Skip to main content

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

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

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.

Consuelo1956
November 07, 2019

In reply to by heidi

This one sounds very familiar to me said his name is mark Brandon what is name you have
melicent067
December 02, 2021

In reply to by Consuelo1956

I was scammed by a man named Mark Brandon who said he was a single father of a 5 yr old girl. He said he lived in California and was an engineer that created a machine for sale and had to set it up on the ship. Somewhere in Europe. And during the time he was there he asked me for money for his phone to keep contact, I bought an apple gift card for $100 for him. That was the first red flag. He kept asking me every week for more gift cards and I refused. That was always an argument. Then he said his daughter was sick and needed medical help wanted $600 and if I didn't send the money she would die. I didn't have that kind of money to give away. And asked why he didn't already have that covered before he left with the nanny.He said he had all his money tied up in the machine he was selling. And when he was done he would be a millionaire and he wanted us to start a business together. I couldn't send him the money. He was so mad and rude when I didn't give him money to help. Called me every rude name in the book and terrorized me with text. I didn't respond to him. I ignored his messages and calls. This happened back in 2018 Such a sick person to utilize a child for his own benefits.
Divine
December 02, 2019

In reply to by heidi

My mother has the same story like yours... He said he is an engineer from uk. Has 1 kid 11yrs old boy..hes name is harry graham
Artist in FL
September 01, 2020

In reply to by mandy

I believe I am being scammed by an engineer with a 13 year old daughter. He lives in Texas, and currently on an oil rig in Norwegian Sea. His Instagram site was recently shut down. His name is James. Sound familiar?
Fool Me Once
September 12, 2020

In reply to by Artist in FL

Hi, sounds similar to someone who started chatting with me on WWF. From Texas. Widowed . 13 year old daughter. Oil rig engineer in Norway! But goes by Richard Moore. What does the guy who’s scamming you look like? Is he very muscular?
Daisy
January 28, 2021

In reply to by Fool Me Once

I have the same but nameDavid Martinez very muscular with tattoos on chest with birds
Aa
April 18, 2020

In reply to by Lexy

A guy added me an Facebook Anderson James from Georgia now in Kabul Afghanistan Parents died and lost his wife in a car accident 5 years ago...has a daughter with is 7....living in a boarder school He didn’t ask for money yet...but I am not sure if it’s a scam.... But we are only texting about a week Anybody knows the name
SH
April 26, 2020

In reply to by Aa

Very similar story. This one’s name is Robert Cooker from Ohio. Same sob story. Same obvious falsehoods. Block him immediately and report it.
Yes he's a scammer
April 27, 2020

In reply to by Aa

Also goes by Zach,Zachary Williams .Daughter7has failing kidneys.Absolute scam dog
Fed up.
October 30, 2020

In reply to by Yes he's a scammer

Could this guy also go by zachwilliam Zach Williams ZachWilliam00@ and play words? Does he claim to work in Turkey?
Tt
April 30, 2020

In reply to by Aa

I guy contacted me named Anderson Boodee similar story, from California now In turkey, parents died, wife died from cancer, has a daughter and son , wanted money
AC
January 23, 2022

In reply to by Aa

I am chatting with someone with the exact same alibi. Wife died in car accident, 6 year old son on boarding school, parents died. He's from LA currently in Germany working for pil and gas. Handsome guy but goodle search for the pics didn't come up with anything.
Not today
June 30, 2019

In reply to by Is this the same man

Oh he is till out there Peter Edison is the new name
Jyw
July 17, 2019

In reply to by Not today

I was scammed by a JASON GREGOR JOSE COUNTIHO SIGURDSSON. I was scammed for $8K. Found him on the dating site Zoosk in Los Angeles. He claimed to own a company called JJS Constructs. He was supposedly working off the Endicott Islands repairing pipes as a contractor for China Oil. He had me access his bank which is located in London called Standard Chartered Bank which had his name on the account and about $3M in it to transfer $1.2M to this Chinese company. His London Bank required a PIN number which was sent to his personal email in which I had 60 seconds to retrieve in order to input that PIN number on the wire page. Well I did it and the wire went through. Then he asked me to do another wire but I made an error, I understood his request as sending the wire right after the first one and I did. However Standard Charter Bank blocked his account (supposedly). I actually felt so bad that I screwed up. And he could not wire the remaining balance he owed the company because he’d have to leave where he was (supposedly, fly to Anchorage then fly to London. So of course I feeling guilty wired $7K and a friend of mine wired $1K and he supposedly got the rest from his Father and best friend name Greg. He was supposedly flying back to Los Angeles . I got a text at 2:57am that he arrived and I never heard from him. He was suppose to reimburse me the money and never did. I have pictures although I don’t know if they were really him.
Tess
August 07, 2019

