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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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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.

FTC Staff
November 23, 2015

In reply to by jneener70

You can report this to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The information you give helps law enforcement nationwide in their investigations.

Jfsmith57
March 03, 2017

In reply to by FTC Staff

What did formation do you need for me to report a scammme?
Sarahjane
November 23, 2015
Hi been talking to this guy 7 months now says he's American but construction worker in Nigeria first his machine breaks wants money for that now when was supposed to come over to Scotland his digger machine gets stolen now needs 24000pounds to replace it or can't leave there until has he has more than one Facebook accounts with different names Haik moumjian and haik momjean they share photos
Sarahjane69Don…
November 24, 2015

In reply to by Sarahjane

Hi he says comes from salt city USA he doesn't sound America at all tells me to send money western union makes loads of friends with woman Facebook and what other sites he's on got mad yesterday cos didn't send money to him says he loves me wants to come over to marry me as didn't turn up 2 months ago because machine got stolen his plane ticket was fake or so passport I'm hurt as hell I believed this person who ever he is what a fool I am
Speculative Lady
November 24, 2015
Thank you, I am being cautious but I like to have input as to if my assumptions are correct or not. **Update** He also tried to connect my cell phone to google voice to steal my number, etc. I obviously didn't accept the call or code to put in, etc and blocked it immediately. I've found this is more known in craigslist scams rather than romance scams, however this person is obviously trying any and all ways to scam me. The funniest part is when he asked me for my address several weeks ago I felt something wasn't right and I gave him a false address. After getting the google voice call this morning this is all very very obvious. I just hope that my posting my experiences helps someone else who may be questioning if their person is real or not. Be careful giving out your address and phone number (cell) as well. They can charge things to your cell service AND get all your contacts and contact them, etc.
Michelle B.
November 27, 2015
Watch out for a guy named Bernard Dillion. He says he is a under cover ageny for the Army and he is stationed in Syria. I met him on Ok cupid and his username on their is bernard880-taco. He claims to be a british American from the Uk but told me that he has a house in tigard oregon. He said his son is 11 and a nanny watches him in the UK.I talked to him once on the phone supposedly from his commander phone but I couldn't understand a word that he said. His english is very bad. Chatted with him on Hangout for awhile then he asked me for a satellite phone because he is getting transfeed to Afghanistan and the Internet is bad there. After I told him no because I dont have money for a phone he stopped talking to me. His email address is sgt.dillonbernard . Also told me he will be back in March. Please look out for this person and do not fall for his crap.
lee67
November 26, 2015
Would you have a picture of this man he sounds like a man I meet own match 1
tipstir
November 27, 2015

Met Lisa this US Army Intelligence Officer Special Ops stationed in Amman, Jordan (we do not have bases there so she's on (Jordanian Base) on Mingle2, sent me picture of her wearing the outfit with her last name one. So after a few weeks of chatting on IM not yahoo. She said for her to transport of 4 cars and other things she wanted to sell back in states for profit. She claims she couldn't take back all the money she made in the US Army so she use that money to buy goods.

I found that odd why in the world would you do that. Then she sent me email that had this in the subject line": FW: Edit and send First Format To Client This email she sent to me but she told me she didn't sent it her account was hack. But the funny thing about this one is she was online talking to me in IM telling me she just sent this. No she told me she never would. But again the word Edit and Send First Format to Client suggest to me that this is just a scam template use.

I did trace on it came from somewhere in South Africa. No now she told me she only had $3,550 to ship two 40 feet cargo containers but needed $5,200. So she was short $1,700. She then had asked me nicely to help her out. I told her no. It took 3 hours back and forth with her on this.I told her maybe Monday.

What's the deal trying to convince me to part with my money suppose to go to the UK Bank where the shipping company owners want the money to be wired too. I really can't understand the goal here. But she was going to call me Thanksgiving from the base and never did. I wanted to make sure I was dealing with a real solider so I had asked her to send me email from the *.mil instead of yahoo or google email. I still haven't got that email from her yet. So far the pictures email came from OSLO, Norway.

