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.
In reply to I met this guy, not even on a by sad211
In reply to I met this guy, not even on a by sad211
In reply to I've met a great guy, very by Rosanna
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Single Mom I'm sorry that this has been going on for so long, but you have recognized signs that he isn't honest. Do not enter into any financial arrangements with someone you have never met face-to-face. One thing they try to do is to get an honest woman to deposit a fake check into her legitimate bank account and then to send cash back to the guy via MoneyGram or Western Union. By the time your bank realizes the check was fake, the guy and your money are gone and the bank will come after you for the money you withdrew. You can even be charged with a crime. Do not get involved in anything financial with him. Protect yourself and your family.
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In reply to I have been scammed also by by Shirley
In reply to I have been scammed also by by Shirley
In reply to I have been scammed also by by Shirley
I'm receiving the romance scam form "women" contacting me through Facebook Messenger. Their message is HI. I then accept them and some time in the first 24 hours they tell you that they are in love. Three to five days later they ask for $50 ITunes cards as gifts. The first woman I met asked for a $50 card but I could only afford to buy a $25 card. I purchased it through Walmart online. I bought the digital card and gifted it to the woman. She received the information only the activation number would only work for her phone. She was furious and demanded that I go to Walmart and buy the card itself then take a photo of the access code number and send the photo to her profile. What she got was me Blocking her access to me and got rid of her. I've had 4 meetings just like the first. Everything is the same situation except for one who begged for a $250 ITunes card. I'm getting rid of the fifth scammer now. I've been dragging "her" along for a month now. I promised her $100 ITunes card when she asked. Scamming the scammer. This last one also asked the name of my bank. I did a search for names of banks located in my area then chose a name at random. Then I sent her an email explain that I chose the name of the bank name by chosing a name from a list because I didn't know her well enough to share that information. That's my story.
In reply to I met a guy on Facebook as by Sadie
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Pagination