In reply to by Jyw

I had a similar incident ; OSHA engineer on endicutt island in Alaska; had me pay for some pipes using his bank account to show me how much $$$ he has . Lol . Then it was time to pay for shipping and same thing happened ; somehow his bank account at Berkeley Bank was frozen; I didn’t sent any money and he got upset but whatever ; everything is fake with these scammers ; banks account ; certificates, email addresses, phone numbers etc. I just wish I could contact the actual man behind the photo ; I did reverse image search but this is a stolen photo with fake names .
Eliza
September 03, 2019

In reply to by Tess

It is happening to me right now, a guy who has been called Eric Keeler, contacts you, asks you to speak more intimately, when he manages to make contact he describes himself as a widower, sends photos of him, foolishly sends several photos of me and with some relatives, the He says he has fallen in love with me, and that he wants to give me some gifts that he wants to send me by parcel service, he says being an engineer who works on oil platforms, and that only uses cash, I gave him my data to send me the package, 5 days later They send me an email informing me that they retained the package at a customs office, and I have to pay the taxes so that I receive the gifts that I send, when I tell them that they ask me that he tells me that within the package I send he carries a cash, and that if they discover that package I will be accused of money laundering, and he will disappear and deny everything, and that they only have my data to locate me, but he does not stop pressuring me to pay that money, and The parcel also presses to pay taxes. It was really scary to see me is the situation of being accused of money laundering.
Tom Tim
September 13, 2019

In reply to by Eliza

An Asian girl worked as Head chep on a cruise ship sent me a friend request through fb...her name is Linh Jade Minh....watch out everyone they are very clever and smart .....I think they have a tac team....At least 1-3 people. One of the girls know how to flirt extremely well with romantic words and i had feeling for her....i was very lonely at the time ....she talked romance to me in length for days and asked me to private message her through her number.Finally she said that she lost her wallet with credit card on the ship and could not find it....she was so desperate and not able to get to the airport from the ship. At first i offered help to test them out...They were so clever not accept in the first place to again your trust even more. She needed 500 money gram to hire speed boat to take her to the airport.
Blue
October 09, 2019

In reply to by Eliza

Omg same thing happened to me recently.. An engineer working on oil drilling in Uk. Sent me gifts but was hold in another country's customs. I actually knew he was a scam from the start but i was riding along.. Never paid for the supposed duties and taxes but he is now threatening me cause he doesnt want to lose his money and certificates he sneaked in the package. I told him i dont care and blocked all contacts.
ell
May 20, 2020

In reply to by Blue

Omg I going through the same thing... I accidentally give the guy my name and my house address....he threatened me to bring the package to police and bring me to the court if I don’t pay 20,000...Then how? Did the police came after you?
niko
October 30, 2019

In reply to by Eliza

so what happened after that? did you make a payment to custom?? did police come to your house after accused of money laundering?
Scammed
November 22, 2019

In reply to by Eliza

It is also happening to me right now. His name is Chris Cooper, architect, from Columbus Ohio.
Unluckygirl
October 20, 2019

In reply to by Jyw

Hi, I have very similar story to yours. Can I have his picture?
Hda
September 17, 2020

In reply to by Not today

What about Greg Edison? He's from CA and says he's on an oil rig in Greece. Has 2 children going through a divorce. Has not asked for money yet, but waiting for him to ask.
Youngatheart
October 10, 2019

In reply to by Is this the same man

Do you have a picture of this man you could share?
Rup
November 07, 2019

In reply to by Youngatheart

Even I was scam by the same condition,his name was William,I met him in Asian Dating Site,he told me that he is from south Korea,he work in Italy as petroleum engineer.
Andrea Tripps
April 06, 2020

In reply to by Youngatheart

I have a picture of my Boyfriend How do I send it to find out if there’s a scam
Lil
May 31, 2019

In reply to by Donna1022

I have similar stories, only his name is William Lauridsen nah he is Irish
WP/ Nov 13, 20…
November 13, 2020

In reply to by Lil

The guy I'm talking to is also Irish working in Scotland. Broken machine. Divorced.
Kara
June 09, 2019

