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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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Shopping and Donating
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Bobbie
April 27, 2020

In reply to by almost taken

I think I was scammed late last year by the same guy. Would love to private message or attach a picture for everyone to see. Does anyone know if photos are allowed?
NoFool
May 12, 2020

In reply to by Bobbie

This same storytooth me is probably the same man.i found the guy who's pictures he uses.I'm just not sure who all is involved. I have pictures with both their names, ones a fake...maybe both?
Ms.Piggy
June 01, 2020

In reply to by NoFool

Hi you said you had pictures if you could send me the pictures that you have I would appreciate it I want to see if this is the same scammer that I have and I’m talking to thank you for any information that you can give me
kitty
September 03, 2020

In reply to by Ms.Piggy

I am being scammed right now by a guy on an oil rig. He took a picture frame and put pictures of me in the frame and held it up to take a picture. He is asking for money from me. I have a feeling this might be the same person. I have pictures of him.
Concerned friend
September 08, 2020

In reply to by kitty

My name will remain anonymous but I feel like my friend is being scammed by the man that has to do with an oil rig does he use Bitcoin transfers with women does he meets on dating websites
Gwen
October 21, 2020

In reply to by kitty

I am chatting to a guy he say he is working on a oil rig he sent a request in Facebook he’s asking for a permit to be able to come and see me is this a scam can you send me a photo want to see if it’s the same guy
Gwen
October 22, 2020

In reply to by kitty

Could you send me any photos want to see if it’s the same guy I have been talking to Gwen
Single
November 16, 2020

In reply to by kitty

Do you have a picture, someone I’m talking with did the same with a picture
Debs
November 24, 2020

In reply to by kitty

Ive been approached by a male on a oil rig through Linkin. He calls himself James. Very good looking aged 55 and from Italy. He first contacted me in aug and we began sending messages. Then he stopped. I did not bother sending any other messages and then last week he contacted me and said that he has been unable to contact me as the oil rig had an incident with armed robbers and he could not use his phone. He has been very charming lots of compliments. My radar picked up on sat when he said he.could not access his account to give to his son money who is in boarding school and its his sons birthday. I did not offer anything. He sends me pictures of roses each night and wishes me sweet dreams. He has not been in touch now for 2.days. i am wondering now if this is a scam and he has now moved onto his next victim. Does this sound familiar
CB
November 29, 2020

In reply to by Debs

I have been talking to a "James" for about 6 weeks. On oil rig. Family died in house fire. Very handsome. From Portugal, moved to Texas 20 years ago. Met him on Tinder. Professes his love for me and longs to have a life with me. Says all the right things. Sends poetry. Links to songs. I have felt from beginning it is a scam and have been talking to him to see where it goes. Has asked for money a few times. First wanted to set up "virtual wallet" for us to buy a house together. I did not send anything. Now asking for me to pay for and receive a "package" of expensive items. Again. I have sent nothing. Some of his pics are photo shipped and others have different names. For me he goes by James Leo Gustav or Leo James Gustav.
Yoly
February 05, 2021

In reply to by CB

This same guy has been texting me on WhatsApp ! I figured it was too good to be true did he tell you he has a daughter too ? Lol he told me he was financially secure and yes he has sent me pictures and videos ! I’m glad I researched this thank you!
Tami
February 07, 2021

In reply to by Debs

I’m talking to this guy but his name is Mark from Italy but working on an oil rig in Belgium. He fell in love with his soulmate (me) immediately. Started asking about money on the 3rd day. I googled & found your story. Exact same guy. I reported him to the FTC.
Checkin it out…
April 28, 2021

In reply to by Debs

This does sound familar only he sends me roses in the morning and beautiful poems has a son in boarding school in the Uk..hes engineer on an oil rig cant get to his accounts no phone allowed on the rigs says he lives in California wife died 7 yrs.ago gray short hair blue eyes said he was born In Italy...never answer direct questions about himself cant find him anywhere even paid a sight to search fro him and nothing..has to go by another name...sad part is I fell hard for him but am very wise now...shame on them!!!
mar
August 02, 2021

