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If you’ve seen the news, ‘romance scammers’ are among the eighty defendants indicted today by the Department of Justice in a scheme that stole millions from Americans.

Check out this video about how to spot and protect yourself from romance scams. Then share it with your friends.

Illustration of a woman using a dating app

People reported losing $143 million in romance schemes last year, more than any other type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission. But there are steps you can take – and then tell someone about. So watch the video, learn more, and pass it on.

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.

Bella
August 07, 2020
For 6 weeks (until Yesterday) I wrote with an American man who calls himself Alexander (on Tinder) and Alex Miles in contracts etc. After Tinder we communicated on WhatsApp ad he suggested. I figured him out very fast but pretended I was interested and did also become so but the whole time I had the feeling something was not right and so I was right. He claims to be an engineer, Living in Helsingborg in Sweden, Wind turbine specialist and suddenly (before our first date) he had to go to Cyprus on a project. After different problems on Cyprus he suddenly can t get his check for his work before he pays income tax etc ... and now he needed 15000 Euros and asked for my help. I Knew he was fake now, asked to see his passport which took me 1 second to see it was fake. Then I wrote I m out of here and goodbye.Have photos of him if anyone know this guy
Kelly
August 09, 2020
I'm talking to an Alex Dominique from Columbia by birth. Lives in Indiana now. General Contractor. Had to go to Dubai for a job and needs 5000.00 to finance job. Im not sending anything but does this sound familiar to anyone? Always contacting me on WhatsApp.
century
August 09, 2020
does anyone know philip schmidt who claims to help build hospitals in the uk and is from ohio. needs money for knee operation but has no insurance !!!
NancyW
August 14, 2020
Elling Strand. Oil Rig Norway.From Naples. Has 11Yr old daughter Sophia. Appears on Facebook,Instagram,Twitter. Asks for bank account info.Goes by many other names. Lewis Carton, Austin Hamilton, Larry Gregg. Please report.
Jakeann
August 18, 2020
Did anyone talk to a guy Robert Terry Barton ..own a oil rig company in Maryland USa?
linda
February 08, 2021

In reply to by Jakeann

Robert Palmer. Can we swap photos? How do we do that?
Almost fell for it
August 18, 2020
Anyone talking to a Mohamed Charlie Khan or Charlie Khan?? He slid in my IG. Very handsome. Arab. Has a son Ethan 9 Oil rig worker
Jk
August 19, 2020
dr justin williamson in samolia. From ca. 17 yr old son in Australia. Wife died in plne crash. Kid is ivan harry. Now has malaria and needs 1500. Not getting it and is mad. If he is dr with united nations he should have it. Bank won't transfer. His kid is emailing calling me mom. Chris mcdonald here from Netherlands. Underwater welder in ca. They both wanted to switch from fb to hangout. Both love me and all this fake sweet talk. His wife died of breast cancer. 10 yr old son Alex in Amsterdam. He was always asking for Amazon cards. Anybody know these losers
Spirited
March 08, 2021

In reply to by Jk

Yes. Chris McDonald. He didn't get far with me. Would have been nice.
NancyW
August 19, 2020
Please be aware that LinkedIn accounts can also be faked. "Elling Strand" had a very professional LinkedIn account. Unfortunately it wasnt his. He stole the real Elling Strands account and copy pasted his photo on it. So they scam 2 people
Scammed
September 03, 2020
Anyone know a Kendy posing as an Engineer on a ship at an oil rig in the gulf of mexico? Kids live with Nanny. He needs money to pay his nanny because he can't get to his money because he is on the ship.
Widow in Arkansas us
June 07, 2021

In reply to by Scammed

Does anyone had contact with a Mark watson claiming to work on Off shore rig in Dublin ireland from Miami Florida and having a 12 year old Son named Scott asking for almost 4000.to help him get passport to come home on and would need to come home to get bank to release his bank account that been frozen. I almost fell for it being a widow of 79.i thought he was older but discovered he was 31.
Scrabblegoscammers
September 27, 2020
Jeremiah Bradley lives in California Works for shipping Company overseas and Kelvin Aderson says he is 48 live in Maryland and has a 20 year old daughter oil rig independent contractor. First day the wanted me to delete scrabble go. Said he loved me second day. He speaks with a heavy accent you hardly can understand him. I tried to look them both up and neither them exist. Been verified/ Google them . I have pictures. I stop taking to them imediately
PMD
September 29, 2020
Is this man familiar to anyone? He's on an oil rig too. Clark Henderson Gunther. Born in Utah, 47 years old, 1 daughter divorced, has lived in Canada for the past few years. I have several photos, please contact me if anything sounds familiar.
Katrina
December 05, 2020

