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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.

Cautious4sure
May 07, 2018
Is there a website or a social media page where we could actually post pictures of these people and give descriptions of what they have done and or are trying to do?
sue
June 07, 2018

i have a list of scam names: Donald Coleman, DAVI ANDRE 111, MARK ADRIAN, TONI BENITO, MARK WILLIAMS, BILLY GABRIELLE, GENERAL MARK A MILLEY 35 OF THEM,CALLUM GEORGE CHAMBERS, BILLY CHARLES, STEVEN WALKER, ANDERSON BENEDICT, ALL THREE SAME PIC.,TOMMY LOVING,TOMMY WAYNE SAME TWO PEOPLE, JAMES MCCONVILLE, JOHN DARLINGTON, TOM MCFADDEN,MICHAEL BAKER MICHAELBAKER20190 @ GMAIL.COM

learod
May 08, 2018
I was contacted on the dating site Match.com by a woman saying she showed the website to a friend and liked my profile. She provided me with his name and email address. I contacted this person and replied with pictures and personal information. He claimed to be german living in Seattle Washington for the last 14 months. He was a civil engineer and was divorced with a daughter. We exchanged phone numbers and he would write emails, texts and called every day. We were supposed to meet on April 4th but he told me a few days before he got signed on a multimillion construction contract in South Africa. When he got in south Africa, he claimed he lost his luggage with all his electronics. He started demanding me to go buy those electronics and send them to him by Fedex or UPS because he needed them for his job. I told him I didn’t have money or credit card to do that. He keeps calling me and texting me but I haven’t answer.
aggie1962
May 08, 2018
Has anyone been contacted by a man on Instagram named Mark James who has a son named Kelvin is from Australia ? Was asked to move over to hangouts thrn finally the money question came up for $ 15,500 for faulty equipment he works on a rig as a contractor ...
Jane
May 08, 2018
Anyone heard of George mendez who is a contractor with shell oil? My coworker is talking to a guy she met on a dating site and we are trying to prove it’s a scam.
Deborah68
May 16, 2018