In reply to by Checkin it out…

Something similar happened to me, he is Italian 55 years old, a 13 year old daughter who lives with the nanny while he works, he sends me poetry, songs, he calls me sometimes twice a day it takes more than an hour talking! I was really enthusiastic, however he asked me for money because he had to fix an equipment that had been damaged, I answered him how I could do it, he kept calling me, then he asked me for 45,000 dollars to pay taxes in Turkey and he would return the money, neither did I and he kept talking to me, he tried to send a check which he denied me, and he still keeps looking for me. I do not understand, I do not give him a weight and he keeps calling me, saying that he will be home soon and that he will not let me go, he told me a few weeks ago you are so different !! I do not know what he's talking about. Yesterday for the first time I did not answer him and he has been insisting. We interchange some pictures I could not find anything even paying. So I've decided to stop talking to him. Fortunately I never sent him money, I told him if I didn't make a video call I couldn't talk to him again! Do you hav eany pictures probably is the same person but he used diferent name!!
Victim of scam
August 27, 2021

In reply to by Checkin it out…

Same story here. Good looking kind and charming man on the photo. Blue Eyed. Age 56...but lookes younger.
Tugs
January 21, 2021

In reply to by kitty

If your meeting men on line and they ask you for a penny you should run. Not just for the fact that they are scamers, but who wants to get involved with a man who has nothing. Once the subject of money comes up RUN and don't look back.
Queen Bee
March 18, 2021

In reply to by kitty

Do you have pic or name I think am bro g scam by a oil rig worker as well
Leny
July 08, 2021

In reply to by kitty

I also have been scamed by the similar man. Please, can someone send me a picture? I have talked with him almost an year by hangauts.
ahmedelsayed
January 03, 2021

In reply to by Ms.Piggy

military woman pictures, named as Sheryl Steele, I gave her my direct phone number , and she disappeared for half a day, came back to ask about my address.. I talked to her or so one time, I refused to give her my address. I do not know if she is true or fake
JennyL
February 03, 2021

In reply to by ahmedelsayed

I think its a scam. A normal woman will not ask your address.
Mary714*
February 22, 2021

In reply to by NoFool

I think I was scammed by the same man, came of facebook, got me on googlehangouts, then went off my facebook saying that some woman is bugging him and did it for us. Sent me pictures with his daughter, handsome, six footer, mexican, within one week he was madly in love with me saying that he has never loved anyone as much as me and wantin to marry me, saying he is a sgt in the military. I got wise to him and told him that I suspect he is scamming me, and he went on sweet talking me, trying to convince me that he was not. This was after abt a month, and I had falled for his sweet talk and the love and concern which I now know was fake. At the end he told me he had to go on a dangerous mission, where he was stationed in Aleppo, Syria, and said that the terrorists there are the Taliban, lol, when the Talibans are in Afghanistan. His grammer was bad, but there were other times the english was perfect. All these made me suspicious. He said he was leading this mission and was missing for 3 days, then came back and said that they captured the enemy and found gold bars, dollars etc. and later wanted to send me the box with gold bars and some 300,000 dollars and for me to keep his daughter, by the way he said that his wife died from a car accident and he only has his daughter. As soon as he said that he wanted to send me the box I knew and I told him NO and later blocked him before he could say anymore. These scammers think that all women are stupid. It is they who are stupid to under estimate women.
Losthope13
April 06, 2021

In reply to by Mary714*

Omg. Same story but he had twins And was in Yemen. I knew it was a fake he called in WhatsApp. He sent multiple pictures but his voice you knew something was wrong. I blocked him .
scared
January 09, 2022

In reply to by Mary714*

Mary, my guy used that same term "other women are bugging me"... Do you have a picture?
Ann
May 30, 2020

In reply to by almost taken

I think this James might be the same one from Sweden Contact me and romancing quickly. Civil engineer Working in Istanbul. Sudden emergencyCan we exchange pictures? How to do that ?
Lee2020
June 15, 2020

In reply to by Ann

Im probably taalking to the same guy, james from sweden now living in houston, tx. Antiqities dealer for muzeums. Took care of his mom b4 she died, wanted to trade pictures, had feelings for me after two days. Called me tonight, sound Nigerian but certainly not Swedish.
Jerry Carl
September 04, 2020

In reply to by Lee2020

My persons name is Jerry Carl. Antique dealer, museums, clocks, living in Houston texas comes from Malta
Thought it was…
October 29, 2020

In reply to by Jerry Carl

Omg! The guy I'm talking to is from Malta. Lives in Dallas. Is ready to retire soon. Says he is a pilot. But now he's in Israel and needs money. Ugh!
Momto3
March 24, 2021

In reply to by Jerry Carl

Hello! I have a friend that I think is taking to this guy. Did he give you stories about being in Israel and trying to get back to the states but he got in a car wreck and is In the hospital
Jerry Carl
September 05, 2020

In reply to by Lee2020

I might be talking to him now. Comes from Malta. Antique dealer. Wants to come to my house. Loves me and wants to marry. Lives in Houston TX .
Sally
September 28, 2020

