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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.

Blondie
July 03, 2019

In reply to by Mia1010

I’ve been talking to a guy who says he’s Capt. Thomas William. Works on ship for Shell . Have pictures.
Anna
July 17, 2019

In reply to by Sickfeeling

I might have the same guy. 55 yo, tall, gray hair, good looking, half Portuguese, nicly speaking. Wife dead, son 8 yo. He is works on Tenessee oil rig. Offten has no conection. I have his picture too. Please help me to find out if he is saying true or not.
Landy
June 19, 2020

In reply to by Anna

Maybe same guy Mine is petroleum eng . Got a contract working on oil rig in Dubai imt s d
4sights
September 05, 2019

In reply to by Sickfeeling

I have the same guy is wife died of ovarian cancer 2 months ago and have a son. He claims he's a out of boarder doctor working in Italy, Milan. I have picture.
Samantha
April 21, 2019

In reply to by somebody2

I think I am talking to the same guy. Has he ever called you? Is he asking you to get in a contract with him as support? I have a picture too.
Samantha
April 23, 2019

In reply to by Samantha

Yes he has called me several times. Always has an excuse not to meet
Tess
May 04, 2019

In reply to by Samantha

Hi Samantha, Your story sounds very similar to mine, would like to know more and share more details.
Fedup65
May 04, 2019

In reply to by somebody2

Hey, I've been dealing with someone who says his wife is dead and has a son. He says he's an engineer living in Denver. Would like to see your photo.
Marine mom
May 25, 2019

In reply to by Fedup65

Hey! So I think I may be dealing with the same guy but his name is David. Wondering if you could share a picture of him?
Lonelyhon
June 19, 2019

In reply to by Marine mom

Hi i think we are talking at the same guy hes name is David Wong .still talking to him now first he ask me for steam cards didnt give it to him now he is asking for money to replace a machine . Rig engineer from london he said hes picture are hot thou!
Cece
October 15, 2019

In reply to by Marine mom

What does this guy name David look like..the one I may be onto goes by the name David Johnson or Robinson Johnson
Retired
December 18, 2019

In reply to by Marine mom

I have pictures of someone named David Wright. My experience was earlier this year. But I have two pictures
Xam
May 28, 2019

In reply to by Fedup65

May I see the photo please. I think we have the same experience. But he said thag he is a mechanical engineer and right now he is actually on board. He have says he have some items and then the customs told me that it is onhold then I need to pay the clearnce tax then there is a big currency inside the parcel so I need to pay a big amount. Like duhh..what happen to the world now...a.lot of scammer....
Desotoshon
June 27, 2019

In reply to by Xam

Okay so like I've been talking to a David who has a son whose wife or girlfriend supposed to be dead he's a civil engineer he claims he's from New York and he's supposed to be in Hawaii . I've sent iTunes and Amazons and I've sent money through Western Union and MoneyGram. I started having problems with my money situation on the job and then he started calling me a liar and it's just so appalling that someone will call you a liar when they are asking you for money .
Kaka
May 05, 2019

In reply to by somebody2

Similar guy with similar story. About dead wife. Going to Turkey to finish some contract . After his pc broke his account was blocked. And after he started to ask money........
Mafl
May 13, 2019

In reply to by Kaka

Talking to someone now- Charles Walters who says the same thing. Says he has a deceased wife and daughter. He is in Cypress and his computer broke and he needs me to send him another one. Tried to look him up and cannot find out any thing on him. He must be a ghost. Got to be a scam!
Shameful
June 01, 2019

In reply to by Mafl

I just got through being scammed by someone with the same exact story except he said he was doing a contract in Turkey. My friend found his photos in on a reverse image search on Google. The real person was a celebrity from overseas that I would have never known. My daughter found the real person used on Instagram and asked if he knew people were using his photos and he said yes and he had reported to authorities many times and for us to be careful and that he had nothing to do with any of it. I was heartbroken to find that someone could use my good heart and hurt me this way. He knew I had no money and just had cancer and I went and took out a loan for him to buy a new computer so he could finish his contract and he said he was flying straight to me so we could start our lives. I hadn’t dated in 19 years. Online dating was new to me. I was devastated.
Jay
June 21, 2019