In reply to by PMD

Yes same guy still chatting. What do you know
Kellyanne
February 09, 2021

In reply to by PMD

Yes I’ve been talking to him since Sept just blocked him told him I knew he was a scammer he claimed his ex cloned his phone.. do you have any photos ?
Daisy
August 20, 2021

In reply to by PMD

I met a clark gunter oil ridge engineer He has a girl 5 years old name is lola Is divorced has a house in holland
Clara
June 16, 2022

In reply to by PMD

Tell me more about him, send me pictures, how much did he take from you ?

Jules
October 12, 2020
David Erik from Sweden on an oil rig in Alaska... widow 9 years lost wife to ovarian cancer no children. Bald with a beard Needed money to repair a part that was coming from Canada... due to an explosion on the rig. Hurt his hands in a fire. Can’t find anything on the phone numbers or photo
benee03
October 12, 2020
Anyone hear of a Collen Trey? From Peoria and quickly 'chosen' by his engineering firm to be a financial analyst on an oil rig off of New Orleans. Personal phone was taken by rig, given new phone-same number though - incapable of taking photos & audio??!!! Can only text. We've been texting for 6 weeks...he got on the oil rig a week ago. No mention of money to date.
Homegirl
October 13, 2020
I have been chatting with a polish man, Bruno. 53, widower, lives in NC. Daughter lives in Poland, is a geological engineer? Currently in Turkey, on a contract. Very good looking. Pics seem shopped. Has not asked for money. Has the European accent. Too, good to be true? Goes by Bruno Marcel
Been there 53
November 02, 2020
Beware ladies , Dating sites that have a guy named blue opal or he’s a contacted in Tel Aviv working for the UN as a contractor. He tells you he loves you wants to o marry you and the ask for you to send him a cell Phone. Then tells you his wife & son died!! Awful... the scammers are so good at lying and reeling i you in. They’ll say they can’t talk to you on video hangout because it’s a old base computer. Every excuse to not be face to face!!! Don’t fall for it
Helpmeon't use…
November 21, 2020
Ive been texting with a David scott who works on a oil rig in gulf of Mexico. Before that I texted with a Murphy Larry. Has anybody heard those names. They may be scammers.
KK31
November 24, 2020
Has anyone been contact by a guy called Walter Victor (also goes by the name of Jackson Harry or MD Rony). Says he’s in Yemen working for subsea oil and gas. Has a daughter who is currently in Scotland, his wife was killed in a car accident with his son in 2011. Says he’s has a drop security box with a security company and the company is closing down so need to send the box back. He can’t send or receive parcels/packages so needs me to take it. Wants my name, address, id etc...professes to love me even though we’ve only been chatting around a week.
Crazygirl
December 03, 2020
Beware of Robert in the Army with a son in NYC studying robotics! This is the " gold bar scam" Also beware of Michael Harvey, wife passed of cancer, has a 2 clock tattoo on right arm and one one his lwr abs. Gives a list of credentials and pushes the trust and love thing right away. On an oil rig in Australia, lives in Hawaii, saw his BMW, his flat, and dog. Along with pics of him heading to the rig in a helicopter...he's good! He will try to get cash and claim he has never asked for help before. This one has a temper too if u mention scammers. Supposidely takes care of elderly dad and younger brother.
Don't use youS…
December 03, 2020
Hi iv been texting oil rig scammer .Derek ansell I'm looking for any one else. Who s been texting I found him on f b dating site
Sounds familiar
December 14, 2020

In reply to by Don't use youS…

From Norway - spent time in UK? Widowed with small son living with mother in UK? Asks if you have eaten? Love bombs then all of sudden - has no access to money!
Almostbrite
December 03, 2020
My romance lasted 4 months i fell so hard now my scammer comes clean and tells it him not the man in all the photos. I need to find this man I need to know who he is. The scammer says for $300 he will tell me everything about this man what can I find this man please help
Don't use your…
March 02, 2021

