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
Erika217
December 27, 2019

In reply to by HighEnergy

I believe I'm being scammed by a Henry James wang, added me on Instagram then wanted me to carry the conversation to whatsapp. He is from Alabama but Chinese, says he is an oil engineer has a shiba Inu dog in his pictures and he works in Harrow, england for Exxon. Very good looking, tall and slim. Says both his parents died when he was young and his fiancee cheated on him with his bestfriend and the fiance and best friend work in the same company still and he sees them every day. He sent me a link of a bank account together with his username and password. I logged in and it said he had 6.2million dollars but the whole website looked fake and he says those funds are from the company for a contract he has to start either in Bolivia or Tokyo and that he loves me and needs someone to lend him 50k so that he can complete 500k and be able to get the contract going. I blocked him and called him out on being a scammer he got offended and blocked me on WhatsApp, but then said he missed me and I still bombarded him with questions regarding himself and his story and the fact that I can't see him properly on video camara so he blocked me again and before doing so said he would unblock me once his video is fixed. What should I do? I want to upload his photos, maybe someone here might have the same situation with this same guy.
Clare
January 13, 2020

In reply to by Erika217

Maybe we got the same person. Very good looking and slim. But it was funny, I called him scammer and he get offended, even he said get off from his phone. Haha
Ms Darcy
February 20, 2020

In reply to by Clare

Hilarious, I believe I’m talking to one now. I’ve said so many mean things to this guy, he keeps coming back forgiving me, but he got really mad when I accused him of being a scammer and wanted specific selfies of him. He then looked back at the previous conversations and got mad again lol. Now he’s back asking me to call him on WhatsApp (if I care)lol. He never directly asked for money, but complained he was $1k short of monies needed to fix a construction machine. I started thinking he was fake when he started saying “take care of yourself for me “ and “don’t forget to eat” so lame. I decided to torture this guy cause me made me care for him with his sweet and loving words for 5 mos. he sent a “nude” but I didn’t, he didn’t continue to ask when I said no. Sadly I found his story was the same as everyone else, raised abroad, been in the US only 14 yrs. not good at English speaking, but is a busy construction engineer in charge of a mall project in MI, has one son, first wife died, second marriage ended so tragic he can “never talk about it” I find it’s really sickening spelled out like this. I’m sure he would blackmail me with any nudes I sent him.
MsG
May 26, 2020

In reply to by Ms Darcy

Hi, I think I may be talking to the same guy. Everything you say sounds exactly the same. What name does he use? Do you have photos?
Anne heartbreak
June 07, 2020

In reply to by MsG

I think this maybe the same guy trying to scam me I have a phone number and pic
Mandi
June 26, 2020

In reply to by Anne heartbreak

The guy messaging me called james winner from Scotland now in USA works on rigs as engineer, wife died in accident and daughter in boarding school.i have a phone number and a picture
MandiP
July 10, 2020

In reply to by Mandi

I've been talking to a Scot who says he's a US citizen, marine engineer, 17 year old daughter with Aunt in Washington DC. He contacted me first on FB, then IG, we mostly talk on Hangouts and sometimes WhatsApp. Tall, good looking, thinning hair, beautiful voice, ship engineer. Accounts are frozen due to a tax issue, had an explosion on the ship, Dad is sick, daughter needs help, stuck because of Covid...sent me pics of a passport, driver's license, contract, lots of pictures, none come up in reverse images, can't be found anywhere else on the net.
LadiesBeware
July 16, 2020

In reply to by MandiP

I think I was talking to the same guy on Hangout, who goes by the name of Harry Scott. Same story of how he is a widow but its too painful to talk about, and has a young daughter. He's also a ship engineer who is bored and has noone to talk to. Favorite color is red. Really handsome guy who said he is in his late 30s to early 40's. I never got to the script of how he needed money. There were too many red flags to count and he sounded too good to be true. Deleted him, blocked him and changed privacy settings on the game he originally contacted me through. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Glad I checked this site!
Jones girl
October 21, 2020