Sent: Tue, Nov 17, 2015 15:05 PST Subject: Edit and send First Format To Client 1st Format Hello sweetheart, how are you doing and how was your day ??? I will be very grateful if you can give me the opportunity to discuss this matter with you by assuring me that you will not use any part of it against me in anyway ...I have the sum of ($23,570,000).Twenty Three million Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand USD which I made from crude oil business i did with a Nigeria citizen, and because of my status as a soldier in the US Army, I can not transfer the money to my country of origin because of security reasons,query and questions from the US Government...so i use the money in buying some items and kept it with a friend back in Nigeria /items like : (1)Hospital,Equipment (2)High Tech and Telecommunications Equipment (3)Machinery Equipment and metal Tooling (4)Computers Products,Hardware & Electronics Equipment. (5)waste disposal Equipment. (6)Air pollution control (7)Building materials (8)Buses and cars for ultra modern urban transportation networks (9)lot of cars and buses (10)Equipment use in Building Road Bridge and House (11)Civilian Aircraft (12)Armored Vehicles Supplies (15)Water Recycling (16)Medical equipment & Health Products (17)Financial Services; POS, ATM.

FTC Staff
November 27, 2015

In reply to by tipstir

These are useful details for a complaint. Please report this to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The information you give goes into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.

nagma
November 27, 2015
I've been talking to a guy going by the name Jerry Kenner he's not asked for any money yet. But has told me he loves me after 4 days, I've told him I don't believe a word he says keeps calling me dear English is ok but not the best. I've started asking him questions which he did not like he never gives me the chance to reply to his messages it's all about him I saw the warning signs said he catholic goes to church not asked for any money. His profile pic was very handsome man apparently US solider in Kabul. It's very easy to fall for their charms but ladies we must relise they only after one thing..
thirdeye
December 01, 2015
I met one on Twitter. His name is Daniel Eke and claimed to live in Miami, and worked for ford motor company as an engineering consultant. The fist time we spoke I new he was a fraud because of his strong accent. He told me him and a friend was working on a deal to bring over some 2014 range rovers. Said he hated doing business outside of the US because of the prejudice people he would have to encounter. He hoped that they didn't tax him a lot of money on the shipment. And he was also traveling for his job to do some training. So the con started with, I lost my wallet on the lay over plane. Then he needed to make it to the American embassy but would need $5000. I told him I was broke, no money. But he kept on asking for money but I kept saying I don't have any money. He asked for $ 800,500,600,1000, anything so that he could make it to the embassy. I asked why not contact your job after all your on a business trip. He could never give a correct answer. Finally he got frustrated and said that I was stringing him along. He said I caused everything to go wrong. Then he blocked me on Twitter.
Barkely
April 26, 2018

In reply to by thirdeye

Hey I'm working with a Daniel Eke, its a pretty common name, trying to see if its the same person.
jennifer.e
December 01, 2015

Kristopher Barnet, a supose chemical engineer working currently in Baghdad under the United Nations tried to scam $4000 out of me last night.

jennifer.e
December 01, 2015
It started with this email: Jenny, i can't explain why the world is crumbling on me, everything seem to be happening to me at the same time. The inspection team came for the last test running process and i instructed the local workers to trans-load Crude that was stored in a reservoir into a standby supertanker that will convey the product to the site of refining for the test, i wanted to use it as a test but they messed up so bad because i went to get some file from the office.. Their calibrations and meter readings were so wrong so the chart wasn't plotted well, so instead of opening the passage pipe from the reservoir to the tanker, they opened the return pipe to reservoir and it overflowed, thereby spilling crude all over, the pipes they layed underground earlier burst and fire caught up some part of the site, even the standby supertanker that was anchored and awaiting trans-loading broke off and started moving in an opposite direction. Not too long, fire fighters on the platform were able to control the fire but the spillage spread the whole place. Four of my workers were badly injured in the accident and they have since been rushed to the emergency room for urgent medical attention. I'm safe because i didn't join them in the work at that time, i was in my office which is not so close to the scene of the accident, baby i'm very lucky and i had to shut down the site to avoid cameras .. The management summoned me immediately and i explained everything that happened, i also have written a report and submitted. I've been in meetings with them since this happened that's why i've not been busy till now. I just got back to my room and i'm writing you this email, i couldn't believe what my eyes saw. it was mere carelessness from the workers, we trained them for the job properly but they did not take precautionary measures. The management so far denied any involvement in this accident and thereby holding me responsible for the action of the workers i hired. My love, please you have to pray for me because i'm in trouble here, just know that no matter what happens, i'll be strong. I'll try my best to fix all this mess and be home to you even before you know it, this is the time i need you most, please pray for me and tell me that everything will be alright. I'll keep you posted in everything. Talk later.. Kris
magic jade
December 27, 2015