In reply to by Jane

Hi Jane, I have been talking to a guy, Bernard Lowery, who also claims to be a contractor with Shell Oil and was working in Gulf of Mexico now in China. I am not sure if it is the same man. Be careful he becomes very mean when you don't send money.
Got Caught bad
May 08, 2018
I'm actually in the middle of this terrible experience...two months ago, I was pm'd on FB messenger by a man called Ray Charles. He talked in a romantic manner, but it wasn't long before he started asking for itunes or Amazon cards to help him get home to NJ...he caught me in a very needy time of my life...and i started sending cards at great risk...he was hungry as he said he was saving most of the money for his trip home. I admit that I fell for him very deeply...so I was on an emotional roller-coaster...It got worse...for, today I wired him a larger amount from the bank...I am completely shattered, because I truly believed he loved me and promised to come and see me and pay back everything I sent...I've never cried so much in my life!!! My heart is broken...ladies, beware!!!!
sally stock
May 09, 2018
Has anyone heard of an Akar Brice art or art Brice Akar. Or just Brice Akar. Says he's a German living in California. Says he's 48, widowed with a daughter that lives with him. And a son who lives in Africa with his grandparents. Engineer
Annoyed2018
May 09, 2018
I got matched with someone using Bumble the dating app in Australia called 'Michael Robinson'. He was supposedly in the US military, widowed with an 8 yo daughter. Originally from Texas but moved to NY for work. We were talking for two days (A lot!) and he then asked me for an itunes card to be able to Skype. I started to get suspicious and thankfully googled if that was normal. I have blocked and reported him everywhere but he is still finding ways to get to me. I have had multiple friend requests from him on FB and today I received an email to my work. Does anyone have much experience with contact after? Will it continue for much longer? I assumed he would have lost interest by now! :(
Jk
May 10, 2018
Ladies beware of a man named Paul Cazorla. Claim claims he is a geologist from Texas and Virginia but had to leave to Nova Scotia to work there for a month. Then he told me he was going to have to go to Poland and turkey to work for 9 weeks but then he was going to come back to Texas to see me. We met on a dating site and immediately he went off the site took his profile off and wanted to text. We texted for 3 months and I completely fell in love with his sweetness and charm. He said he had a son that lived in Texas and a daughter-in-law and that he moved to Texas from Virginia because his wife died in a car accident 6 years ago and he was widowed. He never answered my questions but would always go around them. He was very attentive to me and always told me that I was beautiful and that my eyes just shined. We got along very well and seem to want the same things as both of us were widowed. When his profile was on the dating site his picture was of a young age unknowingly to me later on Sant another young picture with a group of kids he was supposed to be teaching them as interns for geologist. Then I asked him for another picture and this time the picture was of an older man about in his 70s. The day that he was too fly to Poland he told me that we would always be able to communicate from there. 3 days went by and I did not hear from him I was worried that something had happened to him. It has been a week now and I still have not heard from him I feel he has completely abandon me and betrayed me. I feel like a fool for loving a man like this and have been heartbroken and crying a lot because I truly was in love with him., a man that I had never seen before in person. How stupid can I really be? I was lonely after 7 years of being widowed and not having any other relationships or many friends and I just fell for it Head Over Heels. Ladies please if this man gets in touch with you please don't be fooled as I was. I miss him terribly that I wasted 3 months of my time and everything in my life went to pot during those three months because I spent so much time with us texting back and forth. He said he was originally from from Europe and that he was part Spanish and part Italian on his father's side. He also said that he had no other relatives now other than his son and daughter-in-law. These things that he said really took me in and I told him that he could be part of my family now. Stupid stupid stupid me. I have gone off the dating site and will never get on it again. It is full of scammers and it just seems like it is getting worse all the time. He had never asked for money but I should have known from the beginning that he was a scammer because I talked to him on the phone when we first met and his accent was so thick I could barely understand most of what he said. Ladies beware.
VangieC
May 10, 2018
Bridget Small...why can't we post pictures of the scammers so we will know who we are talking about?
ILF05
May 10, 2018
I believe I’m talking with 2 scammers. 1. Leonard Eckley Rodriguez....an a NY designer currently in Cyprus, of course stuck there after his locally hired workers were hurt and he was found to be responsible for their accident. Claims to have millions of dollars in multiple back accounts but they are all frozen. I paid his bail $4000, now asking for more money...I said absolutely not...now asking me to open up a bank account...he had professed his love for me quickly....met his on OnCuoid.... He claims he is being investigated by the FBI because he took a large amt. of cash overseas. He claims to be from South America, Colombia, but does not speak any Spanish....wife of course has passed, no family, had British accent? He had a cell phone with a Texas area code....
Żaba
May 10, 2018
YES, I have it, Gary Wil Williams. he asked me for money. We're talking on the Wats app. She broke off the knowledge and blocked it.
dlsl
May 10, 2018
Scammer: Marcus Winstow, 716-989-5484, for itunes cards via pof. found model under leo0leo on insta. ugh. despicable
carlos
May 10, 2018
Hi everyone I have a guy asking me some money he said he wants to work in Dubai . He is from Afeghanistam and needs money in his account to get a stamp to be able to travel ... 2000 US dolars . Very handsome photos from istagram ... some in the gym some with nice clothes and places ??
Lovestruck25
May 13, 2018

In reply to by carlos

Hi Carlos, I met a guy on Linkedin, but he claimed to be a businessman. He sent me photos of him with nuce clothes but one thing common is some looked like taken from the gym. He asked me to assist him with 2000 tp 3000USD to save his multi million contract in the UK
Natascha Don't…
June 13, 2019

