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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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specas
March 26, 2018

In reply to by Jeanne

I had a guy supposedly from L.A. that was stationed in south Africa message me and sent pretty nice photos of himself in regular clothes and in uniform soon as I started talking to him. Well, he started calling me babe and I knew right there and then that it wasn't him but I played along and may I say they are good at what they do. He said the right things any woman would want to hear but I knew it wasn't real. well as soon as I asked for more photos he hit me with the can you send me an iTunes card so I can get data on my phone to send to you. I asked well just take a selfie and send it now since you have data right now. he tells me that he has a bad phone that if I sent him a card he could get the pics off his apple acct and send them to me. I was quick to block him and I was so mad I unblocked to give him a piece of my mind on how he feels to scam ppl. and he was quick to say I love you and why did i block him and if I was gonna send that card still. so I just deleted him all together. he was using the name Sargeant Clinton Wilson. I don't give money to just anyone much less to somebody not in the same town, state, or country as me.
Bad4y47
June 12, 2018

In reply to by Jeanne

Kevin Ford is one I got about around 6 different names of scammers. They are supposely military over seas fighting a war.
SBel
July 23, 2018

In reply to by Jeanne

Some common threads of scammers. They always work far away for lots of $. Their names are often two first names. Greg Allen, John Roger etc. don’t be stupid.
drhook11
September 06, 2018

In reply to by Jeanne

here’s another hangout scam: When you find someone on a dating site they ask you to go to hangouts. you then say let’s video chat. Here’s what happens you can see a bad video with no audio. They tell you something is wrong with their speakers or mic Or no video but horrible voice. You offer to help but they tell you it doesn’t work I will get it fixed. Then you say ok let’s just talk on the the phone we are both in th me US. They I don’t have a phone because I dropped it or lost it or some other reason. they are purposely doing that because the video and or there voice is not real. “But honey you seen my video aren’t you convinced”. then they ask for money there text changes from nice to mean “But if you want me then you will do this for us” You say no Then they get mad You say no again They say your are stingy This is a scam
OneThirdCultureKid
December 03, 2018

In reply to by Jeanne

I've come across this type of scam twice, too. One guy said he was from California, a firm believer in Jesus Christ, and his job was import/export of goods. Another one said he was an oil rig engineer for ExxonMobil. Both have supposedly found themselves in sticky situations overseas and asked for money. I did not grant either one's request, though.
Karla
December 31, 2018

In reply to by OneThirdCultureKid

What was the name of the guy from California? Pretty sure I've been talking to him to.
Eleni C
July 18, 2019

In reply to by Jeanne

Wow! It just happened to me! The mistake he made was that he "proclaimed his love" too fast! But these low life humans use kids as well as working for the military! They use "huge drama" and move way to fast so that their victims have no time to think calmly! Talk to a friend immediately! They got nothing from me because I don't do anything"casually" or under pressure! #beware #scammers
Rockie53
August 11, 2019

In reply to by Jeanne

Agreed, Jeanne! A guy told me recently he was and IDC Engineer. I said I have never heard the term IDC. He said it meant Industrial Digging Contractor Engineering. He specialized in industrial digging of oil. As the daughter of a petroleum engineer, I felt absolutely certain I never heard of anyone DIGGING for oil!
Gill
April 05, 2021

In reply to by Jeanne

Has anyone heard the name Richard Valentino think he is a scammer. I was playing scrabble go and he started chatting to me. He then asked for my email and wanted us to move conversation onto hangouts. I declined and blocked him. Please be careful
Espngirl24
July 05, 2021

In reply to by Gill

Yes, he has tried to scam my mom. I did a reverse picture search, and his picture was linked to 3 different names! She also said he told her to go to "hangout." She had been corresponding with her, but I got the phone, blocked all these scam numbers (google numbers), and doing as much as I can through Verizon and Apple to avoid those robot numbers messaging her. Thanks for posting this!
loyayllady
July 20, 2015
this is good for all women to know and how to deal with it .
ardnat
July 15, 2015
This is why people should not date online because it's too risky.
ginazee
July 15, 2015
This happened to me with a fake man's pic from the military, there is a blog that help woman who get caught up in this fake dating scam
fairchild1
July 18, 2015