In reply to by jennifer.e

Hello Jennifer. The sound so much like the guy tried to scam me past month. His name is Paulson Broder. Claim to live in Honolulu and had a cell phone from Connecticut where he previously lived. He started messing up because he started using an S after his last name in some situations and he wouldn't tell me what part of town he lived in. When we were supposed to meet he claimed he had to go out of town to the Dominican republic to work on an oil rig for Exxon because he was some sort of engineer. He professed all kinds of love to me and marriage before ever meeting me which I found to be taken back by. . Then one day he calls me up and tells me that there's an accident on the oil rig and there is a spill and he needs $3000 to help him to repair it. This is when I kind of freaked out and realize that he's trying to scam me. At this point I did a search on him and none of his images came up online. He claims to be Norwegian but his accent sounds very much like Spanish. His phone number is a landline not a cell phone from Connecticut which was traced to a company that has a blog with scams attached to it. Claims to have two boys who has pictures of and be divorced but that his ex was dead.So I was almost scammed by this guy and extremely upset that this person lied to me and luckily for me I did not give him a dime. But it's scary because he knows my complete name and where I work. Luckily he does not know where I live but it's public information if you own a home they can pretty much find out. I reached out to him one more time for Christmas to see if he had come to Honolulu in the event that I could be wrong. And he is still at in the Dominican republic. I confirmed my sca I confirmed my scam. also be aware when a guy sends you a Airline confirmation without a confirmation number on it and with the last name but is not spelled the way he has been spelling his last name. I wish there were something I could do about this this ---makes me angry especially when I read these blogs and see all the scammers out there !!!
Magic jade
January 04, 2016

In reply to by magic jade

Just to add this guys name is Paulsen Broder or Broders and the email he used was paulsenbrothers -always an echo on line when he called and his accent was more Indian than Norwegian... His number is (203) 716-1106. Please don't give money or private information to anyone over the Internet or phone. These are strangers!! Don't trust them and only date local people you can actually meet - Like REAL people! Best of luck to you all

Shelly
January 14, 2016

In reply to by jennifer.e

Hello Jennifer..I received the same text message..Never calls my name..just darling, sweetheart, sweetie, honey, my wife, my angel. He goes by the name of Bernard Michel, civil engineer, wife died of cancer and he had a 17 year old daughter. He ask for airtime and money..
Kate
March 10, 2016

In reply to by Shelly

Hi ladies, I am from Malaysia and almost got scammed by a man called Franklin Preston who claimed he is a cardiology specialist in Medecins Sans Frontieres, currently working in Damascus, Syria. He lost his wife and he has a 14 years old son. Initially, he was so sweet and escallated his 'feelings' towards me with several love letters (emails). How can a person that we never met before falling in love so quickly? He added me from LinkedIn and requested to be added to Facebook. Chatted with him for 1 month and he claimed that he is sending a 15kg package from Syria, remember this country is currently at civil war. Also, then the 'agent' contacted me, but i missed all the calls but when i called back, the number was not in service. Sounded fishy, righr? Then he asked me to transfer USD 2000 to his son via his sister in-law, Teri Cornwall who's banking account SunTrust in Florida. But i told him i can only transfer 1500. And i said something and he started to curse me. hmm what do you, ladies think? I have blocked him from facebook and never transfer money to that women.

