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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.

Search Terms
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military
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Topics
Shopping and Donating
Scams
Romance Scams

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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.

yogi
July 27, 2019

In reply to by Star99

Send photo. Sounds familiar to me also. I can send you the photo I have.
Wide Eyed and …
April 11, 2020

In reply to by Don't use flor…

He is a scammer. I read your comment and it helped me so much. He came on to me on a dating site called Mingle2 and goes under the name of Christo090 63 Dallas. He is not from Dallas and told me he is on an oil rig and his house is in San Antonio. Another Lie. He said he has a 14 year old daughter and some woman is looking after her. He said his wife died 6 years ago and he is ready to date again. His phone number is for a text number only..210 541 2549.... He uses a lot of copied text when he answers in long long text. One can tell he is not writing the long text because he isn't nearly as intelligent as he wants you to believe. He said he is a Petroleum/Chemical Engineer. Please be careful with this one for he is quite smooth.
Tlg72
June 20, 2019
Has anyone ever heard of a Steven Knudsen? He claims to be the head mechanical engineer on a cargo ship, has a fabulous income, a wife who died several years ago and a daughter in boarding school. He said he was originally from Norway, but moved here when he was nineteen. I met him on Boggle, progressed to Hangouts, and after just a week he's professing his undying love for me and that I'm the one. Then today, you guessed it. His daughter has an excursion, and his bank account was locked up. All of my suspicions (that I had tried to push away) came rushing forward. Not only that, but his English, while generally impeccable, is sometimes not as good, almost as if other people are writing it. Not only that, but he won't answer any personal questions...he always has something urgent to attend to if I try to find out more about him. Nothing too personal, just the types of things you should know from someone who professes to love you, lol. I am horrified that I fell for this even in the slightest, although I am very glad that I didn't send him money. I did do a reverse Google search on his photos and email address, and didn't find anything, so a small part of me hopes that he's for real. I'm about ready to block him forever though, and to never, ever chat with a random stranger!
Rubycano
June 20, 2019
I was contacted by a man on FB xmclaing to be General Scott Miller stationed in Afghanistan now we started off ok but then ina week or two he said he wanted to send me his peacekeeping funds but I had to pay for processing fee. I've done sent 1200 already but they asked for more some company in Ghana. Now he claims he loves me an to prove it he said hes sending his peacekeeping funds but I gotta pay for the company I. Ghana to deliver it to me...am I being scammed
Nobody fool
June 21, 2019
How can I find out a solider in the army a scammer on face book
Verity87
June 21, 2019
Please help me theres someone who follow me on IG and he wants us to chat in hangouts only,,, i wonder why he wants me to be his beneficiary and received his compensation funds, he want me to call the bank for the funds,,, but we've never met ,,he said his funds is 200,000$,,we never had a video call,, i never chat him now because im scared...
Ramirez-2019
June 25, 2019