In reply to by carlos

Yes! Think its the same scammer on IG he is frankmark54 it is a very handsome guy. The scammer says he is in Dubai for work has a son named Scott! I can not find the real guy to warn him
feelingbetraye…
May 10, 2018
My scammer sent me a friend request on Facebook. I accepted because we were the same religion. He immediately started texting me and told me he knew it was a sign from God and that he wanted to marry me. I thought he was crazy. He told me that I was the first woman he had talked to since his wife died in a car accident 12 years ago. He also said he had a a daughter who stayed with his mom. He immediately started telling me how much he loved me and he couldn't live with out me. He wanted to come visit me in the U. S. He said he withdrew $2000 from his savings and eventually asked me for $500. He said to come to the U. S. would cost $5500. I fell for him very hard and did eventually give him $500 which he promised to pay back but never did. He kept asking for more money which I didn't have to give him. He was on face book as Eric Dan but since has changed his profile and name. He told me his name is Daniel Odogbo which is probably a lie. He says he is 60 years old which is a lie as well. He has told me that he lives in Nigeria. I hope that no good slime balls like him and his buddies get caught and get a taste of their own medicine. It's a shame for them to take advantage of innocent women. This scammer had me wire money through Western Union to a fake agency by the name of Innocent Reuben. There were a lot of red flags that I saw but ignored because I trusted him and I had started to fall in love with him. What goes around comes around so I will be glad when he reaps what he is sowing. I wish I knew then what I know now. Lesson learned.
FTC Staff
May 11, 2018

In reply to by feelingbetraye…

You can report the wire transfer to the Western UnionFraud Hotline at 800-448-1492.

Sunny
May 23, 2018
David. mazagatti@ gmail.com contacted me on POF and apparently has contacted all the people listed here
Gen
May 30, 2018

In reply to by Sunny

Hi Sunny - I too was contacted by “David” I’ve only sent one email to him but his two replies seemed odd to me and I googled the email address and found your helpful snippet. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.
J9
September 01, 2018

In reply to by Sunny

Wow...this is very helpful. David has been contacting me and ohhh yea has put on the charm in emails. Why do people do this. Like I'm that dumb to send money to someone. Thanks for the warning!!!
nowbroken
May 11, 2018
I did a bit of detective work. The man I had been talking to had one of his friends contact me too. I think he thought that would make me more likely to send some money (I sent none). Soon afterwards, I noticed on messenger that his friend's name and photo had changed. So I snooped around a bit at some of his other "friends". They all had written "It's complicated" for their relationship status. They all had more than one FB account, with slight changes to their names and sometimes with all new pictures. Their pictures never showed any family. Just a pic or two of themselves, and one of some scenery, a city, or something similar. They had all blocked you from seeing their friend list, unless you were on it yourself. They were all Engineers or Self Employed. Most of them had European-sounding names, were white, and middle-aged. Under the groups and things they were interested in, they had all listed almost the same things -- including a restaurant or two and a television station out of Malaysia. Which is where "my man's" emails originate from. Either these names and photos were all stolen by some Yahoo boys, or we have a ring of white middle-aged european guys running around carrying out scams also. All I know is that "my guy" did not sound like he was born in Ukraine and raised in the U.K.
Shortstuff
May 11, 2018
Has anyone been talking with a man that says his name is “Jerry Lee Bell” from New York, New York?
JANNA2000
May 11, 2018
ANYONE COME ACROSS A GUY WITH AN ACCENT, SAYS HE IS FROM UNITED KINGDOM, NOW IN US. SAYS HE IS A MINING CONSULTANT. ASKED FOR 3,000.00 I LAUGHED AT HIM, AND SEND HIM 200.00 TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. SAYS HE IS REPAYING THROUGH A CHECK SENT BY ONE OF HIS INVESTORS. HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT YET. IMAGINE THAT.
Mia
August 02, 2020

