched with one without camera and anti explosive, because the company doesn’t want any photos leaked to the media. Few days later, he said the internet connection was poor that he couldn’t get to his email account or bank account. He first asked me to contact his supplier using my email to request invoice on his behalf. The invoice contained money wiring information. He then asked me to log in to his bank account on his behalf to wire the money to the supplier, which is more than 2m. The account was frozen due to unknown log in location. The bank was able to unfreeze it by answering security questions. Then the bank locked his account again because it is required to pay income tax on any deposit to the account. He asked me to pay for this income tax to unlock the account. Sadly I did it. I feel so ashamed falling for this scam.
scammed
August 22, 2020

In reply to by Scammed

Are you serious? This person was on hinge and I went through the exact same storyline and got scammed within 4 weeks.
scamed
August 22, 2020

In reply to by Scammed

My goodness I think He is at it again! I met him On Hinge. Same story only child, oil rig, pic of contract, change phone, using whats app. Wanted my full name and address but I did not give it to him. I did send him some selfies thank God nothing inappropriate. So embarrassed, thank goodness i checked on here.
innocent
October 31, 2020

In reply to by Scammed

I had a very very similar story. Have you added him on WhatsApp?
Need to make sure
January 27, 2019

In reply to by heidram

Can we compare pictures cause I think I’m talking to this person also
Maria M
January 28, 2019

In reply to by Need to make sure

I think we have the same guy ... he’s an engineer doing pipeline for petroleum... l met him on fb ..!hes from Uk , does he wears a red shirt like sitting on a sofa by the hotel lobby and another picture wearing a white shirt on a kid shoe store, he also have another picture of a nexklace like the military dog tag with some arabic words... l think we have the same guy . Let’s share pictures six six one two three six nine eight three eight
SJ
February 25, 2019

In reply to by heidram

That same Bruno H Desi (from Italy) tried the same trick on me. His wife died 4 years ago, he has a daughter who is 6 years old now. He wants to love again... Blah, blah, blah… But this time he was in the Netherlands getting ready to start a contract in California in Oil and gas industry. He even has a company website (Brunotech). He came at me very strong and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. He was way too perfect, that's what made me suspicious. So I started googling him. Then I found this post where he had already scammed another lady. I confronted him with it. He couldn't say anything. The next day he disappeared. He changed his name on the dating website. Now he goes by Bryan from Malta. Ladies beware of this predator. He uses pictures of a good-looking middle-eastern mixed guy. Don't fall for it.
Smartwoman
March 23, 2019

In reply to by SJ

Sounds very familiar. I've been chatted with a Stewart Robert, marine engineer supposedly on an Indonesian oil rig. Same deal, widower 5 years, 2 kids. Nanny takes care of them while he is overseas. Lovess me, wants to marry me, contract ends end of April. After about 3 weeks of chatting his computer went blank and needs updating and wants gift cards. Borrowed his friends computer to tell me this. His photos are of an attract gray haired man sort of a middle eastern look. Parents dead, only child. Some things he said made sense, at other times not. Anyone hear of this guy? I'm not sending him a thing. Glad I investigated first.
Don't use your…
May 16, 2021

In reply to by SJ

Can you please sebd ne a picture i think I'm talking to him
Maria M
January 28, 2019

In reply to by AD

I think we have the same guy he’s an engineer contractor doing oil pipeline just met him December 2018.. he’s a widow wife died of cancer, has a son on a boarding school. I met him on fb. Can we share pictures.. six six one two three six nine eight three eight... we have the same guy
AT
February 17, 2019

In reply to by AD

Do you have his photo? I’ve been speaking with one person. He is an engineer contractor which who claims someone stolen his card. He asks e 2.500 is dollars to pay to his contractors.
Reesynj80
February 20, 2019

In reply to by AD

Do you have pics of this man? He gave me quite a few pics that we could trade and compare. I believe he was going to try to scam me. I called him out on it and he said he would call me when he got to the US.
EJ
February 25, 2019

In reply to by AD

Holy crap, I feel so stupid. I am such a trusting person apparently :( I too did some online research and didn't find anything super fishy with Bruno up front. He waited an entire month before the money scam started, I was nieve wanting to help, thinking how awful of a situation he was in, seeemed believable at first, so yes, I only sent a fraction of the $ he was asking, but it is still mo ey I will never see again. Then the customs thing happened....This started sounding fishy, and worried about protecting him, I did my research online of the customs and immigration processes and laws, contacted the Consulate to see if they had services to help him, and checked the Bar Associations for the lawyer he was mentioning. This upset him greatly!! I am out money, that is my dumb trusting fault, but I am contacting the legitimate businesses he was fronting, and the dating app he used to connect with me to see if they are aware of him. I feel so sick that there are people like this in the world, and that they are so good at taking advantage, I am not a dumb girl, but my instincts should have triggered sooner, so so dumb.
snick
February 12, 2019