In reply to by Verity87

If your gut is telling you, this is weird! then it's a scam. Run away! they are not on the Rig for all of their lives. They'll come home soon enough.
rob5000
June 21, 2019
The answer is real simple ! " DON'T TRUST ANYONE ON THE INTERNET"
susan567
June 21, 2019
Does anyone know someone claiming to be Michael Joseph. He says he is a Doctor in iraq. He asked me if i could help him with a electronically locked consignment which would contain a lot of money inside. He wanted it delivered to my address in the UK. He told me he had no-one else that could help him. I told him that i couldnt help. I knew that it was a scam. The story he told just sounded too far fetched. I was dead adamant i wasnt helping him. I had to change my email address as he kept sending me messages and blocked him on hangouts. I have learnt from this experience. I will meet someone in the UK. My advice to anyone is talk to the person on the dating site and once you have got to know them better then give them your phone number. Think about your safety.
carcar
June 21, 2019
I just got scammed for $10,000 by a man pnamed Christopher Kogiri (James on his profile) on BBPeopleMeet.com He has a Polish accent and says he’s 63. He said he’s a construction engineer who was working on a bridge in Hilo Hawaii. He claims to live in Houston Texas. He said a series of accidents on work site, of his workers and himself caused him to go over what he expected job would cost. Then he said he got sick and had to pay hospital bills before he could come home. This man is smooth. He called everyday and texted me several times a day. I still can’t believe a person can be that good of an actor. I can see in text but daily long phone calls over an 8 week period. He claimed he broke his phone camera so couldn’t take pictures. I can’t believe I fell for him and his scam
Buckaroo
June 21, 2019
I had a scammer recently. She had me just a little confused because she wanted a video chat right away, but she displayed all the other classic signs of a scammer. She professed love within 24 hours, moved the discussion to Hangouts, and then wanted to meet but she would not let me make arrangements for travel. She wanted me to send money in the form of cards to her and she would arrange it. At that point, I started to balk. Then a few days later, she asked for money again for “female products” and other things because she was broke. Of course, all the time she was online. I could see her on Messenger without her knowing and she was lurking on Hangouts. I played along for a little while and then got tired of it. I finally blocked her on all accounts. She went to my spam filter to leave hopefully a last message that said I was dishonest and God would reward me. That’s rich.
Ksks
June 21, 2019
I'm being scammed by a GUY name Jack leewoods. Dose anyone know him. I send $$$$ too him says he come here but never dose.
Don't use your…
June 21, 2019
Beware, SteveBobby born in Germany. Lost his parents at early age. Raised by family friend, working on Atlantis oil rig,a chemical engineer,found me on Words with Friends. He sent me pics if himself and his daughter 13 and in boarding school in Georgia. After 2 days of him soft soaping me and trying to have a relationship with me, he tells me he needs things from Wal-Mart. Forget theitems he needs 5 $100 gift cards for his daughter. Of course this engineer is making well over $100K but stuck on board for 3 months at a time. Ladies i don't lend money,but he was very smooth and convincing about wanting to find a LOVE interest, marriage, kids. He was almost too perfect. Word games players beware. Don't give him any info, esp where you live.
Scammers go to…
June 21, 2019
My daughter in law who is physcially sick was scammed out of 5000.00 by a man named Ben Richards, calling from Oregon supposedly and working for Dell Computers supposedly. Unfortunately the monies weren't taken from her checking account but rather this man BEN talked her into getting two gift cards from TARGET. So beware they are now using gift cards from TARGET, Dollar Tree and Walgreens. So very sad and there is nothing she can do because these funds were provided by gift cards. Shame on people that prefer to cheat their way through life versus working their way through it. Taking 5,000.00 is a FELONY and I just hope this man rots in jail or prison, no matter his life circumstances. And as a reminder KARMA knows no address and it is everywhere!!
MintzKnowsAll
June 22, 2019
Hi I have had people on a letter writing app pestering me! Grey Reymond, Matt Benson, Mark Wash, any of those names ring a bell? The first two claim to be military. I've not sent any money to any of them. I used a fake address for myself in contact, and fake date of birth to see if they'll go for it. Some of their pics don't come up when I've used Tineye. Dunno what that means. I'm married, I only wanted to make friends with a few new people! I don't even want another bloke. For pity's sake.
izzy
June 22, 2019
Anyone knows about jason chan?oil engineer in uk?anyone familiar with that name please share story.
Sunflowers16
September 27, 2019

In reply to by izzy

Is he widowed, lost wife to cancer & did he say he lost his only son in a car accident? Does he say he’s a supervisor as well on an oil rig...
Angel
September 24, 2020

In reply to by Sunflowers16

I met this guy called Jason Chan. He claimed he is an oil engineer from Melbourne. Lost his wife and child in a car accident. Are we talking about the same person?
Angel
September 23, 2020

