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.
In reply to Has anyone ever heard of a by NitaPLynn
In reply to I also feel as if I have fell by peaches212
In reply to Hi I am May Valencia,now I by maybaidiango1
This sounds like a scam. If they say you must pay to accept a package, but it is not your package, and you did not order the package, it is usually a scam. They might pretend to be a "Customs Official" or say they will call the police. You can stop talking to the scammers. They want to scare you and take your money. You can block a scammer and ignore him.
In reply to I also feel as if I have fell by peaches212
In reply to OMG I have the same situation by hotlikeme
In reply to I would block him and delete by Michelle
In reply to I would block him and delete by Michelle
In reply to OMG I have the same situation by hotlikeme
In reply to OMG I have the same situation by hotlikeme
In reply to OMG I have the same situation by hotlikeme
In reply to I also feel as if I have fell by peaches212
In reply to Yes , I am going through the by Denise D.
In reply to I also feel as if I have fell by peaches212
In reply to Yes. I have been in the same by Patty Cake
In reply to I also feel as if I have fell by peaches212
In reply to I also feel as if I have fell by peaches212
In reply to I also feel as if I have fell by peaches212
In reply to I also feel as if I have fell by peaches212
In reply to I also feel as if I have fell by peaches212
In reply to I was scammed by a Richard by Sheryl by the Gulf
In reply to OMG the guy I’m chatting with by Blinded by Hotness
In reply to You can use Google Images to by Sandi
In reply to How do you use google to put by Winbell
In reply to TO Winbell - I have copied by Gypsy
In reply to Was his name either John by zmladyhawk
In reply to Was his name either John by zmladyhawk
In reply to Curious as to what your by stepdadprotector
In reply to I have been conversing with by zippy
In reply to I have been talking with a by swim2020!
In reply to I had the same sob story, by LLc41
In reply to I have found out more on Luis by Ses1951
In reply to I have been conversing with by zippy
In reply to Curious as to what your by stepdadprotector
In reply to I just had the same scam by Strause64
In reply to Curious as to what your by stepdadprotector
In reply to I have been contacted by a by whyme#321
In reply to I have been contacted by a by whyme#321
In reply to I was contacted by a man by april-sf
In reply to I was contacted by a man by april-sf
In reply to Was his name either John by zmladyhawk
In reply to Was his name either John by zmladyhawk
In reply to zm, i have a friend who we by nyny54
In reply to TO Winbell - I have copied by Gypsy
In reply to Was his name Martins Jayden by susanDon't use…
In reply to Was his name Martins Jayden by susanDon't use…
In reply to Susan don't use, u wrote by Rita...
In reply to Susan don't use, u wrote by Rita...
In reply to TO Winbell - I have copied by Gypsy
Pagination