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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.

Search Terms
bank account
fraud
military
money transfer
online dating
scam
Topics
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.

Kim
March 07, 2020

In reply to by Almost fell for it

Hi there my friend is talking someone called James lee from Nigeria who is a marine but uses a USA number but says his phone is broken to speak over it...
TLL2007
May 13, 2018

In reply to by MomD313

MomD313 I already post my story if same James Markson. I wish to get in contact with you to send you pictures of this guy and check if we are talking of same man. Did he send some photos of himself?
IBP2018
July 12, 2018

In reply to by TLL2007

I think I am in contact with the same guy. Do you have a picture that you can send? He has not asked for anything yet (it's been two weeks) but he seems a little to attached already and his name is William James Markson
Cmc
September 15, 2018

In reply to by TLL2007

Oh my god same guy only his son is in boarding school in Dubai says he’s in love with me I didn’t fall for anything I deleted him quick said his name is James wife died of cancer three years ago
blondenotdumb
May 16, 2018

In reply to by MomD313

anyone know a Rowland Jackson, or a Tony Lorenzo. Same scenario kids in boarding school. wives dead. Jackson supposedly a oil man. Lorenzo supposedly lives in chicago, does construction.
I am hurt
June 24, 2018

In reply to by blondenotdumb

Hi can you send me pictures of that guy from chicago he said he is a manager of a company
Spark
May 17, 2018

In reply to by MomD313

You story seems alike to me. I met this guy on Pof named Alexandra Hernandez and he said sane thing his mom lives with his 5 yr old daughter in Maryland, Baltimore. He lost his wallet days before his travel he booked vacation to go to Baltimore and on the way he was supposed to meet me. He gave me forges tickets when I checked his tickets with airline they said no such person is travelling in that date and filght # from Sydney is wrg since he told me he wrks in Australia on contract.
franib
July 25, 2018

In reply to by Spark

how did you get the confirmation information from the airlines about the flight schedule I tried about 2 years ago with a similar situation and I got nowhere they couldn't or wouldn't verify that the flight schedule was legitimate
Cruise babe
May 25, 2018

In reply to by MomD313

I think I have been scammed.Do you know someone out of Georgia that is working on a oil rigged
KITTYROSE543
May 30, 2018

In reply to by Cruise babe

Someone is trying to scam me last week, He think im stupid thank God he didn't..
Mand
August 09, 2018

In reply to by KITTYROSE543

A guy named Alex tried to con me last week. Claimed he was in the US army. After the 2nd day he was in love with me and by the 3rd he asked me if I had a bitcoin wallet and tried to get $200 out of me...Really lol I never came of yesterday's banana boat. Lol
Arlena
September 22, 2018

In reply to by JAMHANK

I was talking to someone named Randall Burkett. Who said he was in Syria. I wired him at least $3000.00 He says he will be home on the 29 of September. He caught Malaria and I have been googling about soldiers and malria. It did not add up. He is and I believe in Nigeria. I met him online I feel so stupid but it was my fault I fell for it.
juju
December 14, 2018

In reply to by JAMHANK

Has anyone heard of a James Admiral Wade? He's pretending to be a civil engineer in South Africa.
Scarlett
October 08, 2020

In reply to by Snowwhite

Snowwhite: is he going by the name Ethan Gruber or Ethan James Gruber???
Emilie
June 05, 2018

In reply to by Cruise babe

hi, i think i am also scanning.Sune name is Adolph Brad Alexander, Georgia Batumi, on an oil ship. He pretends to be a geologist engineer in oil demand.
Puppy dog
August 23, 2018

In reply to by Emilie

Does anyone know of a person. Thomas Kim. With little girl Or a gray Moore. Contractor with teenage daughter
Mary
August 02, 2018

In reply to by Puppy dog

I’ve been talking with a Grey Moore for months. He is a widow and works on oil rig. He has blond/ gray hair. He is coming to see me next month. He can’t send pictures from oil rig. Does it sound familiar?
sbb1629
September 08, 2018

In reply to by Mary

OMG same experience but says his name is Thomas Conti! Can't video bc oil rig blah blah blonde grey hair
Wally
November 14, 2018

In reply to by CP3beenhad

I have pictures too of greyand Annabella but they are sent from his phone not the rig. It is him alright!!
glaurageo
February 23, 2019

In reply to by Wally

Please please send pics! I think my best friend is getting scammed by the same guy! David from California, oil rig for subsea7. Has to go to UK for month. No contact while he is gone... Said he just got a contract for 4.5 million. Daughter Emily.
Lee5454
March 05, 2019

In reply to by glaurageo

I would love to send pictures of this guy!! He needs to be stopped
Lee5454
March 05, 2019

In reply to by glaurageo

I would love to send pictures of this guy!! He needs to be stopped
ml1234
March 20, 2019

In reply to by glaurageo

He is also going by Martin D Camden and David Mcbean. he talks so sweet and makes you feel special until you can't sent him money, than you see a different side of him.
Hatescammer
August 14, 2020