In reply to by LadiesBeware

Is his name Kingsley Rob? Favorite color is red and white? Red for love and white for pure heart?
Aria
March 30, 2021

In reply to by Jones girl

I was talking to a guy who favorite colors were red and white he told me the same thing about the red and white colors. He said his name is Andrew Robert good looking fit man . Said he had a son in boarding school in Texas named Jason, said wife was dead and he lived in San Diego, also said he was on a rig in golf of Mexico , always wanted to know if I had had breakfast.
Hercilia
July 16, 2020

In reply to by Mandi

I think I’m being scammed by the same guy because his throat was very similar except it was a son that was in a boarding school. Is there anyway that you could share his picture?
James from Par…
September 01, 2020

In reply to by Mandi

The man I'm talking to is named James, raised in Paris. On an oil rig in Norwegian Sea. Contacted me bc thought Instagram. Does this sound familiar
Lisie6
October 29, 2020

In reply to by James from Par…

Yes if he was same one I was talking to. Goes by Richard James. Been talking to him since June. He messaged me on Instagram. Told me he was born in Paris but raised in Netherlands. Told me was a marine biologist on an expedition off of coast of Scotland. Then said later he was on an oil rig. He really gets to your heart with all romantic stuff he says. A real charmer. He will ask for cards and money in bitcoin. Just recently ended it with him when he caused my account to be closed due to trying to deposit funds from his offshore account. Bank said he is a scammer linked to multiple cases of fraud.
Illinoisgirl
January 26, 2021

In reply to by Lisie6

Do you have pictures I think I’m talking to the same guy can we exchange pics???
Concerned Sister
November 03, 2020

In reply to by James from Par…

This all sounds so much like what my sister has been approached with. How can I see someone else's picture to see if it's the same guy?
Chinagrl
September 11, 2020

In reply to by Mandi

Would love to see picture you have sounds like same guy I've been talking to
Shorty
September 27, 2020

In reply to by Mandi

I think I’m talking to the same guy. Just started talking tonight. Same identical story. He’s going by Frank
Shorty
September 27, 2020

In reply to by Mandi

I think I’m talking to the same guy. Just started talking tonight. Same identical story. He’s going by Frank
Ruby
July 25, 2020

In reply to by Anne heartbreak

I think I have same guy too Can I have phone number and pic
Flyingtheskies
September 27, 2020

In reply to by Anne heartbreak

Think it's same Allen Marcos or Marcos Allen
Dpmmn
July 03, 2020

In reply to by Ms Darcy

Hi: I think I’m talking to the same Guy! He asked me for money because one of his construction machines broke down. He needs $4.100.00 for repairs and I refused to give him any money yet he keeps messaging me. He first contacted me through Words with Friends the asked me to switch over to Google Hangouts. He goes by Josh Mark or Josh Marks. He’s not sure how to spell his last name lol. He’s always asking “did you eat” or “make sure you eat” He sends me lots of pictures and he looks like a model. Has a brown lab mix named Jack. He lives in El Paso, TX, divorced and currently working in Miami. But....he can’t work because his machine broke and he needs 4100.00. He said he’s “positive” he will get the money soon.
Don't use your…
July 09, 2020

