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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
bank account
fraud
military
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online dating
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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.

DrBsBFF
April 07, 2019

In reply to by Nettie73

Sounds all too familiar, wants me to send money to the UN so he can take a vacation from the War Zone in Khalil, Afghanistan to come home to the US to marry me! The other guy I suspect got thrown out of his hotel room in Yangshou, China this morning, his time because I couldn’t send home $700, we only owe them $1900 and he can come home and marry me!
lovinglife
April 20, 2019

In reply to by DrBsBFF

Hotels don’t hold you hostage if you owe them money. This guy is scamming you. Plus, he is probably scamming more women than just you.
Basketball
September 06, 2019

In reply to by DrBsBFF

Sounds familiar but never give your address to anyone
kenoasd
November 14, 2019

In reply to by DrBsBFF

My scammer, Peter Christopher Brandy, Brandy Peter or Robert" claimed his wife and daughter died during childbirth. He was just now finishing a job in Turkey. He asked for Steam Wallet gift cards. His huge (fake) check could only be cashed in the US. He wanted airfare. Next he needed hotel money and the hotel wouldn't let him leave until it was paid. Now he's been in a car accident and the hospital won't let him leave until his bill is paid. He sent a picture of his fake passport. A photoshopped picture in a hospital bed. Emailed fake letters from the hospital staff and a fake in voice for his care. Born in Germany with an American passport good for 12 years. He has over 100 young Nigerian facebook friends and he has a Nigerian accent. He forgot he told me he lost a daughter. Now the baby was a boy. He insisted we chat on hangouts and calls me dear, honey, my forever love and his Queen. If I will send money for the hospital bill he can come "home" and marry me. He's already missed 3 flights. I'm keeping him in the hospital. He begs me to borrow money from family, friends or take out a loan and asked me to use my rent money and sell my car for him. They all have similar stories and they are all lies!
beenfooled
November 22, 2019

In reply to by kenoasd

Hi its seem that we have the same scammers its exactly the same story, though the name he used is different. He use Frank John and he tell me that his a surgeon.. and he was assign in Iraq. his son is 13 years old and he is a widow as his wife died due of giving birth to her daughter. i cant imagine i was fooled by someone who seems that he is real. May God forgive them on what they are doing. imagine using someone photos.. poor person they are been used without there knowledge. this is sad really really sad.
Grace2019
May 02, 2019

In reply to by hatecats

Hey. I've been talking to a Rob. Is yours a red head or red beard?
Vale
July 04, 2019

In reply to by Grace2019

Hi... I'll be talking to Robert too... Grey hair from Germany... Talk to me to see if is the same person please
Sharon T
July 15, 2019

In reply to by Vale

I have been talking to a Carlos Roberto Mentor Rodriguez He said he was selling his business, then he got a bid for his work went to Dubai, to do the job he is 70. Says he has a 19 year old daughter in England studying physical therapy. His wife died 8 years ago of breast cancer. He has a thick accent, says he is italian/ Spanish came over here when he was 17 to finish his education. slowly worked into saying how much he loved me over about 4 weeks. Now he said he got hit with taxes in Dubai for $25,000. He knows I have no money I told him that from the beginning. He had me check his offshore account to see if a sizeable amount had been deposited which it had but he claims he can't access it until he returns to the states. Anyone else know this guy?
Olivia DI
May 29, 2020

In reply to by Sharon T

From photo search I learned Austin Larry on Hangouts is also JEA N on Twitter. Austin asked me to check and a large deposit in his account. His wi fi was weak. I refused. Next day he sent me a copy of a deposit for $4.5 million, his pay for a year on a off shore oil rig platform! He claimed he was a supervisor. I checked, salary up to 89,000 a year. He said he could not access the money. A $50,000 machine broke down, a worker got injured and damaged it. He and his team needed another 10,000 to replace it. He said he was responsible for it. It was his contract that he got on the platform to work there. I never sent him money but I did send him iTunes cards. Tho in love and aware of scams I did play cat and mouse to go along and see where it was going. His email address is: austinlarry2004 I did report him to the FTC by comment.
DontBeFooled
January 15, 2021

In reply to by Sharon T

Sounds familiar right down to TAXES needing to be paid! This fraudster just changed names/locations to Cairo).
foxy
June 14, 2019

In reply to by hatecats

I’ve been talking to a Robert Williams in Yemen . He says he’s in the army . He’s bald big green eyes . Says he’s been there since January
Trix
July 02, 2019

In reply to by foxy

Hi there this is the same guy who told me his daughter Lisa is ill back home and now he is having wifi issues. Let me know and we can swap photos to see if it is the same one
Cstars523
July 02, 2019

In reply to by Trix

Hi Trix, I have someone I'm talking to that is working on oil rig in Alaska. I am more than willing to share photo. I only ask because he has a daughter named Lisa. But wants money to get supplies shipped.
Angel
July 23, 2019

In reply to by Cstars523

Holy cow. I was talking to a Marcos Williams who has same story . On the oil rig in Alaska and needs money for supplies. No daughter though.
Geeg
October 22, 2019

