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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.

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LiveSmartOrLearnHard
September 06, 2020

In reply to by Bope84

Why don't you show her this page and let her read all the stories here? Then she would know there's a ton of foreign scammers out there sharing the same fake names, telling the same fake stories and hustling multiple women (or men) at the same time.
LouiseDon't us…
August 08, 2020

In reply to by Ressa

Mine does., mustache and beard too, very handsome, engineer, oil rig, Gulf of Mexico. He asked to park 3 M in my bank acc't I said no. Then he asked for $20,000.00 I said no. I ended the relationship yesterday. He texted me today again. I texted him it was over again that I knew what he was doing.
Don't use your…
November 13, 2020

In reply to by LouiseDon't us…

These are all the same guy, Johnson Williams or whatever he calls himself. FTC could have easily caught him by now. He better hope I never run in to him.
Clara
November 27, 2020

In reply to by Don't use your…

He contacted me a couple of months ago. Johnny Williams with daughter that lived with sister-in-law while he was in the Gulf of Mexico. LIked to cook pasta. Very handsome. I ended communication after about a week.
Ibeawake
January 13, 2021

In reply to by Clara

I'm talking to this guy too. Same story. He is going by Paul Busby now.
Michaela
August 15, 2020

In reply to by Ressa

I’m communicating with a man who sounds similar, with beautiful white hair, wears sunglasses in some pictures...has beautiful blue eyes, and he’s about 55 years of age, and is in Canada, working on a project. Needs funds to finish...broken equipment....sound familiar to anyone?
Jade
August 24, 2020

In reply to by Michaela

I am communicating with a man with nice grey hair and blue eyes, said he was 59. He sent me a photo where he is wearing sunglasses. He left today for Germany for five weeks?? He plans to comeback since this will be his last contract working on oil contract, he wants to give his daughter a real family. His story is his wife passed four years ago. Does he show pictures with a daughter? He is in love with me after a few days of communicating. He has not asked for funds but its coming.
Curious engineer
September 02, 2020

In reply to by Jade

Yes, almost exactly the same. Goes primarily by James. Text are not good english, poetry is perfect english
Moominrox
September 14, 2020

In reply to by Curious engineer

I’m pretty sure his poetry is perfect English because he is copying it off the internet. If you google some words from the poems you should be able to find out who actually wrote it. That’s one of the ways I figured out I was talking to a scammer.
Tiger Lady
December 19, 2020

In reply to by Curious engineer

I, too, was scammed by James, James Edward. Found him on match.com; he's also on Linkedin. Came one strong, asked me to marry him the next day. Perfect english and grammar, until today, when the grammar went all to hell along with spelling. There are several guys scamming us. They take turns talking to us. It's easy to tell them apart. After the guy with the poor grammar stopped texting, I got another guy talking about sports. So, there are at least 3 men scamming me. I finally texted, "Where is the James with the good grammar?" No one ever responded.
Not my email address
January 05, 2021

In reply to by Tiger Lady

Lol that's so funny, because my husband has been talking to some chick on Facebook messenger with a number of scammer hallmarks. I told him to ask her why she responded to him with the phrase 'so nice to hear that from you' she said that was per best word... I typed her ack; ok sister that's a sentence, not a word. English is not your native language is it? That was a week ago she still hasn't answered.
Always rig
October 28, 2021

In reply to by Tiger Lady

I kind of met the same group. Robin Barry Hughes, texted via LinkedIn. Born in 1980-5-11, widowed no kids. His wife dead of brain cancer 4 years ago. Good English writing on LinkedIn and even better through e-mail. But became worse on Telegram. Few photos of him, beard, one with a sunglasses. Civil engineer, send me a contract with Naftogaz and went to Ukraine for the construction of pipeline. He told me there’s an accident happened at the rig on 2021/10/25, caused the death of one local worker and 4 injured. The ministry of work and labor of Ukraine fined him 210,000.00USD. Robin asked me to lend him 8,000USD instead seeking help from the Embassy of Canada. When I told him I could not lend him the money, his attitude became worse.
o
June 22, 2021

In reply to by Firstbite

hey can u describe the patrick james bc someone i know told me there’s this guy she talks with all the time but he has no facebook twitter anything just whatsapp
Mel83
July 02, 2021

In reply to by Firstbite

I have a Patrick Joon lol 37 Gemologist from New York cute but very needy if you don’t do as he asks he says you are hurting his feelings and don’t love or care for him.
Laurie W
March 24, 2021

In reply to by Curious engineer

Yep just deleted and blocked this smooth talker. He is very convincing, but there are red flags if you are paying attention.
gotscammed
December 22, 2020