In reply to by Dpmmn

Hi I think I am also talking to the dame guy. First messaged me on Instagram beginning of June. Said his name was Richard James. Working as a marine biologist on an expedition for National Geographic off coast of Scotland. Has a 15 year old daughter. Says he's born in Paris but raised in Scotland and Netherlands. 61 years old. Says he has a home in Sacramento where his daughter is at. Very vague about who is taking care of her. Sent a lot of selfies. Good looking silver hair and brown eyes. After talking to him for 2 days he is already professing to be in love with me. Wanted to call me and after speaking to him a few times I was hooked. He has a very sexy voice that is hard to place the accent but sounds sometimes French and other times Australian. He is very charming. Always texts me what did I eat today and nake sure to take care of myself. After talking to him a week he asked for a $400 Itunes card. I got him $50 one instead. He waits a few days then adks for it again. Actually called me on the phone to plead with me. I hung up on him. And he kept trying to call me back. I finally talked to him latet that night and he text me his account info and says see how much money I have? You can transfer into your account. But I didn't feel comfortable giving him my account info solike a dummy I go to the store buying his $400 in Itunes cards. He's very grateful saying I love you baby etc. We talk some more. He keeps telling me I am tbe one and he will be home in 2 weeks to come for me. Start looking at properties for him to move into etc. Then he calls back the next day and says he bought me a car. And zends me the tracking info. It is supposed to arrive tomorrow but I seriously doubt it. All in all I have spent $1000 on this msn He has convinced me he is really on an expedition by sending photos of a National Geographic boat. And his workers. But he is not in the photos with them so I am skeptical. Last thing he said to wa he wanted to buy a private island with the millions he supposedly is making with National Geographic. Wznts me to go live tbere with him and his daughter. I am thinking to myself yeah right. I have gone on tbis charade for this long because he caught me at a very vulnxtime in my life. I sm going through a divorce. He says a lot of poems and nice things to charm me. But sadly I know he is a scammer. And after reading all of your comments it definitely looks like he gets around. I feel heartand stupid for falling for it.
duped7676
August 13, 2020

In reply to by Dpmmn

I think I just currently ended things with the same guy you are talking about...also goes by the name Mark Thomas. Asks what I ate for the day and to take care of yourself for me....says his machine broke down...I lost my bank account because I wouldn't give him money, he got money off his so called "investors" put it through my bank account and my bank contacted me, that he was a romance scammer
Jk-1
August 27, 2020

In reply to by duped7676

Mine says take care of yourself for me too. Also, asks what I’ve had for food. Mine also has a lawyer who handles his money since he is in the Navy and always away.
MS1
November 12, 2020

In reply to by Jk-1

I think I’ve been duped by same guy, originally from Germany in the UK army, no kids and divorced, dad passed away. Uses the name Johnson Mark Thomas currently deployed, need money transferring to military agent in Nigeria but he’s based elsewhere! Pictures sent, wearing army uniform, very good looking, muscular, always saying stay safe and wants know if I’ve eaten. Said bank account been frozen in uK due to security issues where he is and sent screen shot of his account but deleted it before I had chance take copy. Keeps telling me he loves me and he’ll be home soon. Asked him send a pic of his dog tags and he’s no idea what I’m on about
JB24
November 15, 2020

In reply to by Jk-1

Hi I think we are on the same situation. But still I dont know yet if he is a scammer. but seems yes as he is asking for help. He is a US navy as he said nameLouis Thiagio Marcus. I met him in IG and making me fall for him how he care and showed me his love by sending YT love song and even checking on me. Im so scared to fall on him thats why i wanna know if he is a scammer. He said he is afghanistan now and he said his leave got aprroved but because this is a personla leave he needs to shoulder his flight ticket and because he is in the camp he cannot access his fund. and thats the time he is asking me for help But I refuse.
Hurt but caught on
October 29, 2020

In reply to by duped7676

Omg sounds exactly like the guy I was talking to same questions snd if you go out hey would say stay safe for me figured out he was a scammer, put the pieces of puzzle together calls only certain time, becer answers if I called did call on weekends. To fishy. Ladiesd beware Turkey is the stranded location for these scamners to use
Lisie6
October 30, 2020

In reply to by duped7676

Yep he did exact same thing to me. I lost my account because of him.
Diane
July 16, 2020