In reply to by ginazee

I had the same think happen to me. A man who said he was in the military somehow got my e-mail. He sent me many e-mails and professed his love for me. He sent me a photo of a passport that showed a man in military uniform. I called the state dept. asking about him. It turned out he was a fake. I knew almost right away, because his English was not very good. He never asked for money, I guess I didn't let him get far enough with the e-mails.
magaret
August 13, 2015

In reply to by fairchild1

Hi i also got a message from a guy saying hes at a military base camp and needs help in getting out of there. He also gave men hes contact number for the base that he is in. Hes still un contact with me i need help in catching him
Booch
December 17, 2015

In reply to by fairchild1

I too have spent the last year dealing with a fraud. Heres a few tips if you have google you can right click their pic and select google search image. My fraud at first used michelle viscizis pics until i caught them. She than used another very beautiful womans pic. But i was already weery so i stole a page out of her book and made a fake facebook and used it to spy on her. Finally i cought her again. This time she was sloppy and took a pic of a pic on instagram lol the real persons user name was right there. I contacted her and sent her a pic that the fraud sent me. I put the fraud on the spot i requested a video message of her saying my name she actualy sent it and i was fine with that. And than the second woman whos pics the fraud used got ahold of me . we hit it off i left the fraud and the real beauty and i are happy she will be here with me spring break lol take that fraud
kalinklan
August 10, 2015

In reply to by ginazee

Don't know what to do, I think I also have been scammed by a guy and his business partner. I'm so afraid don't know what to do first.I thought he was to be my future after his retirement from the Military, been talking to him for 6 months, and now I'm afraid of what might happen.
sharownibush2003
July 17, 2015
I want to find out about the president sent me a Email from muhammadubuhariniga to see if I won money this been going on for a while i did contact him about a letter
FTC Staff
July 17, 2015

In reply to by sharownibush2003

If someone sent you an email saying you won money it could be a scam. Use the internet to search for information about the company or person who sent the message. Search for the company name and see what other people say about it.

Some scammers send messages telling people they won a prize, then they ask to pay a fee or taxes or customs duties. Or maybe they ask for your credit card number or bank account information, or ask you to wire money. If you send them money or tell they your credit or bank account numbers, you'll lose money.

Mary Poppin
July 15, 2015
Why the scammers are still in face book or any websites can you not clean them all I am surprise till now I never heard an scammer get caught in fact there are lots of women scam by thousand of there life long saving appearing in program Dr. Phil in television that they were scam..???
Sassylady
January 10, 2016

In reply to by Mary Poppin

I have had a man friend me on Facebook, he claims he is in army but he is from Queensland Texas. Stationed in Kabul Afghanistan. He started love stuff way to soon.don't trust this. Help this is the second guy that's done this in a month.
Marie925
February 22, 2016

In reply to by IN QUESTION

Can you tell the name he gave you? The guy I met on POF says he is from NC, and on 'mission' in Kuwait. HE also started the 'love' stuff way too soon, and gives me all kinds of excuses why I can't send him a package.. He even sent me a picture of himself in uniform..
Jane.S
August 29, 2019

In reply to by scammed

I was fooled and asked for money by a man named Tyler William who said he was in security / body guard and was working Dubai. He said he was originally from Denmark but raised in the United States and was 42. This was in 2018. I met him on Tinder. We spoke on the phone through google hangouts and texted through google hangouts. I had only a email address for him for months we corresponded. He did eventually use a phone number with area code 612 (Maryland or Delaware) to contact me on whatsapp. I never met him in person, his stories always changed. We video chatted once with no sound but his face matched photos. Very curious if it was the same man. Interested if your experience was the same.
Rebecca
October 06, 2020