In reply to by Shameful

What was your persons name? Sounds way too familiar.
ZCURLYTOPt use…
October 16, 2020

In reply to by Jay

Oh my gosh I am literally beside myself! I can't believe that there's people that would stoop so low I mean you know this. Guy I met online and right away let's get offline so we can talk you know talk excuse me so we could text fine we texted we texted we texted we texted no I mean no phone calls at all and we kept texting well unbeknownst to me he had to go over to Turkey on a contract I'm so embarrassed you know of myself and it just I mean I'm not stupid you know but anyway and so all he shows me pictures he's getting on the plane he texts me and says babe you know how he uses the word babe I mean like every four words babe babe you know like you know d e a r n o I could go on about this guy I wish somebody would you know I was somebody I wish I could have seen in touch with somebody that this is happened to we would have a blast I mean this is so I mean I can it's just like I said I feel so stupid but anyway so he gets on he comes on then he's 13 hours you know what they're right d i y a r k a r k i i r I think it is anyway turkey and like I said he was going to be over there like for 2 weeks to know oh hey I've got all kinds of stuff I mean totally all kinds of stuff I mean you no taxes and and like that you know anyway and like I said this guy never I mean never asked ask me for a nickel who's over there for about a week and a half and all of a sudden I mean he had the worst accident all of his equipment and camera and the the remote the snake remote I mean everything that he's using right is and I looked all this up and he's using and there's this one piece the camera this one can cost over $6,000 I'm like holy heck you know I said where the insurance and he was I talked to him today and he said oh the insurance on that I didn't have it doesn't you know work over in the and Country and not out of the United States and I've kind of heard about things like that and you know so okay fine but like I said he's never asked me for a penny so he went so he said something about a laptop you said will you get me a laptop and send it so I can finish my work you know and I'm thinking well he's not asking me for money to send in to get it or what I didn't you know and of course at this time there's no way but it romantic I mean he's got to be one of the romantics from the very very first I think he probably taught romanticism I mean this is how good he is slick whatever you want to say anyway for now who sang oh I could go on and on and on this it you know what I'm talking about that was so strange that he never asked me for any money he was so adamant on just getting a 7 in whatever whatever Mac Pro go laptop does this story sound familiar
Digi
September 09, 2019

In reply to by Shameful

I've been chatting for three months with him. He's been deceiving me. I googled the pictures until I found the right name. I've contacted the real man. He said he knows about it, but has nothing to do with it. I have also contacted the Police. . Can we swap photos?
Hani
September 16, 2019

In reply to by Digi

How can I get the photos in google and prove this is scam or not? I wanna find who is the real person information.. that scammer took their real picture or photos.
Jodie
June 14, 2019

In reply to by Kaka

I'd like to hear more about this....just spoke to someone that said they were stationed in Turkey.....widowed
Amy
May 15, 2019

In reply to by somebody2

I meant talking to it Jeremy woods. That has a daughter in Clinton South Carolina and Say lives In Charleston South Carolina
Takenadvantage
June 14, 2019

In reply to by somebody2

Are you able to send a picture? I have the same situation.
Andrea33
June 26, 2019