He got me too
February 15, 2016

In reply to by jennifer.e

Ive heard this same type of story!!! It's lies!!!
jennifer.e
December 01, 2015

Than this: i am really weak because a lot of things is going wrong on my side but i am trying to be strong ...thanks for the messages and song...i will write you more soon...still running up and down ..!

jennifer.e
December 01, 2015

I figured I ll play along to see where he wants me to send him money:

Bank Name: Bank Mandiri Bank Address : KCP Jakarta Tebet Supomo 12404 Indonesia

Account Name: Maria Soekarno Account Number : 900-003-081-0080

Beneficiary Address: Jl Manggarai Utara V/D-24 RT/RW 004/003 Manggarai Tebet Jakarta Indonesia Swift Code: Bmriidja

On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 10:25 AM, Kristopher Barnet wrote: waiting for the agent to forward the account details to me ok...will send it soon On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 9:55 AM, Kristopher Barnet wrote: give me a minute ok On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 9:55 AM, Kristopher Barnet wrote: ok On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 9:54 AM, jennifer wrote: Ok. How do you need me to sent you the 4 k? Bank wire or Western Union? I need your info to do that. I can do it right now if you write back right away.

jennifer.e
December 01, 2015

I guess I made him "happy"!!!      Honey ,this is the account information that you will transfer the 4k ...I don't know what to do to make you understand how happy i am right now ...this is the best birthday gift of my life time...i promise never to let you down my Wife...I Love you till death do us path...i opened the present baby and i love it ...thanks a lot my Angel

jennifer.e
December 01, 2015

Time to tell him he won't ever get a dime from me:

I m sorry to say but my car just blew up because oil spilled out and the pipes underneath busted and injured four of my neighbors. I had to have the street blocked off because of cameras and the news team. I had to call my insurance so these medical bills will be covered. My 4 neighbors are all at urgent medical care right now and have been treated for their injuries.

I am glad I have insurance because me working under the CIA protection plan I have to have insurance. Just like someone would have to, especially working under the United Nations, darling. And ESPECIALLY when working with oil. Do you realize how ridicules your story sounded? I feel insulted that you thought I was this dumb. STOP SCAMMING PEOPLE, IT IS A CRIME AND WRONG. GOOD BYE

jennifer.e
December 01, 2015
His last response "you think i am like that...anyway thanks and one day you will know i am not.!
jennifer.e
December 01, 2015

I wanted to warn everyone of this guy. He almost got me scammed. His emails and calls where so loving, always calling me his wife and soulmate. These scammers really know how to say all the right stuff/

His name was Kristopher Barnet. Wife supose to have died of breast cancer 5 years ago after being married 18 years. Originally from the UK , dad was Swedish but died when he was 16. Went to Oxford and graduated as a chemical engineer. Mom's name was Nancy he said. Promised the moon and starts. Ask me to come to London with him for Christmas. Told me he worked in Baghdad under the UN and bought his own contract there.

Than, on this final day, which was also supose to be his Birthday. Dec 1 turning 49, he came up with the story listed above. All this came up within half a day.. lol. He needed $61,000.00 and was $4000 short. I always told my girlfriend, " the moment he is asking me for money I am gone." Sure enough he did and I walked away. I have never met him and I was in love with his (fake) photos of a man I would love to meet. But I now know these photos where stolen from someone that probably has no clue.

Kris always had an accent , certainly not a english accent, and when I told him he said he lived all over the world and gotten different accents but only spoke english.. OMG. But went to Oxford? He was Indian. But super charming. I met him on swedishdating  Beware of this charmer. I have photos if anybody come's or came across him. Dark blond with blue eyes. The number he called me from was (914) 920-6724 When I researched the number it belonged to someone else. The answer machine to this number will say: United Headquarters, how can I help you today, please drop your name and we get back with you. His english was so bad that it was obvious and he certainly was NOT from the UK.

jennifer.e
December 01, 2015

Kristopher Barnet is a real charmer and very handsome in the (fake) photos. His email was kristopherbarnet22    Beware of him

jennifer.e
December 01, 2015

Here one of Kristopher Barnet's emails just 4 weeks after meeting on the internet dating site ( swedishdating          ) He supose to come to Florida to meet me this week, lol