In reply to by Ms Darcy

Your story sounds closest to mine. We met playing scrabble and we went to hangouts. A very smooth tongue and fall fast. I told him no one falls in love that fast. He said he is an Australian. Has 17 yr old daughter going to boarding school in England. Wife died 3 yrs ago in car accident. Moved here to start off with a fresh environment. Hard to understand his England due to his thick accent. Sent 3-4 younger photos but sent 2 recent one. OMG! He is gorgeous. I didnt believe the person I was talking to was the man in the photo. Several days later he plays golf with friend and sends me another. Same person. I had asked for a picture of hid driver license and again it's the same. I'm starting to believe him, but then askes me to invest with him on bitcoins. I told him no and he accepts it. Now he has has asked me to open a cash app for him. Friend is sending him money except he told his friend to make it out to his "wife" (me, which I am not). I asked why couldn't he do this in his name. Said he couldn't yet since he is not a citizen. Putting it in my name because he trusts me. So the cash-app account is set up in my name. I had to give my ssn which I am not happy.q he said he would explain how to get it to him. If it's out of the country, I won't be doing this. Instead I will call the local al FBI. Also he mentioned that he will have me buy bitcoins with his money which I already had reservation. He, too, Mrs Darcy, is always asking if I had something to eat. How can I have his photos checked to see if he is on other sites. can ankyone help me with that. I always hear if it's to perfect, it can't be real . Too bad because I truly care about him.
Chaparrita5
September 23, 2020

In reply to by Diane

Are you still talking to this guy because My has told me the same things about him. I also have pictures
Lisie6
October 30, 2020

In reply to by Diane

Yes he also wanted me to open Cashapp to supposedly help him pay for his supplies and give me a little extra for pedi and things. But he never could get the money transferred in there. We were talking from June until today when I blocked him. He is a scammer. He is the reason my account is closed when he tried to transfer money in it from his offshore bank. He is very pushy when he wants something and doesn't take no for an answer. Other times he will love bomb you with poems. Songs and compliments. It's all perfectly calculated to get you to do what he wants. I would try to argue and resist until he wore me down. I am finally done. But he does get to your heart. Mine is broken over this.
Lisie6
October 30, 2020

In reply to by Diane

I checked the photos he has sent me on social catfish website. They came back as belonging to Joe Cross the juicer guy from Australia .
Debs123
November 09, 2020

In reply to by Lisie6

Hi, I do believe we have the same person! He was impersonating Joe Cross. Australian entrepreneur & film maker. Went under the name of SPENCER MICHAEL32 Marine Engineer & Captain of a cargo ship from Houston Texas! He contacted me as a friend request on INSTAGRAM on 2/10/20. Looked like an honest guy from his profile picture & several photos of him. Didn’t even think he could be fake! After 2 days of nice chats & phone calls! He declared his undying love for me etc!! Told him to slow down as you don’t even know me! Alarms bells were starting to ring! I started to question things, but he would never give a straight answer. I asked for a photo of him in his cabin on board ship! He couldn’t take one as his camera was disabled due to pirates!! His accent was not American at all not even a hint! Anyway he asked when I go shopping could I get him a £200 ‘Stream Card’ Said he’s low on data! We were using WhatsApp so no data used! I said no I’m not able to do that for him. Said I just don’t have that kind of money spare & besides I don’t even know who he is! Big alarm bells ringing now as he started pleading & begging & getting quite nasty in his attitude towards me! I decided to do a search of his photo and low & behold he’s a SCAMMER!!! I text him & all I said was ‘GOTCHA’ I know!!!! I reported him & Instagram deleted his profile soon after! Lesson to be learnt I think! He’s done it on several sites previous! I certainly won’t be sucked in again. Luckily I didn’t lose anything through it. Apart from feeling a little naive!!
Kai
November 06, 2020

In reply to by Ms Darcy

Same , i met this guy exactly doing the same things .. ask me to go whatsapp then when i ask to face time he gets mad , when I suspect he gets mad.. wife died that be do not want to talk about. He always say take care even ask me to marry him in said you are too good t ok be true.. he has thick accent , have breakfast, etc etc.. then I send him this link then he got mad.. then making me feel guilty but I have the suspicion that i cant just shake it off.. this is a civil engineer that went to turkey for a project.. but a lot of inconsistent stories so j just blocked him. Showing off. Bentley car, mercedes, etc..
Mkk
February 23, 2021

In reply to by Kai

Same with me ... James scott frm uk london went to malaysia for civil engineering project and card got blocked demands money.
Rosas107
September 11, 2020

In reply to by Clare

I meet a man with the same . He send to me link of HSBC online bank. He gave me acc#, password and pin. He wanted of me transfer 50K to my bank. I call the bank and they don’t found the account.
Meena
February 18, 2020