In reply to by Donna1022

A guy who says was born in Sweden but lives in Toronto, architect, widower, sun studies in England, works currently on a Hotel in Cyprus (North Cyprus, belongs to Turkey), age 55 (Feb 18 apparently was his birthday).. Goes by William, on OK Cupid - his profile disappeared when I started talking to him. I just found one of the photos he sent to me as Rowland_incredible on Instagram, maybe somebody would like to take a look to see if recognizes him..Hasn't asked me for money yet..there are red flags everywhere, I am just curious to see where this goes...I am sick of these scammers, met one few years back who suddenly left for Turkey on a business trip and was "robbed" and didn't know what to do, was desperate. I told him I hope he resolves his issue soon and to call me when he comes back, which of course never happened. I travel for business, and the story they make up that they are suddenly "in trouble" are just unreal in the professional world, please don't fall for this. If he is a successful businessmen, he would never be in these kind of situations, or if it happens, it is very easy to get out of it with one phone call, even internationally, doesn't need to ask a person who he never met for help.
Mbs
July 28, 2019

In reply to by Kara

I'm getting a sense of deja vu. I was contacted on Instagram by a pilot from Houston called David Cromack. He used to be in the airforce but was now training young pilots in Turkey. He said his Father was American and Mother was Turkish. Both parents and his sister had died and his ex wife died from brain cancer. I asked him what type of tumour she had and he didn't know even though his daughter was very young then. It was his daughter who asked me for an Amazon steam card. I asked her if she was on drugs and blocked her dad
Jessica B.
August 01, 2019

In reply to by Kara

Is his name William Reaves? He is emailing my mother and she is falling for all of his fancy words and ploys hook, line, and sinker.
mandak
August 14, 2019

In reply to by Jessica B.

My dear friend has recently been communicating with a William Reaves. He is originally from the Netherlands, but has relocated to the states. Lost his wife to cancer/kidney failure. Has a daughter in Australia, I believe. He claims to be a world renowned interior designer.
Suzy
August 14, 2019

In reply to by Jessica B.

I’ve been contacted by a William Reaves. He hasn’t asked for anything but my phone number which I haven’t given him! So glad my friend saw this! I had a weird feeling!!
Dotti
February 05, 2020

In reply to by Kara

He is using his name as David Liam...architect, in Switzerland, widower, wife died in car crush, has a sin studying in London UK, met online, then he went to South Africa to do project came back... stock in Montreal airport... maybe deported... asked me for money ... I have his email, and financial institution in Switzerland banking account number, please help
Merryon't use …
July 25, 2020

In reply to by Kara

A man on Whatsapp lives in Cyprus. Said he was in car accident on June 29 2020. Lives in Hotel. Needs steam wallet cards to call daughter. I have many photos. He says his name is Anderson and he is a Geologist! Age he said 59 not true
Soiwasalmostscammed
June 19, 2019

In reply to by Donna1022

I have been taking to a guy claiming to be a Swedish engineer working in Turkey. He lost his wife and son. He loves me and will buy me a big house but needs money to now cause he can’t access his account while he is in Turkey! I didn’t send any!
Kara
June 24, 2019

In reply to by Soiwasalmostscammed

I am glad you didn't! I didn't even let him ask for money, I told him that he needs to figure it out himself how to solve his problem, but that is probably the same guy. I wish people would search more online who they are talking to, just type in the story.. I have reported recently another catfish on POF, once you get tricked by one, it is easy to spot them the minute they start talking, same MO, slightly different stories. They are either not in the city right now but coming in 2 weeks, or they have to leave suddenly for work..But this is huge business, and they are not stupid, I wish we women weren't so thirsty for a romance in our busy life..
Holly B
October 30, 2019

In reply to by Kara

I was tricked too. Same person and asked me for money. I literally was sucked in and almost sent the money. My financial advisor said no way, sounds like a scam, dont fall for it. I have made sure to disconnect with this scammer...Philip with an accent in Turkey.
Country girl
December 24, 2019

In reply to by Holly B

Do you have a picture of this Philip?
Donna1022
June 25, 2019

In reply to by Soiwasalmostscammed

He sounds like the guy I have been talking to. Equipment problems. Credit cards not usable I Turkey. Needs money to pay his labor workers. Car crash. Family medical emergency....
mandy
July 10, 2019

In reply to by Donna1022

Sounds like the one I’ve been talking to. Does he have a daughter? Dark hair , handsome, Romanian.
Kaytee
July 30, 2019

In reply to by mandy

I met a handsome Romanian man on badoo. Had his daughter after 4 years together. He had borrowed money for his business totalling $23350. When our daughter was one month old I found out he has dated other people the entire time possibly for money. I got mine back but I think only because his main partner was done for fraud and still on parole. I found out, called them both cons, got my money back and have to take him to court for child support. Met him on badoo 2015 based in Perth, western Australia. I have found him on brazilcupid as well as other dating sites and have had him removed where I could
Kris T
November 08, 2019

In reply to by Kaytee

Kaytee, is his name David Ardelean or David Lungu? From Romania. Around 40 years old? In the Romanian Army fighting over in Syria ?
Return to top