In reply to by Jerry Carl

I’m talking to the same guy, Jerry Carl Siebold, Antique dealer in Houston, from Malta, now in Las Vegas To get a contract related to clocks. Wants to marry and And show me the world. Tried to call on Hangouts twice, but always something wrong with his phone for the video. Deep accent. Several different pictures on Facebook with this same name.
Sally
October 01, 2020

In reply to by Jerry Carl

Is he still calling you? Calling me too. On hangouts. Same story.
Diana
March 26, 2021

In reply to by Jerry Carl

I think he is the same person I am talking to he calls himself billy fred reckons he is 62 grey beard wish I could put up a photo
Beachnut
June 17, 2020

In reply to by Ann

I’m currently communicating with a man named James Maxwell who is from Sweden and on an oil rig in the golf of Alabama. Says his assignment ends July 3. Has an asked me for money yet but is laying it on thick with how he feels and professing his love for me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me once he gets off the oil rig. I’d love to share pictures but I’m not sure how to do it on the site. Have you figured out?
Elsa
March 21, 2021

In reply to by Beachnut

We have same experience, he said he wants to marry me when he gets off the rig and he's really convincing. But then he asked money to help him get off the rig since now his life on rig is in great danger.
E.Hall
June 14, 2021

In reply to by Beachnut

This is the Maxwell I was to marry June 4th, but he was in a car crash that killed a priest and now he’s fighting his life. He’s British and is inLogos Nigeria. Stays in Madison Height Michigan.
lizzy_xj
August 29, 2020

In reply to by Ann

I’ ve met the same guy named James Molony from Ireland or Sweden on Facebook. He said his mother is Swedish, father Irish. Also claimed to be an engineer in Iran. But he asked for money for he had to pay for the oil construction haff-way.
Don'tSend$$$
September 01, 2020

In reply to by lizzy_xj

I have had exact same story except calling himself James Malone. It’s a scam. Do not send money. Block him
JMF been scammed
January 05, 2021

In reply to by lizzy_xj

So I’ve been talking to Brian Molony who says he has Swedish mother and Irish father who is a financial analyst and golf course designer. Both parents died of Covid and no friends. Professes his love within a day and started talking about my 401k on 4th day. I knew he was a scammer from some pics he sent. His accent was not Swedish or Irish. He sounds middle eastern. Ughh.. these scammers
Danielle
November 07, 2020

In reply to by Ann

Ann - mine may have picked up where yours left off. Started first week of June on Match. Claims to be Danish and American citizen with Danish accent but wouldn’t speak Danish. Very convincing, soft spoken, handsome, clever, sincere, and pretends to be Christian. Daughter age 19 in college in Charlottesville, VA. Wife deceased five years ago with cancer. Civil engineer with job in Istanbul. He provided a 6 page contract with a hospital there. Was in Turkey last week with the earthquake. This started with him allegedly in Delaware but I don’t believe he was ever in the states. I found an almost identical profile of him on Match and inquired. The head of their fraud unit was impressed with how sophisticated this one is but she did find a match on one of his pics I hadn’t checked that linked him to a Russian dating site under a different name. Goes by the name of John Hedrick and Damian Berkins. Total scam, full of lies and asking for money. Deserves to see the inside of a Turkish prison. I’m not finished with him yet.
Jane
January 03, 2021

In reply to by Ann

Ann I have someone very similar I am talking to. Can you tell me more like about his family? Where does he reside normally? How long has he been in Sweden? What formum do you talk to him on? Are you still in touch with him
Shayenne
June 25, 2021

In reply to by Ann

Lol, the same guy told me is Jeffrey M. Alex and commander in Afghanistan and he had a lot of money but he need money to come out there. I started doubt immediately but I played with for fun. I have to say he is really charming and I never met a man so respectfull. Sad that he is a scammer. I am sure he made money with this skills. I sent nothing, have not blocked yet. I want to see what he will do and say now. Women are feeling good as of such charming men....but we are not stupid. He wanted to send me money, too. I will send him nothing :)
Ginger
August 01, 2020

In reply to by almost taken

I'm talking to an architect named James. Lives in AZ. In Cyprus to build a Hospital. Says he's German. Has a daughter. Divorced.
Cyn
August 26, 2020

In reply to by Ginger

Told me the same, have been talking with him for 6 weeks. He said he needs $800 to get his software. LOL Did he tell his ex-wife took him for a bunch of money as well ?? I told him there was a site about him this morning, and he said and you believe that about me? … smh….
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