In reply to by Cstars523

mine is on an oïl rig in Malaysia, as a daughter name Lisa. Late wife died in car crash. From Norway but lives in NYC when not on contract
Hevjcol
November 09, 2019

In reply to by Geeg

I am chatting with someone who is supposedly a contractor on a rig in Norway..he is turkish, but lives in California.. his wife and son died in a car smash on his wifes birthday.. he has 2 young adopted kids.. gies by the name Raphael Griffo.. he has asked me for money to help with replacing pipes as he lost his wallet so has no means of cash.. and gift cards to get phone credit due to the wifi not working.. I was taken in by his sweet talk.. but haven't sent him any cash.. But by god he can talk the talk and will probably have targeted hundreds of vulnerable women.
Rhody
January 06, 2020

In reply to by Hevjcol

Ur right about the 100s of women. Im on page 11. Same basic principle. Different name /background bs. Same consistent thread. I looooooooove u. Sweet talker with 1 of best sweetist personalitys I have ever seen, turns quickly into a confession of love. U are the reason for living, my everything. Marry me. Im retiring soon. Im coming home to u. Will u help me honey,babe ,sweetheart ..different pictures and names. Same basic concept $3150 later, I get it. Now I am stuck with the debt and was barely able to keep my head above water as it was. This is the same man. The country, field of work family story and pics change like the weather.
Betsy
November 20, 2019

In reply to by foxy

I'm so glad I started investigating Max Williams in Yemen can't talk ony chat in Hangout. Pictures of him very posed, nice smile, acts out as UNO Doctor on assigment in Yemen. Looking for soulmate.
Sunflowers13
May 22, 2019

In reply to by Nettie73

I have been conversing with a guy overseas that said he needed money to get equipment so he can finish his job. He goes by the name Jason Brian, Email’s he was using: jason brian cares@ gmail or Jason rian carzes @gmail. Keeps asking for more n more iTunes and the price went from 100 to over 400. Days he lives with his mom
Donna1022
June 15, 2019

In reply to by Sunflowers13

Where is he supposed to be. I also received request for help to buy equipment for an oil job in Turkey
Dummy
May 24, 2019

In reply to by Nettie73

I had a man who said he was from Italy I have been KNOWING for 3 years he said that if I was no longer friends with him that he would kill himself ( he told me he was married after 1 year of being friends and I dont like to have friendships with married persons) that's when he told me that if I dropped him as my friend he would kill himself ..he hasnt asked for money but always let's me know that he doesnt have any ( which I dont believe)
mercedez
August 08, 2019

In reply to by nans

We may have been scammed by same guy... Are his initials MO?
Elisabeth
October 29, 2019

In reply to by nans

Do you mean Erik Griggs, supposed architect from Bath, UK? Very handsome man, white hear, trimmed beard. Daughter Jasmine, 13 years old. Has a big project in Istanbul, but gets in trouble when he has to pay for his materials? Watch out, he's a scammer!
FAYE
November 11, 2019

In reply to by Elisabeth

This matched the description of Dr Robert Wilson who was trying to scam me
Deborah
September 19, 2019

In reply to by Nettie73

Do you remember the name of him? Bassey Harrison?? He is one of the best scammers.
unsure72
September 24, 2019

In reply to by Nettie73

Hi Nettie73. Mine has asked to send Steam cards, is overseas working as an engineer and is on contract. Has no one but his daughter, everyone else in his family including his wife have all died. Can you tell me what his name is? I’m afraid it may be the same person. I’ve already sent a little money but I always get pressured for more. Spoke on Hangouts, exchanged photos, and video chatted. I’m afraid I’m getting played.
beware of the …
October 24, 2019

In reply to by unsure72

Hate scammers Talked to a Mark Williams for almost 5 months. He worked on oil rig east side of Scotland. Daughter who has nanny in San Francisco.wife died in car accident 9 yrs ago. Do not send money!! I’m out a lot .
beware of the …
October 25, 2019

In reply to by beware of the …

I was scammed by the same guy. Same exact story of wife and daughter. I also am out a lot of money. He still is trying to talk and contact me. Everyone BEWARE of this evil guy.!! The picture I got was a white haired good looking man. Even got one supposedly with his daughter, who had brown long hair wearing a brown jacket.
Feeling Stupid
September 01, 2020

In reply to by unsure72

Is it Randy Leonard? He’s a real charmer and a talented scammer. Evil.
Reality
January 26, 2021

In reply to by unsure72

Nettie, I wish I could send you a picture but I don't know how to do it. Is he about 44 very good looking. Trimmed beard, appears to be middle eastern
Olivia DI
May 30, 2020