In reply to by Erika217

Sounds familiar I met a guy from Instagram as well named Jeffrey Wang also owned a dog shiba inu. He is claiming himself an engineer working in oil rig from USA, San Francisco. Also after follow on Instagram then wanted to further chat in Whatsapp. Few days ago he said wanted to send me gift but the tracking slip looks fishy because I couldn’t track the tracking number. The post company looks fishy as well because there’s only a website( Royal Express Security Vault) I asked him is it a handling fee need to be pay up upon receipt because the slip is showing a handling fee of USD 773. I just told him I couldn’t pay for that sum and requested him to collect the parcel himself. But yesterday someone from the local called my cell and whatsapp me to give further instruction as the parcel had reached their office. I blocked the post company and he still Whatsapp me to ask the post company to return the parcel. Ya he is tall and good looking and Chinese. I stop replying any of his Whatsapp till now and will block him . Can you upload his photo? I saw he is following a lot of people on Instagram.
Kira
April 21, 2020

In reply to by Meena

Hi, I think we are talking of the same man, he's good looking, tall, and Chinese but said he's a mixture of a Turkish and a Chinese person, also he said he's engineer, can someone put a picture just to make sure?
Aj
May 18, 2020

In reply to by Kira

Kita same person who chatted with me email me so I can send you photos videos etc..
Don't use your
August 18, 2020

In reply to by Aj

Please help me find this uncaring man he's not a nice persom
Bryan
June 22, 2020

In reply to by Kira

I'm an american and I'm surprised to see women being scammed by men. I thought only men are the victims of romantic love scammers.
MonkeyGirl
September 18, 2020

In reply to by Kira

How can I put a picture? I'm pretty sure your guy and my guy are the same guy!!! He send me a picture of him in a Gucci T-shirt and torn jeans not looking at the camera.
Maz
April 13, 2020

In reply to by Erika217

I've been chatting to this guy for months, I met him on Our Time dating website, kept replying because it amused me. Right from the start was very serious says his name is Brian Pail, and communicated via Whats App. I reported his account and it was taken down. Then he contacted me againsaying he'd dropped his phone in the sea on an oil rig. He told me he lived in Manchester England, but a week later he was travelling to Singapore, to finish off a contract. He's now on Covid lock down, and one of his workers needs a blood transfusion (for Covid, really!!!) Gave the same story of wife cheating with best friend. Was deeply offened when I called him a scammer.
Wendy
July 29, 2020

In reply to by Maz

Same thing happened to me. This guy contacted me through Linkedln, (all his contact in Linkedln where all female), said his wife was cheating with his best friend for years and he has a grown up daughter Sonia who is 25years and he lives in Sacramento, CA. We chatted for a month, then he said he won a contract from Alaska Oil and gas worth $1.1million USD, sent me the contract agreement which I knew was fake, because no one will share vital information like this with a stranger. Then he demanded I loan him $37,900 to complete the $120,000 execution fee, he will pay me back double. He used a photos of a black American family and this internet phone number +19169124015. I would have attached the photos of the family he claim , but I know how to attach it to this text.
FJ
September 21, 2020

In reply to by Maddy

this sounds familiar, I have the same, omg, this one said he owns a hedge fund and is an investor in Makati but is from NY Staten Island but i looked up his number and it's from Canada, found his IG too and why his location is Toronto, said he lived on-off the last 2 years there in his cousin's place. too many red flags and lastnight i 've had enough, i asked him if he has tattoos, he said none. but in 2 photos he send me (one with his daughters) he has got 2 tats in left arm and right inner arm. a complete lie, he forgot that the picture he was pretending to be has tats. the guy in the photos is a handsome fellow, said 42yo, half puerto rican and half austrian. divorced for 3 yrs now and has 2 daughters back in NY. too good to be true, has got sweet words, loves books for he kept on sending me Ebooks, believes in God. Good thing he has not ask for money or speak about investing yet.
Lynne
November 17, 2020

In reply to by Maddy

Pretty sure I fell for this too. He called himself Arthur Rodriguez. Can you send me his picture? staceylynne2003
Return to top