Jenny I want you to know that since the day we met I’ve fallen deeply in love with you. There are no words to express the gratitude I feel in my heart that you came into my life and how you make every day so special. You are my life, my heart, my soul. You are my best friend, my one true love, my one and only. I love you more today than I did yesterday, and I’ll love you more tomorrow than I do today. Loving you is the only thing that makes life worth living. Day by day, my love for you becomes overwhelming, and I can’t handle it when I don’t see or even talk to you every day. A day without you in my life is like a day without sunshine, a day without food, or a day without air. I need you when I’m cold to keep me warm; I need you in the rain to keep me dry; I need you in my life to keep me happy. You make me feel wonderful. You give me strength when I just can’t carry on and I truly treasure that. Every moment spent talking to you is another one of my dreams coming true.. I know that you are the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, the person I want to marry, the person I want to have babies with, and the person I want to grow old with. Baby Girl, you complete me. You make my life so amazing and I don’t know how else to repay you but to love you just as much as you love me. The world is a better place to be because of you....Hugs and Kisses to you my Wife.. Kris

I am such an idiot
December 09, 2015

In reply to by jennifer.e

Wow, I received the same text message. I just reviewed it, word from word from somebody I just met 6 weeks ago.
Layla
January 03, 2016

In reply to by I am such an idiot

Have been talking to a guy Dennis Hogger. Has accent met on widowers& widows.. Never calls my name just sweetheart, honey..Always and excuse not to meet , but promises it will happen ..tonight tells me hs is in live with me..Never asked for money but says he wants to be with me traveling and investing!! and a beautiful life together. has anyone heard of him...Please let me know
Blindtrust
December 21, 2015

In reply to by jennifer.e

I have the exact emailsent to me after just 2 weeks of knowing each other. My guy is a different name....can we please share photos through emails?? I have lost over 100k for him and thought he was the love of my life!!! Please...
FTC Staff
December 22, 2015

In reply to by Blindtrust

Please report your loss to law enforcement. Report to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint, and to your state Attorney General’s office and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If you sent money by wire transfer, report this to the wire transfer company.

If the scammer knows your bank or credit account numbers, contact your bank and credit card company. You may need to get new numbers to protect yourself and your money.

You might start getting emails or calls from other scammers. If they know you sent money once, they will try to get more of your money.

Red
January 22, 2017

In reply to by jennifer.e

Got a silmilar letter ! Just requested a 'loan ' Goes by dennis gregory Dear Janie I had the best intentions to say Good Morning but somehow the day slipped by and here we are in the evening already. Hope you having a great day? I do admire your ability to write - It comes straight from your heart which I believe it does - and so touching. It is great to see the transparency and honesty when you tell me what it is you want. I want you to know that since the day we met I've fallen deeply in love with you. There are no words to express the gratitude I feel in my heart that you came into my life, and how you make every day so special. You are my life, my heart, my soul. You are my best friend, my one true love, my one and only. I love you more today than I did yesterday, and I'll love you more tomorrow than I do today. Loving you is the only thing that makes life worth living. Day by day, my love for you becomes overwhelming, and I can't handle it when I don't see or even talk to you every day. A day without you in my life is like a day without sunshine, a day without food, or a day without air. I need you when I’m cold to keep me warm; I need you in the rain to keep me dry; I need you in my life to keep me happy. You make me feel wonderful. You give me strength when I just can't carry on and I truly treasure that. Every moment spent together is another one of my dreams coming true. Baby, you complete me. You make my life so amazing and I don't know how else to repay you but to love you just as much as you love me. The world is a better place to be because of you. Kisses, Dennis
Concerned
November 07, 2019

In reply to by Red

Can you please advise what country he was supposed to be in, and what nationality he claimed to be. I want to check if I have the same person.
jennifer.e
December 01, 2015

I did file a report with the FTC and reported Kristopher Barnet

jherrie
December 01, 2015
I have had many scammers, my first ine by the name Patrick Melo, now he goes by the name Patrick Leanardo Melo. I have contacted the FBI, Facebook and the police from this mans country. I did a years worth of tracking this man and found out who he is and contacted his job ( he's a concierge) they had him contact me to convince me it wasnt him. But I have his voice on my voice mail from when he would call me and it matches his voice on a private video that I found of him. Anyway that's all I can say since he is still free to do it, for my own safety.
FTC Staff
December 01, 2015

In reply to by jherrie

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.