In reply to by izzy

I just met this guy called Jason Chan who claimed he’s from Australia. He said lost his wife and only son in a car accident. And his parents died too.
Luna
June 22, 2019
Similar situation only from dating site - Zoosk.. ‘Anthony Curtis’ said he was a petroleum engineer on a rig on the Gulf of Mexico. Wife died 3 yrs ago, 6 yr old boy in catholic boarding school. Stopped texting him and blocked his number after he asked for $$ for getting an emergency vacation request to see me. Did a reverse search on one of the pictures he’d sent...found out who it really was and told him his pictures were being used for scamming. The real person is a relationship coach, marriage counselor, and dating expert....
Yellowducky
June 22, 2019
On Instagram, a guy claiming to be Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp. Wants money. Told him to take a walk. Be vigilant.
Helpme
June 22, 2019
Wilson Potter familiar to anyone?
Jmtref
June 22, 2019
Dr wants travel money sent to NC TD bank to be sent to him in Syria for passage to Istanbul for medical treatment, After treatment he will get his funds to fly to London to get son and fly to Fl.
Mybad99
June 23, 2019
I have experiened one as well going by Patrick James this person is a doctor on a UN contract in Yemen. He has a son who is sick in China and he needed help to pay his son hospital bills. He sent me pictures of his sick son and confessed his love for me numerous times. He sounded so genuine and then starting asking me to help him send money to china to help with his sons medical bills and that his son is about to die. He said he was a man of God and I really believed him. I did not send any money.
Not fooled
June 23, 2019
Do not under any circumstances fall for this crap. These guys are all over instagram now. Surgeon photos are easy to steal because they mask the face. This guy sr walker wilson tried to tell me he’s Brazilian but I know lots of Brazilians and that name isn’t from there. Also said he lived in Huntington Beach not knowing I’m from there!! What an idiot.
justMe
June 23, 2019
Got Facebook invites from Lieutenant General Frederick Benjamin Hodges and Lieutenant General James Terry both fakes what a waste
Tboss
June 23, 2019
Has anyone talked to a Marine drill instructor in Western Africa by the name of James (Robert) Sawyer?
Star99
June 23, 2019
Hi, does anyone know Harry Thomas. 58 years old.Approached me on FB, immediately went to texting them Hangouts. FB profile removed almost instantly. Says living in Washington DC, diamond drill. Currently on a rig in Gulf of Mexico. Divorced 6 years , has an adult son and daughter also 7 year old granddaughter. In Grayson, Kentucky. Says has a nanny to look after the dog when he’s away. Says has a masters degree. Says originally from Alberta . He has sent me a few photos of himself and granddaughter. Can’t give any other photos as says his phone was stolen. In 2 weeks calls me his queen, wants to spend the rest of his life with me. Lots of sickly sweet chat but written badly... from someone whose got a masters degree?? Not asked for money . Challenged him asking if he was real... he was obviously upset and tried to hangout call me in the night. I’ve made it clear I’m not interested in romance.
Meme2016
June 23, 2019
Has anyone dealt with Sgt. Fred O'Hara from Tennessee. Photos are a meme from above. Please advise
Carrie c Don't…
June 24, 2019
Has anyone spoke to a Henry Jan Marcus of the UN Germany in Afghanistan? Very handsome and very convincing? Sent me a bank statement how much money he has , and to send him amazon cards . Thx cc
Julie2205
June 24, 2019
Has anyone been in contact with someone called Scott who is Danish but lives in London. He is divorced to an American lady who still lives in California. He works in shipping and logistics and is currently in Pretoria where a crane accident apparently happened. He has not yet asked me for money but needs to wire money home to cover some of the medical costs. Has anyone else come across this person?
Nataly
February 19, 2021

In reply to by Julie2205

Did anyone date Mark Forsberg, industrial engineer, sweedish, widower, one daughter studying in sweeden? How was your experience?
Gixie1
June 24, 2019
Has anyone spoken to a guy George Kruger. Apparently lives in Durban , South Africa. He is very pleasant. Met him Tinder. He went by the name of Gentle George,60. Whole disertation how you would become his queen and spoil you rotten. Suddenly developed an emergency wih his ill daughter in Melbourne. He is a petroleum engineer and now working in Kenya on for the state owned Oil Company. Can't believe i fell for this. I have lost about 18000 dollars.
Anon
July 23, 2021