In reply to by Jade

I think I am being scammed by the same man, except mine is 65, have pictures and he has google duo me several times, trying to prove he is the guy in the pictures. Wife has been passed for four years, he has not worked during that time because he was busy taking care of his daughter who is now in college in California. he was supposedly moving to Alabama from Ohio, but then took a contract for drilling with Schlumberger off the coast of California, and then he suddenly needed 10, 000 for something in the drilling, then something else broke down, and he needed money for that, which I have not given. I have seen copy of the contract, but do not know if it is real. i have pictures of him and of his daughter with him, even one of his daughter and him when she was around 6. I would love to see if our pictures are the same ones.
Doubtful
March 30, 2021

In reply to by gotscammed

Drilling equipment is very expensive into the millions of dollars. There is absolutely no way they can have a part for only thousands. This is especially true on off shore rigs. I come from a long line of oilfield workers. Please don’t fall for this.
AT
October 18, 2021

In reply to by Doubtful

His name is Bryan, isn’t it? Now I’ve been chatting on tinder….he’s now on contact in the Baltic Sea for his upstream job. He was worried about his drill was it of order and he can’t afford to purchase new one yesterday. He might be definitely the same guy you mentioned!
Scammedscammed
June 06, 2021

In reply to by gotscammed

I have pictures of him and of his daughter with him....one of his daughter and him when she was around 8. I would like to see the pictures too.
Sharae Patton
October 18, 2021

In reply to by Scammedscammed

I would love to see the picture you have. I have been chatting with him for several weeks and have a picture of him and his daughter. I wonder if it is the same person......
Jess
June 11, 2021

In reply to by gotscammed

This is a similar story I get. I’ve read some of these blogs , please reply. All of these stories sound so very similar. I do have many pictures that progress with time they is in sync with our conversation.
Raf
June 24, 2021

In reply to by Jade

Hi Jade, a guy with similar description has been contacting my wife for sometimes. His wife also passed away 4 years ago and his 4 year old son lives with his granny who has cancer. My wife (she doesn't know that I know) is still chatting with him on Fb messenger. He calls her "love" and sends her "love" emojies. I wish somehow we could share his photos.
Peony
July 27, 2021

In reply to by Jade

I think I met him too, he went by Michael Anderson, owned a mining company has one daughter lives in Santa Barbara, wife died of cancer about 5 years ago. Kept talking about our long future together and how much he loved me almost immediately. Talked for about 4 months before he asked for money!
Taru
July 28, 2021

In reply to by Jade

I met guy on dating site called okcupid, with grey hair and beautiful blue eyes. said he is from Holland, was working in Turkey. marine engineer. I was so stupid I believed his stories and gave (loaned) him money through paypal. first asked money for flight ticket because couldn´t get access to his account.
Cheryl
August 25, 2020

In reply to by Michaela

I have been in a similar situation ..white hair ,beautiful blue eyes.likes to wear sunglasses his name is Bruce Mateo...he is in France..he worked on a project,,wanted me to pay to move his equipment. Then he was in a car accident he wanted help with his hospital bill..now he wants $10,000.or he will expose me on Facebook !! ,
Don'tSend$$$
September 01, 2020

In reply to by Cheryl

This is typical scam format. Do not send money. Do not give into his intimidation tactics to expose you. These people are masters at manipulation. Block him.
Lec
October 26, 2020

In reply to by Cheryl

Im talking to one now says in canada to get his team up and running on rig..we have the dead wife..and 14 yo kid..oh.. And the broken machine.. tells me he doesnt need anything from me..he makes great money.. Is looking for a life mate...hes supposedly coming to town this week...yeah we'll see about that...he even sent a copy of his contract with oil co
Nora
December 10, 2020

In reply to by Lec

oh yes i think we were talking to the same imposter. He is an engineer in an oil rig and his new pipes felt into deep sea and need to rent a new crane. asked me for an urgent help and promised to reimburse back at the end of the month. I said no. He said he wants to marry me and will come to visit me before end of this month. But now he is in Brunei sea working on another new project tender and it seemed he cant visit me that soon. We will see what he will be doing after this...i m sure i have been scammed when he asked for money and now i what to play along and scam him back!!!!
Brenda
November 04, 2021

In reply to by Lec

Is the contract from Diamond Offshore Drilling? The guy I have been talking to sent me his contract to. His name is Roy William. Nice looking lots of tatoos. 62 years old. Wife and daughter passed away. Wife 4 yes ago and daughter last year from Covid.
ALM
November 09, 2020