Chris
December 02, 2015
I had a man contact me on a dating site. I'm naturally very leery of people but more so with men. He had the great picture and nice comments. I knew it wasn't adding up though but I played along. I heard the story that he was widowed and had 2 kids but they lived with their grandmother. He was from Europe but lived in Michigan but also traveled around the country for work selling art. After talking a couple days he tells me that he is preparing to travel to China and some place else (sorry about details because I was leery already and playing along). Said he wanted to open a checking account with my name on it (not happening) since he couldn't cash his checks in the countries he was in. Told him I wasn't comfortable with that and wouldn't do that. He then asked where I banked and if I could cash his checks and money gram him the money. Again, I told him I would not do that. His financial should of already been taken care of and set up before he left. Couple days had passed and he possessively flew across the world to his destination. He started hearing how he was running our of money and he needed my help. Nope! The next day.... He started in again and I told him that I did not want to hear a word about be me doing anything with any money or sending any money because I was not going to do it. End of story. He tried talking to me once since then. He used one name when we started talking, James Dominigue Walter. He then messed up on FB adding pictures and I saw a different name, Dale Ferguson. I called him out on both and he had a interesting tale to go along with it. Be safe ladies. Times are hard enough on us woman. No matter what keep your guards up.
Sunshine007
December 30, 2018

In reply to by Chris

I had a very similar story but he went by a different name, do you have photos? He said his name was Felis Faddey
eva77
December 04, 2015
I've been had as well, surely should have known better at my mature age but guess hope of finding your soulmate never dies. Most angry with myself and would like to slap my own face for living this "Dream" for the past 2 months only arriving at the hard awakening and being asked for money. Well at least I knew then what it was all about and of course never sent any. Nevertheless feeling very hurt. The story is very similar to many comments here. Though I have never been on any of those dating sites, this guy contacted me via Google+ and we've been chatting on Hangouts, never by email or phone. Now I see I should have asked for more details earlier or see the red flags, oh well. Does the name David Steinbach, US army, deployed on an UN peacekeeping mission in Somalia ring any bells for anybody? A 52 yrs old widower, wife died in a car crash few years ago, 1 son 17 yr old. The story ended like this: "And from our compensation here from the UN on peacekeeping I managed to secure funds as a commander here. The total amount is 850,000euros in cash and i plan to invest with this money. So i want to move this money out of this place, this place is a war zone, so that you may help me keep it till when i will come over to meet you. I want to Invest this money , but hope i can count on you?" Well needless to say I questioned that a commander would be paid in cash and told him that the banks here (Sweden) do not even deal with cash anymore. He went on the next day, going to send the briefcase through an UN diplomat who would transit in Greece will call you because he need to obtain Clearance Certificate at the airport in Greece so you will send him 2.300 euros my love." That was the end of it as I told him game over. The scammer could have been 2 or more people as looking back, I can see some inconsistency. Like one would be using very good and poetic English while some messages are not grammatically correct at all. Now I've made a bit of research and found out, according the name and picture, that this person is real and has a Profile on LinkedIn. Because of the picture's background, taken in Germany, it's very specific and I can clearly see it was copied from there. Have sent him an internal message to alert him of the scam but many people do not check their LindedIn accounts so not sure if he will see it any time soon. Except of that, do not think I will take it any further, but maybe it can help somebody here.
KC101.
December 11, 2015

In reply to by eva77

I have scamed too... His name is Britez Helmez... He is in dating site and has a Facebook also.. He is showing his contract agreement to work for 5,000,000.00 US$ And even after one week kind of work showing that , he got paid and showing his pay check for 5,000,000,00 He is very good to steeling heart and money.... Please becarful.
hammy
February 09, 2016

In reply to by KC101.

