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 How to you go about checking by Joerene
In reply to I guess I am afraid to hear by Joerene
In reply to I guess I am afraid to hear by Joerene
In reply to Someone introduced me to him by Geneva
In reply to I was scam by man George by Don't usBarbar…
In reply to I have a guy name Anthony by Melissa
In reply to Looking for Information on a by Tam
If your mother is talking with a scammer, he might be using her to - unknowingly - forward stolen money or fraudulent checks. Scammers sometimes meet people online and trick them into developing friendships or romances. The scammers are trying to find someone to help them move money. The FBI calls this a "money mule" scam. This article explains more.
You can talk to your mother about this, and that she could get in to legal trouble. She can get into trouble for receiving and sending stolen money or checks or helping criminals. The FBI has a page about money mule scams too.
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In reply to Fleur13. It's a scam. Used by Beatingscammers
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In reply to I met a guy on tinder by heartbreaker777
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