In reply to by JANNA2000

I knew a guy from FB, his name is Mark Donald with an accent from Poland... He has a son Philip 6 yo and he has been widowed for 2 years now... He said he is Drilling Contractor now lives in London... He sent me pictures, he is very handsome guy though he said his age is 52 yo... On second day chatting, he already said that he loves me... He has not ask for money yet, he is in real estate as well, have several property in several countries... I said to him I have nothing to offer accept my heart and peaceful life.... He also asked whether I have savings... I told him my savings are gone caused cheated by my friends which are the truth... Then I said if my heart is not enough for him, then he better rethink about our relationship... Haven’t hear from him since... Wish could post his picture here to check whether he is the same guy....
Some can be so…
May 12, 2018
Someone mentioned about them working in groups, and I think that’s not far off the mark. I’ve recently been playing words 2 and within days, was approached by 4 men more interested in chatting than playing the game. One was a military dr stationed in the Ukraine that had to keep going offline to “safe soliders lives”. Another is waiting for an oil contract to come thru in Scotland, a widow with a teenage daughter. Another , ex military, had a private security firm. The last tho, an absolute classic, was none other than, John.D.Johnson. All wanted to talk in some app that I’ve now deleted... I did talk to two. Stupidily gave my number to 1. Blocked just before he made his first call. Still managed to get a txt thru tho. Both had either Latino accents or maybe Filipino? Also blocked on words 2. They have suddenly deleted their accounts. Thank god it never got as far as them asking fir money. Never thought of my myself as gullible or lonely but I am not so smug anymore.
JANNA2000
May 12, 2018
Has anyone encountered a man named Dennis Morrison supposedly in the mining industry?
askingforafriend
November 05, 2018

In reply to by JANNA2000

is this person somehow stuck in Qatar? A mining deal gone bad? Also might be going by the name Freddie.
Mandy B, UK
June 05, 2019

In reply to by JANNA2000

Yes I have, he contacted me recently via my website pretending to be interested in purchasing some of my art. Had a few emails back and forth, sent him a list of art with prices and never heard back. I knew something wasn't right.
Honesty
May 12, 2018
It's true there are scammers out there. They are like leeches. I condemn any act of fraud. It kills me know that i don't stand a chance of meeting potential dates due to mistrust associated with online dating. I'm an African and would seriously love to meet someone and start a relationship. I don't have to lie about it but am usually locked out of dating sites because of my location.
Carol80
May 13, 2018
Anyone dealt with the name Harrison Lucas? Oil rig engineer in Nigeria. All the same things I hv read over & over.
Lovestruck25
May 13, 2018
Hi, has anyone of you encountered a man names Thomas Stian? He connected with me on Linkedin and presented himself as a Senior Independent Contractor, supplying crude oil. He said is from Oslo Norway but moved to Houston USA because of his job. On the first week of chatting on whatsapp he shared to me the news that he got an international contract in the UK. He even sent his photo while at the airplane. After arriving in the UK and started dealing with his clients, he said that his oil supplier from China had increased the price of oil and he needs about 20,000 USD to save his contract. I said I dont have that money, now he is persistent that if I can lend him at least 2k as he is borrowing money from some other friends. I found out 2. Days ago thet his Linkedin profile is gone but did not tell him this. I am still in communication with him and hoping that he is not fake or a scammer. But after reading the posts here, made me realize I am most likely dealing with a scammer. I have never chatted to a stranger before and this giy is such a saeet talker and I fell for him. Good thing I have not sent him money yet. I have received a lot of photose from him, he is handsome and well built. If anyone of you encountered the same guy, could you please share your experience with me. I needed more courage to end this craziness and save me from sending money to this guy.
Lovestruck25
May 13, 2018
This guy I connected on Linkedin immediately asked me to chat on whatsapp. He has been sending me voice notes, love messages. Very consistent, I have fallen for him. He seems very real, but when he started asking me for money. I was heartbroken :( Please anyone of you got contacted by a guy named Thomas Stian, claiming to be a Senior Independent Contractor, supplying crude oil and currently based in Houston Texas
Whoareyou
March 17, 2020