In reply to by susan day

I’ve been contacted by a Finnish architect/contractor now in Cyprus with the same. Needing money to ship building supplies because his bank has suspended his account due to distant and multiple logins. Very romantic past 7 weeks. Same one??
lizby2006
August 30, 2019

In reply to by snick

I just met a guy online (Lithuanian architect) who I was supposed to meet on a Saturday but 2 days prior was called to work on some project in Cyprus. 2.5 weeks later, we talk and text everyday.. yesterday he called and said his taxi driver robbed him, took his wallet and new MacBook Pro. Today he asked me to buy him a new MacBook Pro so he can finish his project and come home. He has only one friend in and he is supposedly on vacation...
snick
February 12, 2019

In reply to by susan day

any pictures you can send to see if it’s the same one as mine?
NotThe1
February 04, 2020

In reply to by Badoo

My mother is 71 years old and being scammed it started in November 2018 with the name of Miguel Gilchrist, all these stories are the same, he was supposedly born in Romania but was living in the UK, owned his own construction company but immediately the sob stories of being so sick and needing money started same thing about his mother being dead, and he can’t keep borrowing from his father, wanting iTunes cards which she went right out in the first week of knowing him and bought the iTunes card, lying to me about what she purchased saying it was for a carnival at school, he sounds just like all these scammers saying she was his wife his true love his Queen writing a love letter with a drop of blood on it and telling her when she gets the letter to cut her finger and drop her blood in his and their bond will never be broken it goes on and on, to this day somehow she’s still invoked with a scammer and this guy used the name Jay Newnam but somehow knows Miguel and then he says he wants to be honest with her and gives her another name African with the middle name Dickson which is what he now goes by, he’s getting money an iPhone 11 a laptop etc. but he’s claiming to be some type of teacher on his Facebook profile because my mom works in education so you see how he snagged her, an then began saying he wants to come to America to go to college to finish his degree there you have it she’s now supporting a supposedly 23 year old Nigerian sending money all the time plus all the gifts and he’s telling her he needs a sponsor show we’re so far in debt we’re losing our house because she’s doing all these financial things for a scammer someone she never met but she believes 100% he’s real and she has even offered to move him here to America and asked him if he wants to bring his brother, this whole situation has caused us to be in debt possibly homeless soon. Anyone here of these names, the Miguel Gilchrist also claimed he went to China for work and his friend put fake currency in his bag and he got caught so said he was in jail and needed money to get out all that happened when my mom was telling people at work she was supposed to be going to London for vacation but she never said it to me so yeah in her mind which is already suffering from Alzheimer’s she thought she was gonna go meet this Miguel even though I told her with 100% reasoning he’s fake she was gonna attempt to go to London but he all of a sudden quit corresponding for 2 weeks that’s when he popped back up saying he was in jail in China, immediately after that the Jay Newnam came into the picture and she had told me her phone broke but I think she broke it because she didn’t want anyone seeing she was now dealing with another scammer, since she would yell at me that she’s not stupid and she’d never be used by a scammer and yeah it’s happening this is so much more weird because he’s supposed to be a 23 year old Nigerian that she’s in love with and she calls him her baby boy but he calls her mom, she lied about her age she lied about my age so he doesn’t know she’s 72, he thinks she’s 61, he knows she’s retiring and he’s expecting a big pay out I’m sure because whenever he calls for money we know it because we see her running out the door all of a sudden making up lies as to where she’s going, I pray this scammer gets caught!!! I can’t take it anymore!!
Friendinneed
July 26, 2018
My friend has been messaging someone she met on POF who claims to be in the Army. He has sent pics of him and pics of a girl who he has said is his daughter. He told her he needs money to come home. She had already sent him a lot of money western union before she told me about him. He told her that he can’t talk to her on the phone. They message through an app. She is holding out hope that this is not a scam but I’m sure it is. How can I help her find out if he is a scammer for sure?
Dobutfulfreind
November 14, 2018

In reply to by Friendinneed

Could you some send me these pictures he sent to your sister of himself n daughter I recently have been speaking to someone who began messaging me on Instagram who is also in the Army the story sound similar
Noteveragain
November 15, 2018

In reply to by Dobutfulfreind

I think we may have the same guy.. sounds the same... what name is he using with you????
monkey
November 21, 2018

In reply to by Noteveragain

This sounds like someone that started talking to me on Instagram under the name paulcorner244.. than asked me to get hangouts.. he hasn’t asked for anything yet.. but doesn’t like when I question him..said he’s in Afghanistan recently, said he could get in trouble for texting.. I told him not to do it than..
marizclapis
April 30, 2020

In reply to by Noteveragain

i have same story of the guy i am chatting with pls send him his picture.ty
RekrapTia
April 24, 2020

In reply to by Dobutfulfreind

Sounds like I got one too from Syria, Army Reservist needing money for Google Play card. Robert Tunis Clearwater E7. SFC Gorgeous if the photos are real. Also has son and daughter.
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