In reply to by Gixie1

I might know someone being scammed by this guy, do you have a picture?
Felicia
June 24, 2019
I may be the latest victim here. I've been chatting with a guy who says his name is Paul Belov. Claims to be a widow...wife killed in plane crash...with a 5 year old daughter. Working in Ireland on oil platform. Lives in Chicago, but from Germany.
Cooperc
June 24, 2019
Charly David Armstrong? Anyone heard of him, lives in TX travels abroad for work? Teenage daughter?
Ds
March 25, 2020

In reply to by Cooperc

Yep dealing with him now gorgeous with a beard pictures with him and a dog from Oslo Norway he is divorced with a daughter lives in tx now not getting a thing from me beware
Gina
June 24, 2019
Just went through a similar situation. As soon as he asked to sent a package and I started questioning him he quit responding. Used the name Adams Goodman. Also deleted all profiles when I started to ask questions.
TampaDude
June 24, 2019
Folks, all you need to know is this: IF YOU HAVE NEVER MET SOMEONE IN PERSON, AND KNOW WHO THEY ARE, DO NOT SEND THEM ANY MONEY VIA WESTERN UNION OR ANY OTHER MONEY TRANSFER SERVICE! THESE ARE SCAMS 100% OF THE TIME! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEIR STORY IS. THEY ARE TRYING TO SCAM YOU!!!!! ALWAYS!!!!!
Cooperc
June 24, 2019
Charly David Armstrong? Anyone heard of him, lives in TX travels abroad for work? Teenage daughter?
Karensisney2017
June 26, 2019
Does anyone no a scammer by the name of Shirley Roslyn or Shirley Roselyn She hangs out on messenger and hangouts She is scamming my husband for money and his heart this person is ruining my marriage please if u have any info I would appreciate my heart is broken
Scammed and know it
June 25, 2019
I want you to all know that I have been scammed $125,000.00 and believe me I have sent money to this man for over a year and I am done. His name is Daniel Pierre and claims he is was born in France but can't speak it. He was on POF just a couple of months ago. His number was 214-810-1745 and I think it got shut down and he is using a number from Nebraska. This guy was my true love. Still is but no money ever again to anyone who I have not met in person. Now that I know how to spot these losers, I have had Fredrick Greene, Military man wants me to buy phones or pay for his COMBO phone, Ben Jacobs stuck in Dubia wanted me to get him a airline ticket, Eddie who wanted me to accept a check and then send money to China for a part he needed in Lithuania, James (Jah ink) Canada guy hotel bill needs paid, Marvin Meson, wanted something with my code number for phone, John Giovanni this guy wanted $2000.00 to fix his work station, so there all out there looking to get money from us that are lonely and just want to be loved. If I ever get my hands on any of them, it wont be pretty. I do wish we had somewhere to list and show pictures so we can make sure we don't fall for the sad sob stories. To bad real men are so hard to find.
Ramirez-2019
June 25, 2019

In reply to by Scammed and know it

I was just thinking the same thing. Create a website so we can upload their pictures with their FAKE Name!!!!
Unexpected.
June 27, 2019

In reply to by Ramirez-2019

Let me know I have pictures of a lady that might be scam too. I’ll post my story up ahead in a bit.
pretorius.quin…
June 25, 2019
Has anyone heard from a Joseph Paupard apparently in the army. Wants 150 bucks from me to visit me.
Alex
June 25, 2019
Any body know an Anthony Durham ? He said to be a soldier place in Syria profile on Instagram.
nwboi
June 25, 2019
A girl messaged me on hangouts, called me "boo", "babe", "baby" and yes she did ask for money for her Wi-Fi so is it a scammer? She seems legit though. I'm just waiting to see how far it goes.
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