In reply to by Lovestruck25

Hmm Ive been chatting with a guy, met on Tinder, says his name is Thomas Lynn Sparks, lives in Montreal Canada, says from states, his phone number is from Texas. Is a geologist and consultant and was flying to Halifax Canada to be on a rig for a contract. Calls me , sends messages via whattsapp, Originally from Turkey both parents have passed , 13 year old daughter. Very charming, sent pictures and looks like soccer player Zafer Calpbinici... surprise. Has asked for money, didn't get any then a Steam Card. he first asked me to go inot his accoint ot pay a doctor for a surgery he had on his hand, showed me pictures, got in his account , did the transfer and it looked like the pictures somewhat, and the bank flagged his account for concerns and now hes locked out. Not hes legit but sounds familiar. I just am struggling with the fact I was in his account and it is a legit bank. Now hes stuck on a rig in Halifax unable to get into his account . Could this be the same guy?
Me too
July 03, 2020

In reply to by Whoareyou

Thomas Lynn Sparks is texting me now. We connected on Tinder. He told me he lives in Indianapolis, IN and has a phone number to match. The rest of the story is the same. From Turkey, 13 yr old daughter, is a Geologist Consultant. He hasn’t asked for money yet. He had called me twice. What was your outcome?
Me three
August 08, 2020

In reply to by Me too

Thomas Lynn Sparks met on Tinder. Sends pics went off tinder to WhatsApp obviously the guy is good at what he does!! Same story as above. He even sent me a copy of his license. What a f scammer. Beware of him! He is smooth. I did not send money but I’m sure the request was coming!!!
Me three
August 13, 2020

In reply to by Me too

I met Thomas Lynn Sparks on tinder. Moved to WhatsApp. Same story as above geologist moved from Turkey teenage daughter parents deceased etc etc. He is very romantic n poetic. Charming etc. He has not asked for money yet. He Recently got a job off the coast of Halifax? Beware ladies he is good at what he does!!
Me three
August 13, 2020

In reply to by Me too

Met a Thomas Lynn Sparks on tinder. Moved From tinder to WhatsApp. He uses photos as his own from the famous soccer player from Turkey. Same story ..geologist ..parents deceased ..moved from turkey ..teenage daughter etc. He is super poetic and romantic. I spoke to him on the phone more than once. I asked him for a FaceTime call and he always had an excuse. Surprise he ain’t the same man as he portrays in the photos. Ladies beware. He did not ask for money, yet, but I’m sure it was coming!!!!!!
Happy3@home 0
March 13, 2021

In reply to by Me three

Exact same story, he is Evil stay away, I can't believe he can get by with this
Me three
August 13, 2020

In reply to by Whoareyou

Met him on tinder same name. Same story. Very romantic poetic. Has not asked for money in the two months since talking. Very convincing. Beware he is good at what he does!
Bera
May 13, 2018
Watch out for Benjamin Scotty or Lawrence Benjamin Scotty. Same stuff, different name.
msmichaele
May 13, 2018
If these women and men are in army,air force, navy marines national guard etc why can't all chat,and dating sites ask them to prove they're what they say they are if Facebook can block someone for posting something they don't like them ask them to prove it
Beanbag1
May 14, 2018
I have been with this guy for a year goes by Derek Raymond says he's in Texas he started asking for itunes cards now says im the love of his life always and forever
Conflicted
May 14, 2018
I’m communicating with a so called Reuben April Miller from Cherry Hill, NJ. Wife Rebecca died of a tragic car accident. They have a 13 year old son named Jeffery who’s in boarding school in Washington. He said he’s a General in the army who’s about to retire this coming June, 2018. I think he has accomplices. He had a certain Maj. Smith from Nebraska as his friend and a cousin Mary Dover that lives in NY. Same storyline. Invokes God so you could fall for him and trust him. Showed his bank account details which have millions but ask to wire 72k to help pay workers in Ukraine. Gave his contractor as his point of person for wire transfer by the name of Timothy Kolka who has a record. Then ask to wite it instead to Lord Enterprise LLC. Beware. Let’s stop these scammers! I have pictures to share.
Dogtrainer
May 14, 2018
Has anyone heard of David Lane. Uses Walmart 2 Walmart
emwolb@13
May 14, 2018
Need some help, my mom is being scammed, she will not believe me nor my sister. She is visiting us for a few days out of state. Our guys name is Seth Petters, oil rig in Texas lives in NY. Anyone heard of him??