In reply to by Cheryl

Cheryl, can I show you a photo to see if it is the person we think our mom maybe talking to?
Broken
November 11, 2020

In reply to by Cheryl

Sounds like some one I may have once met. Is it possible for you to send pictures? Would like to know. Not sure how this could be arranged
Kitty
September 07, 2020

In reply to by Michaela

Yes he sounds familiar to me only he said he is in the Gulf of Mexico and can't pay for the equipment. wants $100,000.00.
Wowreally
November 16, 2020

In reply to by Paula

This guy's name is Tamres Lindsey, he wants me to open a bank account because he made me his beneficiary and can't change it now. He needs my bank info so his money can be put into it or he can't leave Afganistan until i do this for him.
HelpMIL
January 04, 2021

In reply to by Paula

Guy named William Walker on Facebook. Saying he’s 58 and in love with 80 year old MIL. Need proof it’s a scam. Please help.
Starcrossed
January 12, 2021

In reply to by Michaela

Yes...I am... He says his name is Eric Anderson. He has two children going to school in Scotland. He lives in California... He claims to be a Civil engineer. He’s been in Canada since June 2020 on a project where everything just seems to go wrong. Broken crane...frozen bank account...workers he needs to pay...asks for iTunes cards...GoBank cards...GreenDot cards...He is 55 years of age...beautiful blue eyes...white hair...wears sunglasses in some pictures. In one, he is sitting in a chair on a patio, wearing a green shirt and jeans, wearing sunglasses...in another picture, he is standing on a sidewalk, dressed in shorts, top and hat, arms crossed, wearing sunglasses and a hat, and a big smile... in another picture, he is in a car...big smile, no glasses, with two blue shirts hanging on a hook in the back side window.... He is quite charming....speaks with an accent...says he’s an American citizen of Greek and Scottish ancestry...an only child. Parents are deceased... He’s been divorced for 25 years...now ready to be married again...Also goes by the name of Liam Dan Anderson...I know he’s a scammer...he is good! But he makes mistakes... I meet him on International Cupid last April 2020. I have been working on bringing him into the light of day of who and what he really is! Please be careful...he uses all kinds of schemes! Opening bank accounts...sending bitcoin...this man is an expert at manipulation and using your emotions against you. Do not engage with him. He is a fraud and a scammer. He will tell you anything to get what he wants... He is too good to be true...he is... just that. He uses songs to seduce you...he will sing to you...he will profess he loves you...wants to marry you...wants to know what you eat...what you do during the day...it is just a part of his game.
Brenski
June 10, 2021

In reply to by Starcrossed

Hi I had the same person using the name Eric Anderson he says he's in Syria peacekeeping and he has a sick son at home wants me to send money which I did. Now he wants more money to get out because he can't get leave. How can you catch this person
Elu
August 21, 2021

In reply to by Brenski

I am currently talking to a Sgt. Billy Dylan Anderson, also on peacekeeping duty in Syria. He has one son who lives with relatives. He’s saying to pay His mother is Spanish. Is there a way I could talk to you?
Napasue
February 13, 2021

In reply to by Michaela

My guy sounds the same but goes by Mark Archibald. He is working on a mining project in Africa outside of Johannesburg. He is a project manager. Equipment recently broke down and he is trying to work with insurance company. He sent me a very real looking check for 18,560,000 dollars from a copper mining company to hang on to for him. I am just waiting for him to ask for money. Good looking man with beautiful blue eyes. He says he is 63 though.
Crazyscam
February 25, 2021

In reply to by Napasue

The guy that has been talking to me his name is Mark Archibald. Mining engineer needing to put money in my account to attain bit coins. He is started in a mine in Nevada but transferred to Yemen’s due to his job getting messed up and dealing with an insurance company. He can’t access his money so needs my help. I said no.
Lynn
August 20, 2020

In reply to by Ressa

Very handsome. Says his name is Gilbert Robert. Wife died seven years ago of breast cancer. He was born in Houston, Tx but raised in Milan, Italy. He is project manager on oil rig with 6.5 million contract. He has invested all his money. He is short $5000. To finish paying for drilling equipment which is mandatory. He is honest, a Christian, honest and would never hurt me or let me down. Sweet nothings. Could never pin down an answer. He was so excited to be retiring!! Said he didn’t want my money but he was crying all day. Sent fake documents and passport. Good looking guy, whoever’s picture he is using.
Me. Upset
September 01, 2020

In reply to by Lynn

I’m talking to a similar guy! Wife died 7 years ago breast cancer. Born in Italy. Daughter is 18 in London. On his last contract, wants to retire and spend the rest of his days with a wife. His name is Michele Romano.
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