Not 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.
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In reply to Anyone had any contact from a by Rox
In reply to Yes, I met a Franlin Honza on by lstieve
In reply to Please, I think my so called by whatifeva
In reply to This guy on meet me site told by Pinkrose
In reply to This guy on meet me site told by Pinkrose
I've been talking to this girl for about 2 months now and she asked me to open up a Discover debit card so that she could send money to it then I go take off for cash advance and then send her the money back by money gram and western union now if she does that and I don't send the money back to her will I get in trouble for not sending this money back she say she on nato duty in the military in Nigeria she says her lawyer takes care of her finances but wht I was wondering was why she couldn't do it her self or her lawyer so long story short I want to know if this girl puts money on my debit card and I don't send her the money back would I get in trouble something just don't sound rt to me and she says she wants me to take out cash advance then send her money gram and western union to 2 diff address in Nigeria she sent 2000 so far and I took the money off my debit card so someone let me know if I get in trouble if i dont send to her just sounds fishy
In reply to I've been talking to this by Gargano
Some scammers use other people to send and receive stolen money. They might develop an online relationship and ask their new sweetheart or friend to accept money and transfer funds for them. Law enforcement calls the victims ’money mules.’ If you get involved with one of these schemes, you could lose money and personal information, and you could get into legal trouble.
In reply to Does anyone know David by mika0109
In reply to Does anyone know David by mika0109
In reply to Does anyone know David by mika0109
In reply to Does anyone know David by mika0109
In reply to WooPlus Dating App BEWARE by DB
In reply to WooPlus Dating App BEWARE by DB
In reply to has anyone heard the names by dlrusse53Don't…
I'm pretty sure I'm being scammed. Guy says his name is Robert Porter, Army special forces in Chad Africa, I have a phone number out of Los Angeles. Met on Bumble. We've been texting for a week or more. Something has never felt right. Babe this and baby that from the beginning. I'm only out $100 for a gift card he said he couldn't get for his son where he was located which was completely stupid on my part. Glad to have stumbled upon this site. He says to talk over his Sat phone I have to email usmilitaryconnectingfamilies and get a subscription. My ex was Marine special forces so I know this to be BS. I feel so foolish. I guess it goes to show how bad some of us women want to find a special someone.
In reply to scammer are everywhere by Alina
In reply to I have been texting with a by guardyourself
In reply to Hi Guardyourself I did and by talktomichaelbrody
In reply to I have been texting with a by guardyourself
In reply to I met this guy a dating by LonelyHeart
In reply to I met this guy a dating by LonelyHeart
In reply to LonelyHeart he’s a scammer I by Lizzie
In reply to I think I'm dealing with a by Allison
In reply to I think I'm dealing with a by Allison
In reply to He found me on Instagram and by I knew it
Pagination