In reply to by glaurageo

Hi I think I was also scammed by this David guy, claimed from Oakland CA, work at oil rig for subsea 7 . I have his pics and like to send pics see if it’s the same guy
Msg asap
September 26, 2018

In reply to by Mary

Can you please send me a pic he's been using..I think this guy is scamming my mother...sounds like the same man..oil rig..hair everything but this man is going by Danny moore
irishfool
October 12, 2018

In reply to by Mary

Is his photo in a white suit lounging in a chair? He’s in New Orleans working on an oil rig, widowed, no kids. From Baltimore. Name is Samuel Grey. Anyone heard of him? Appears to be in 50s or early 60s.
Wally
November 14, 2018

In reply to by Mary

I have also been talking with grey Moore for months. Says he loves me etc. Really romantic messages. Daughter boarding in private school. Says he lives in brooklyn
Wally
December 01, 2018

In reply to by CP3beenhad

Yes he has rang often. Got angry when I said no to sending I tunes. Blocked him on hangouts but he still emails me. Still wants I tunes for Annabella at boarding school. Must think I am an idiot but shouts if I say no. Dont worry I havent and I wont send anything
Claire
December 10, 2018

In reply to by Mary

Same situation. His name is Rafael Anderson, widowed, 10 year old daughter, lives with mom and daughter, works on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, lives in Los Angeles, writes poetry and professes love calling me his “Queen.” Sound familiar!
BFromT23
January 02, 2019

In reply to by Claire

This is so sad. Anyone know Mark Romos says from Sweden with 2 girls? Single for 2 years wife passed in car accident?
Lee5454
February 11, 2019

In reply to by Claire

Told me his wife died 5 yrs ago car wreck, daughter named Emily and tells me he is going to treat me as his Queen but he goes by Martin D Camden
ml1234
February 21, 2019

In reply to by Lee5454

Lee5454 I'm actually chatting with him now! said they was a fire on the oil rig and now needs $14,000.00 to get his work done, his family can only come up with$8000.00. he is about to loose everything and talking about ending his life. luckily I didn't fall for it. He would say these poems and quotes that would make you melt. He does know what he is doing. I have pictures of him if anyone needs to see him. And he talks about his daughter Emily and his wife passing same story with me.
KITTEN Do…
March 26, 2019

In reply to by ml1234

I HAVE A SIMILAR SITUATION AND ALSO HAVE PICTURES. GOES BY THE NAME OF STEVE FRANCIS COLLINS
Janet Simpson
April 11, 2019

In reply to by Ml1234

Yes, I am having the similar experience. His name is Wilson chung
Ml1234
April 17, 2019

In reply to by Janet Simpson

I can send you a picture. I would love to stop these scammers
sarah
September 16, 2019

In reply to by Janet Simpson

Can you please share your photo with me? I think I know the same guy but different name. I would appreciate it if you could share a photo.
Heartbroken
January 17, 2021

In reply to by KITTEN Do…

I feel sick...I'm talking with someone by the name of Steve K Collins. I have pictures of him. How can we check to see if its the same guy. This guy says he's 61yrs. Salt and pepper color hair. Mustache and goatee. Super good looking.
Lm6347
April 05, 2019

In reply to by ml1234

I have been chatting with a guy on hangout with a similar story. Handsome, smooth talker, in love, needs money. Goes by Kiefer Jones. Calls me his queen. I wonder if it’s the same guy
Lotus
May 04, 2019

In reply to by ml1234

I met a guy saying the same thing, can you share the picture or describe how he looks? Thanks
Jane345
September 08, 2019

In reply to by ml1234

Hi, I've a similar story, I was talking to a guy who worked on an oil rig in the North sea, he said he was from Italy an his 15th year old daughter Sarah lived with the nanny. He said there was an explosion on the oil rig an he had a shortfall of £4000 for medical bills an to get off the rig. He would constantly ring me begged for money, I told him I didn't have it, he'd say he would treat me well if I did but I knew it was a scam even though it was so believable at the time, his name was Marcus
Even4ually
September 19, 2019

In reply to by ml1234

Im talking to a guy thats an independent contractor with a daughter named Sarah. His wife died of cancer. His dad died at 23. And he has a nanny that cooks for him. He goes onshore/off shore. Hes waiting for this big contract to go through thats worth millions. If it goes through he wants to retire and start a life with me.. I met him on a word game and somehow ended up talking to him on hangouts. Hes sends pictures and i describe him as 5"11 light skin grey beard no hair on his head that is! Lol... He calls me MY LADY. Or Angel. Sends me snap shots of love quotes and video s from you tube. Hes italian
catherinec
April 15, 2020

In reply to by Even4ually

I think he is the one scamming my sister right now and she won't listen!!! Sounds like the same story (they're all similar) and same physical description. Same approach...words with friends and hangouts.
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