What about Stephen Hunter - gold seller daughter in college and been burgled
ohnonotagain
February 14, 2016

In reply to by eva77

This sounds very familiar. I was contacted via fab name Mark 0'connor. Said he was a general in the army in Kuwait. 55 wife killed in car wreck , 14!year old son back in NM with a gardian. No other family. All the love sticky stuff you can imagine. Then he wanted me to send 1500 dollars western union for a package to be delivered to me. He was retiring and coming to me. Sent me a picture of a case full of money. Said it was his but could not put in his account. It was deactivated and he could not pay to ship it here. I went to searching him out... Because I read here. I found he stole pictures from a Jack 0'Connor on Facebook retired military man. When I confront d him be became hostile said he was one and the same... Told me I couldn't be trusted. He was all offended. Remember the name Mark OConnor. Very nice looking man. In military uniform. But it is not this Mark guy
NurseWo
February 29, 2016

In reply to by eva77

I think this is the same guy who was trying to get with me on Facebook. He told me he was in Lybia on a peace keeping mission. But the ironic thing about this is he was warning me about the guy I was dating on fb. He was right about him. LOL. But the sad thing is that I fell in love with this UK Greek guy. I wish I can find him and get justice for him as well. Because he don't deserve to be exploited either. I still in love with that image. It sucks...
alex
December 04, 2015
A friend of mine has a guy pretending to be a soldier on facebook needing money to get his personal boxes sent home. He says they are being held in Minneapolis and he needs $1500 to get them released. On facebook he uses an account with the name Caspe Clarence. Watch out for him ladies
hi
December 05, 2015
i have this guy that text me i look up his pic and no name comes up what do i do
Scammedagain
December 09, 2015
I am talking to a man in ghanna. We skype all the time. Scammers don't skype, is this true? He has asked me for money to help him come to America, I have given him 200.00 to get his passport. Now he is asking for more money. Help! Is he a scammer?
FTC Staff
December 09, 2015

In reply to by Scammedagain

Think about your experience with this person. Have you seen some of the warning signs listed in the blog? Has the person asked you to:

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

Scammers create fake profiles online. They use photos of other people. Sometimes they steal pictures of real military personnel. They say they love you, and they ask you for money. They have all kinds of made-up stories about how they need money for emergencies or documents or to buy a ticket to some see you. They have one purpose: to steal your money.

To be safe, don't send money to someone you never met. Read more about online dating scams in this other blog.

 

Scammedagain
December 11, 2015

In reply to by Scammedagain

This guy had asked me too send money via Western union. He also asked me to assist him in getting merchandise sent to him from the us to ghana supposedly because the companies do not ship outside the country. This does not cost me any money. Just a but of my time
AJM
December 09, 2015
Beware of a Donald Blair Bello scamming people on "Our Time." Unfortunately, he found my aunt who is dating after losing her husband a few years ago. This us the first ma. She's been interested in since before him. Several red flags went up. Instantly moved from site to private email. Immediately too known.profile to "concentrate specifically on their relationship" and didn't want to correspond with anyone else. He claimed he was a Virgo w the same birthday, then he's a Gemini w a different birthday. His first wife died of cancer,which he had no problem speaking about. He just brought up after 2 months and numerous emails that his daughter has cancer as well, which is odd, why not mention that before?? He claims he's from Scotland, resides in U.S. in Massachusetts where we live but currently in Nigeria helping build an orphanage for less fortunate. He constantly speaks about the warfare and terrorism and awful conditions there but "not where he is" not to worry. Convenient. He keeps saying he's hoping to b back for Xmas.. His emails are all so beautiful and sweet but repeating and lacking but what every woman wants to hear. However I've noticed threats two paragraphs seem to b copy and paste..word for word exact. Also, some questions seem to b as if he's writing for the first time, as if he's confused which woman he's speaking with at the time. Also, with the signing off the email. Usually "hugs and kisses" but last it was "take care" I've personally googled and nothing. This man owns his own construction company and nothing online about him. Idc if is originally from another country or not...Google should have something on him where he lives in the states, has legal papers...legal documents..was born..been to events...been to school...etc.. Shoddy stuff.I've warned her to stay away and she is. All else b careful
anotherone
December 21, 2015

In reply to by AJM

He's out there got email as well - did same search and nothing Got suspicious -- his phone and email is +234 8139433139 don.bellb     BEWARE

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