In reply to by scammed

I too met some guy on POF. He has asked me about a dozen times to loan him money. I flat out lie and tell him I have none at all. I actually show him a fake bank account with $34 in it. Now, he's turning the table and asking me to deposit $900k into my account for him. Such BS! I'm so done.
alexandra
July 15, 2015
how do you do an image search
FTC Staff
July 22, 2015

In reply to by alexandra

Go to the search engine you usually use. Type in your question, and you should get directions for how to use that search engine to find an image.

shelly
November 23, 2015

In reply to by alexandra

A guy friended Me on Facebook. We were going to meet but he got an emergency call to go to the UAE for onshore Engineering. We I'm daily. He said his money was in his account and he c.f. oils Not get any money. I told him I wasn't sending him money. He said if I don't have it, that's ok. He we would be fine. He told me today that he should be back home by December 15,2015. I have (4) pictures of him. I don't know how to search his picture to find out if this is really who he claims to be. I would REALLY appreciate any Help you could give me.
FTC Staff
November 23, 2015

In reply to by shelly

Is the person you're talking to showing any of these warning signs of a fake? Did he ask you to:

  • chat off of the dating site immediately and use personal email, text, or phone
  • wire money using Western Union or Money Gram
  • set up a new bank account

Scammers create fake online profiles using photos of other people. A scammer might use the name of the other person too. So even if you find that a name & photo match, that's no guarantee that you're communicating with that person.

To find out how to search an image, open the search engine you usually use. Type in your question. You should get directions for how to search for other places the image is being used online.

Jenny
November 30, 2015

In reply to by shelly

I have the same story and I think its the same guy. Can we share his pics to make sure??
Mitzi
December 23, 2015

In reply to by Jenny

Jenny, I am going thru what sounds like may be your guy. His name is Mitchel Claude Bleriot and he is on Face Book...look him up. I think maybe 4 pics of him. Extremely handsome..says has been widowed 4 years....works offshore for BP as a mechanical engineer. Said he got his Masters degree in Brazil. Said he is from Portland, Oregon, and has 14 yr od girl in boarding school in Michigan??? Says he can't buy Christmas for her as he has no way to send $ from the oil rig in the middle of the Atlantic. Please see if this is the same guy and reply so I will know. Thanks
amibngsc
December 01, 2015

In reply to by shelly

This is what's happening to me right now. Met online dating site 9-11-15 haven't met in person 1. He was completing construction job then inspections 2. He said he is project manager consultant and got picked to give presentatio in DC then told to go to AK then gave me access to his bank so I could transfer $ to pay for materials to build a desalter plant because he had to be flown by helicopter to site offshore. He had deposit from Exon Mobile for $4,500,000!! He said he needed me to pay for material he ordered from co in Thailand so I made transfer to them. I got email from them they needed $15,000 for shipping and container was now on docks they were no longer responsible. By now he said his bank had put acct to inactive status as they didn't recognize my name. NOW is when he begged me for $15,000 or his $900,000 of material would be confiscated by Twailand Gov. We have not met as he always has work. He says he is from Sweeden and that is why his name and the company he owns does not appear when I did Google search. Now, few days later I sent in text that I can help with part but first needed some form of ID and notorized signature on contract for repayment (did this to see how he replied) texted back saying "makes me think u don't trust me and hurt his feelings) lol. He also sent 4 pictures and plan to try doing search with them. What kind of successful business owner that has PH.D. gives person they never met access to foreign online bank acct with PIN number that has over $4 million but cannot get $15,000? His accent sounds more Latino than Swedish. Deep down I am disappointed but who tells someone they love them after a few text msg? Please if he or she sounds too good to be true they are so guard your money and especially your heart.
be careful
December 08, 2015