In reply to by Almostbrite

There are photos of a Czech man used in many different profiles. About 55-60;years. Sounds like the same
feel so stupid…
December 03, 2020
Has anyone heard of Charles Jeffery Abbott or Jeffery Brummitt? He requested to connect on LinkedIn and he was a mutual contact with one of my former coworkers. He usually lives in Los Angeles but travels to different countries per year as a geologist. I feel like such an idiot that I didn't catch all the red flags, questioned him too late, gave money twice and almost a third time.
NoName
March 08, 2021

In reply to by feel so stupid…

Yes, I know him also from LinkedIn as Charles Jeffrey Abbott and saw his Twitter profile Jeffrey Brummitt. He told me he is in Turkey right know and should pay that he can get his goods.....tell everyone you know about him....i`ll do the same he is a love scammer !
Siccibooboo7
December 03, 2020
Does any one know Derek ansell
Rawvegan
December 04, 2020
Hi...does anyone hear of a doctor originally from Milan but works in Chicago as a general surgeon. He is now in Yemen for 4 months. He has one daughter in boarding school in Chicago. He says his name is Philip Howard. I don't believe that is his last name. I have not heard his voice but says he has an accent? If this sounds like any one knows of him..can you send me pictures? Thanks everyone...I met him on tinder...
Papa oats
June 04, 2021

In reply to by Rawvegan

Hi - I think my friend is being scammed by this man. She is told His name is Steve Howard. Wife and kid died in accident . Works off shore as engineer. From MIlan . Has accent. I was with her yesterday when he called.
Nearlygotcaught
December 04, 2020
I live in Australia and David Nichols contacted me through Yahtzee had a few chats then asked for email then Whatsapp.. handsome, poetic, romantic. German, living in New York but working in Scottish waters 75k off Shetland Islands . Oil rigs, he financed to get 1million barrels of oil working with Clair Oils.. Sure was a smooth chatter . Too good to be true. I didn't get caught but so easily could have.
Katts
September 29, 2021

In reply to by Nearlygotcaught

He is the one inam chatting with now. Already scammed me out of 850.00 wants to marry me. I have pictures.
Mitzymam
December 05, 2020
Hi have anybody come across a us soldier by the name of garrison Hamilton he has come up to me on Facebook but want to check if he's real
C’mon man
December 10, 2020
Add Richard Perkins to the oil rig scam
Shirzel
December 12, 2020
Has anyone ever been asked to pay with bitcon for someones travel back to the states?
Margaret
December 12, 2020
I was contacted by a man, Walter Ludwig, German American, through LinkedIn. Picture - very handome man but I suspect someone else's pic. He wooed me for 1 1/2 weeks. Very attentive, caring man. Wife died 4 yrs ago from cancer. He has a 16 yr old daughter, who is cared for by a nanny, while is on an oil rig off Ireland. Said he had been there about 2 months. Asked me to switch over to Whatsapp, which I did. One pic on LinkedIn, a different one on Whatsapp, and one in the conversation were all of the same man. I asked him yesterday to take pics on the rig, with some selfies. Told me no pics on rig but took a selfie - same man. He asked me for an itunes card. I started researching his phone number. Stated the number was assigned to a landline. Tried to reverse ID photo with no luck. I texted him a message, explaining what I found out. He tried to make the situation my fault, saying I was the con artist. Even asked me why I had 2 LinkedIn accounts - I do not but he said I was. I uninstalled whatsapp and then wentvto LinkedIn where his account had been deleted. And no I did not get the itunes giftcard.
Worried sister
December 13, 2020
My sister I’m afraid has fallen prey to a guy who says he lives in Wisconsin but is working overseas In Israel for a company. She has sent him numerous amounts of money but is denying it to her family. He asks for money for different things ie a new phone , plane ticket as he has promised to come visit her but curiously never does and gift cards. She has sent him copies of credit cards and supposedly opened a bank account for him and her. It has really gotten intense and she won’t listen to her family who is warning her of a major scam. She really thinks he is in love with her and is breaking up her marriage for this guy. I believe they have faced timed. His name is Richard and from the pics I’ve seen he has a beard and is always wearing a baseball type cap. I mm just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar with a guy who goes by that name. I’ve got to do all I can to help her see the real situation.
Barb t
December 23, 2020
Im looking to see if anyone has heard from a man in the gulf of Mexico on a oil rig asking for money or gift card a nd trying to buy cellphone on your account using the mac reeves Ethan
Shawty2080
December 23, 2020
Oh my gosh I have just became the latest victim of an online dating scam .Notndlly I do not fall for things like this .. This guy Alaard Cruff even went as far as forwarding me his flight confirmation and I knew it offf snd should have called them sooner rather then waiting .. He was a nice guy but after only one month o had sent him over a $100@ and feeling sick to my stomach. He was from Sodon ladies he is on different dating websites just be aware freaking scammer . He promises marriage and other things just be aware .
Beautiful2
February 23, 2021