In reply to by Mcphee

My daughter google photo search & needed help to cut and paste photos I sent her of Austin Larry on hang out, my scammer. He is also Jean With a Twitter account. Same photos he gave me on Hangouts. Claims he works Off shore on an oil rig fromHouston In the Gulf of Mexico, then Norway and back to Off shoreof Houston. Claimed he had a $2.8 million inheritance from his father he got in Bristol UK. Claims he was born there as well as his father from there and mom from Madrid, Spain. Gorgeous green eyes, young. He was going to send cash in the suitcase to me from Bristol to California, but in transit it got seized in Istanbul Turkey customs. Now he expected me to pay $1838.70 for the package, not suitcase, to be released and I receive it the next day. He forgot we have US customs. I’ve never been able to send him money to several times he has asked for $10,000, $3000, $1000, $3000, and help him by at least paying the courier company half the money, as if that would help. I had a fake tracking number, A variation of a real courier website; glosteploistics.com. I got a hockey email from GLOSTEPLOGISTICS6.com ( note the number six variation). Told me to pay by Western Union to a name that was searched and belonged to An artist in the UK. Name was Turkish. I will play cat and mouse until he does not exist and hang out and the FTC has caught him.
concerned1
December 26, 2019

In reply to by Nettie73

Hi Nettie73, I feel my mom has fell victim to the same individual, what is your guys' name?
sallyrubrico
February 28, 2020

In reply to by concerned1

He is using different names....sounds all first names and other sounds all surnames
Ecummings98
April 10, 2020

In reply to by Nettie73

Steam cards can only be used to buy games nothing else look it up online
Honeysue
July 03, 2019

In reply to by got scammed also

I totally agree with you. I have thought about signing my finances over to my son to manage. My guy claimed to be from Italy, named Douglas Bianconi.
Windy
May 23, 2020

In reply to by got scammed also

Please don't beat yourself up. I did the same thing, only it was 70,000. He put in a lot of time and effort to shake me down. Remember, we are victims. We did nothing criminal. They did. Treasure the loving heart you have and don't give anybody anything until you know them for *real.* I'm going to do the same. Good luck to you. To all of us.
SPRINGFLOWER
July 24, 2019

In reply to by Got scammed

my scam went on for a year and a half - I am embarrassed and lost a lot of money. I had the same sweet words and beautiful letters and he sent pictures but would never actually video call me because of terrorism where he was. I did hear his voice he told me he had an accent and he did but I continued to correspond. He constantly asked for money and I stupidly gave it until I had no more. I really thought I was in love with this person and thought nothing of giving him what he needed but at the end he asked me to get a loan for a very lot of money always promising that he will pay me back in full for all that I did for him and he would come back to see me and spend time with me. A lot of what he said to you was said to me all when I started reading these comments I realized he could not be who he said he is. In fact I saw a picture of someone on facebook that looked exactly like him and I brought it to his attention and he said that the hackers put his face on that persons body so it would look like him but I have asked several times to have him take a selfie or to do a video call and he always has an excuse. You are lucky it was only that much money I have been scammed for much much more and til the day I decided enough was enough he still promised to pay up. My health is taking a toll on me constantly worrying about my debt. Wish there was someone who could help us. I am planning on talking to someone although most say we have lost our money and we will never get it back. We just need to forget and move on and live with the mistake we have made and try to get back to leading a somewhat normal life after all of this.
Inuyasha1234
September 08, 2020

In reply to by SPRINGFLOWER

I lost all my divorce " settlement". Mine was a year and a half. The last few months I started questioning things more. I fell for it. Niw I will start from scratch. I am actually doing well.
sallyrubrico
March 09, 2020

In reply to by Deceived123

mine's name is Ainsworth Hatch Reeds at Skype
Tamb51
March 22, 2018

In reply to by Rose2018

This sounds similar to the guy I've been talking to he says he's in the U.S. army stationed in iraq.his wife cheated on him he has a 1t yr old adopted son in boarding school.He originally sent me a Facebook request which I accepted and within a week was telling me he loved me and wanted to but a house together.not long after he got me to switch to hangouts to talk to him.Three weeks in he says he dropped his phone & broke it & wanted to know if I could get him an iPhone 6s.which I told him no to because I don't have the money.He claims he had to borrow a friends phone to talk to me.He never called me because he claimed the phone lines were terrible there due to the rebels attacks.He had in the beginning sent me 2 pics that were older plus a pic I got from his fb request.He never would send any others even though I asked repeatedly ..claiming his friends phone didn't have a working camera.ok! The pics I did get were of a white male dark hair wearing a shirt that says good story babe now make me a sandwhich he's in shorts that say army on them with a background which looks like a military environment.Then he sent a pic of himself supposedly... squatting with some dogs around him and he's petting them ..he's got a beard & a hat on and there's a military looking building behind him.The Facebook pic is of him sitting on a bench in a room with a black fitted knit hat on sunglasses on his head he's got a gun in a holster at his side ..a polo type short sleeved shirt & part of a tattoo showing on his super arm the rest of tattoo is hidden by the sleeve.he says his name is Goodman graves he's 46.Does any of this sound familiar.do the pics sound like the ones you got?
Gigi18
December 20, 2018

In reply to by Tamb51

Tamb51..... Do you happen to have a photo of this guy, sounds similar to who I'm chatting with now.
Janme
March 14, 2019

In reply to by Gigi18

What is a Bitcoin a friend as me to use that to get money fast to pay his worker? so he can get this project done
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