In reply to by curious

This really sounds familiar. A similar story, the guy that I know in on line date out of sudden contacted me back after disappeared for a month plus and claim that he is in offshore Qatar now. His 2nd batch of materials were not shipped to him as promised. He asked me to contact his supplier in Thailand yesterday. The supplier told me he needs to pay additional $5200 for shipment. He asked me to help him out, as he can not leave the place otherwise he will lost the business. I don't really trust his words. If he afford to pay $700,000 for the drilling pipe, what is $5200? It is a small money. The weird thing is the bank information provided to me is personal account not company account. His name is Martin C, from United States. Today, he text me for $2000 , as the remaining balance he managed to get help from his friend. My answer is I am willing to help with the terms that he must show me the proof of transfer document from his friend, his passport and his business card. He refused to show his passport, but he will send to me the other two. What do you think about this guy?
FTC Staff
December 08, 2015

In reply to by be careful

How does your experience compare with the warning signs listed in the blog? Has the person you're talking to asked you to:

  • set up a bank account or transfer money
  • chat off of the dating site immediately, using personal email, text, or phone
  • wire money using Western Union or Money Gram

To be safe, don't send money to someone you never met. Read warnings from online dating sites in this other blog.

Diamond10
December 26, 2015

In reply to by FTC Staff

Hi there where can I get help my mom has met one of these losers on chemistry.com and he's requested she opens bank accounts and sends him money thru wire transfers in the USA and offshore banks, she's since had a stroke and can't walk. She's in the hospital at the moment, and I want to catch this ass who is scamming her. It's thousands of dollars and my mom might have Dimentia. I already hired an attorney, but I need more help. Someone has to stop these scams.
Capability
February 17, 2016

In reply to by Diamond10

I have spoken to many of these guys who think they can get one over on using the word love... at the moment I am talking to a guy who thinks I am stupid... ahahhaah so I am stringing him along..... I was convinced He was a con.... Low and be hold he wants me to contact a security box holding company... and get a box out of a country with OUR future money in... ahahahah really .... If there is a way i can help to catch him or others I would be more than willing to help..... Just because some one you have never met says I LOVE YOU... You should not accept this as the truth... NEVER....
FTC Staff
February 17, 2016

In reply to by Capability

You can report this to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The details you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.

Blog comments don't go into the database.

Noway
February 19, 2016

In reply to by Capability

Is the person you are talking about named Russell David? Does he work for Meka construction? Did he want you to receive a box of money from a security company?
unbelievableDo…
February 25, 2016

In reply to by Noway

I may be scammed by the same guy. Been chatting with him for 11 months. What does he look like? And where does he say he is now and where from? I met him on fb. Says hes from the same area as i am? Never sent him money,though he asked me before i snapped on him called him out and he hasnt asked again.any info on him would be great.
bettycrocker
January 16, 2016

In reply to by be careful

Where in the US did he say he was from? What is his last name?
Divamom
January 19, 2016

In reply to by be careful

Sounds kind of familiar. Did he say where in the states he was from? I met someone named Martin H. The kicker was that he said the same thing about not being able to leave because he could lose the contract to his competitors. Did he have an accent?
fxp182
December 29, 2021

In reply to by curious

Did he go by the name of Dave Hargrave who says he has a daughter named Alice who is currently studying theatre in the U.K? If so he is a scammer and he goes by various alias and says he is from Sweden?
SAME EXACT STORY-
December 06, 2015

In reply to by amibngsc

I need to talk to you. This is the same exact story. I took a screen shot of STANDARD BANK. He had me wire $ to Cron Metals also for materials on December 1, 2015. He said he was being flown by a chopper from a Anchorage to a an island where the oil field is. I also have 4 pictures. Alexander Everest. Yes?
SAME EXACT STORY-
December 06, 2015

In reply to by amibngsc

Today is December 6 and I feel like I am talking to the same man. Exxon Mobile, paying for materials, helicopter, alaska, only four pics...very hanndsome, accent, (310) phone number from Long Beach, CA. I would sure like for us to gang up on him. I am going to break his heart first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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