In reply to by Shawty2080

I was talking to him for about 3 weeks. He sent a fake confirmation of flight. Says he lives Madrid Spain but is from the Netherlands. Used another name of Dawn Levi but introduced hisself as Alaard Cruff. Everything he said was suspect and I check out everything. Beware ladies.
bossladi7
March 29, 2021

In reply to by Beautiful2

Alaard Cruff first contacted me through Mingle2 in October 2019 and informed me that he owns his business, has a sister in California, his parents have passed away, he lives in Catalonia Spain, from Netherlands and that he travels for work. Ladies biggest scammer ever but he will eventually face his karma they always do! He will tell you that he loves you and ask for marriage etc. Don't fall for it.
Sucker!
December 24, 2020
Anyone heard of Cynthian Jones? American girl from Dallas studying nursing in Ghana. No money but she is trying.
100mark
December 29, 2020
Okay y'all here is your warning- they are all scams! I received an FB friend request from Wayne sandez. I knew from the beginning he was a scam but talked to him just to see where it went. He claimed to be a peacekeeper in Syria. So when I told him I've been learning Arabic for 12 years and know many people from Syria and in Syria he stopped contacting me. The next day I got a friend request from David Troy William. Said he was working with an oil company in Germany. His profile pictures were up an older gentleman at a desk and looking very posed. Right away he start trying to talk romantic and contacting me at all times even though I made it plain I am not interested in anything... I could tell his English was just a little 'off' so he is foreign. Google searched His image and the real man belonging to that picture is a mayor of a city in Turkey! When I searched the name David Troy Williams on FB there were several profiles using the same pictures. And one of the profiles I looked at his photos and it showed all the same photos of the Turkish man. But also a picture of a man from Thailand with some Thai language comments from him. He is the actual man I've been talking to! So shortly after I found that he sent me a message asking me how I feel about internet relationships. I told him they are not for me. Anybody could be pretending to be anything. Like maybe this is you! And I sent him the photo of the man from Thailand. He got mad and then I've never heard from him since! People - don't fall for these things. When all you have is words on a screen. Why would they be in love with you? Do your research - these things that are easy to find.
Oil Rig Scam
December 31, 2020
I am giving as much detail to this story as I can in hopes that it helps someone else. I met 'Andrin Giachen' on Match.com. He's Swiss with one son in his 20s that does not live at home. A widower whose wife died of colon cancer 3 yrs ago. We've been chatting for the past 3 weeks and I was not aware of this scam until a friend sent me this link. He's not asked for any money but it seems like it's only a matter of time. The similarity of his story and others here are just too much. He set the stage early by telling me when we met that he's working on a big proposal to fix drilling equipment. Later revealed it was for TransCanada for a rig off of Anchorage. When we were supposed to meet for our first date he found out his proposal was accepted and he had to fly down to Dallas for onsite testing and then a presentation. He even sent me pictures of someone presenting. In Dallas, he learned that his proposal was accepted and he needed to go back to his house in NY to get some things before heading to Anchorage. During this whole time, we were exchanging photos on a daily basis. The person behind this has a whole portfolio of images to use. I even received images of him on a plane with a mask. Once in Anchorage he let me know the reception was spotty so did not have access to email but could text. The daily photos stopped as he told me he could not send any out so we have just been texting. His job on the rig has been to take notes of all the equipment that needed replacing, have it ordered and and shipped to the rig. He cannot leave the rig until the equipment arrives. So here goes my mistake - He asked me to submit an order on his behalf to the steel company in Indonesia. I did not make any payments just put in a order for all this drilling equipment he sent me (very well thought out) and made it clear it was on his behalf. I even put his email address in cc so he'd receive a copy. I suspect the next step would have been to have me pay a deposit or something on the equipment as he did not have access but not sure. OR the 'steel company' sends me a phishing email with an attached invoice that he'd ask I open. It's heartbreaking as the scammers know how to pray upon lonely people. My last text to him was to tell him he could FaceTime me when he's back on dry land. Something I know will never happen. In the meantime, stay strong if this happens to you or you think it's happening to you. Don't let your heart override your brain or your gut. Tell your friend about the story. They will keep you honest.