In reply to by somebody2

Hi everyone, Im new here, i read all your comments and it seems i have the same problem. I met this man on a karaoke site last year september, started with hello beautiful... then we chatted every day. In november he said he had to go to Belgium (3months contract) cause of his work (he is self employed). In January, his equipment was stolen and his work was delayed till april but he said he would come to meet each other at the end of the work. The problem is he didn't insure it and need to refund it. 1 equipment costs $250.000 each they are 2. Then he has this customer proposing to go to Turkey for a job one year and a half, so i won't see him. Since i have known him, i did some etransferts, he said i can keep some money to buy some sexy lingerie, perfume., i also bought some steamwallet (i didn't know what it was), he said he needed for paper work. A friend of mine who is medium told me he has many passports of cours different names. Ok now i will give you everything that was suspicious. In september the name he gave me is Daniel, then i asked for his middle name he gave me Brian last name Adams. And has a son Jason. It seems that you have all this names. Her mother was polish and father american. He lives in Nashville. Born on september 24 1964 so 55years old. At the beginning he said that his wife had an affair in 2014 and now she is dead!!! I have a photo of him with a poster written in deutch as he mentioned being in Antwerp Belgium, and it's Brussell. When i ask another of him he ask me which one do you have? I told him the one he gave. Then he said i can't as since he still waits a loan from his bank to replace the stolen equipment he can't leave the hotel as monitoring. But i find according to his cell phone number that he is in Houston.
Twjp
August 03, 2019

In reply to by somebody2

Hi im dealing with a Frank wood but goes by Frankie engineer with a daughter. Wife cheated on him. Broken equipment was sending pictures looked the true person of the picture that was stolen it belonged to Victor Saygeh. Was just wondering if we were speaking to the same guy being last name wood. Thanks sincerely,Twjp
Paige
August 10, 2019

In reply to by somebody2

Can someone who is dealing with the guy who has a deceased wife and son message me back?
tell me it’s not so
February 04, 2020

In reply to by Paige

I have a guy in instanbul turkey I falling for this guy his wife passed giving birth and he work on a rig
Angel2020
May 20, 2020

In reply to by tell me it’s not so

I was talking to a guy back in Feb who claimed to be Swedish and working in Istanbul, Turkey, He claimed the same thing that he lost his wife and baby while she was giving birth. Total Scammer.
Scammed
August 17, 2021

In reply to by Angel2020

I have dealt with a man named Mike, said he was born in Norway, raised in Alabama Found me on Instagram asked me to talk via Hangouts was in Turkey working dealing with gold wife died in childbirth had 2 kids 19 & 21 in Dec 2018
Leslie
April 27, 2020

In reply to by Paige

Anyone know Richard Morgan, Orthopedic Surgeon with UN in Myanmar; deceased wife of 7 years; 18 year old son going to Regional Maritime Academy in California. Has not asked for any money.
Carol
November 15, 2020

In reply to by Leslie

YES, I have been in a relationship for 8 months with a man matching this description whose wife was killed by a drunk driver 7 years ago and has a son in college. He is asking for the money for an oath of marriage to get out of a United Nations medical camp in Myanmar. I have already given him $3000 gift cards and cash. Let's talk, please.
Kimwarrick
September 27, 2019

In reply to by somebody2

Can I see the picture? I have a Gentlemen going by Jack, says his wife died, has a young son
Daughterinlaw
September 29, 2019

In reply to by Kimwarrick

I have a friend with the same story... he messaged her on IG. She hasn’t given me a lot of details but I know she is being scammed!
mercedez
May 26, 2019

In reply to by Brittany B

Did he use the name Melker Oliver?
Holly
June 23, 2019

In reply to by Brittany B

Hello my mum has just come to me telling me her story, I’ve stumbled across this site working out it’s a scam, the man she was speaking to said his son was in America and wife had died at child birth, his name was David mark is this the same for you?
Robin
July 11, 2019

In reply to by Holly

My aunt sent guy on here 500 and doesn't believe us that he is scammer fb name Derrick brian but also goes by fredrick Adams dave Adams pictures are stolen from hanak celik and
Rakesh
July 26, 2019

In reply to by Holly

I have also same story and his name is Alex Geourge from UK.. I already send the money. I have the photo of the guy.
Gotmeto
October 24, 2019

In reply to by Holly

This sounds like the same guy I've been talking too. Talking to him since April 2015. His wife and daughter died in childbirth. He has a son who says his name is Gared. He staying with his Aunt in Ohio while he is on South Africa. He says he is a Geologist. He left the States just like a month after we stated talking. Never has come home. But sent him plenty of money. Air plane tickets to get home but always something happens he never makes it. Always has an excuse. He's always needing money. Now I'm broke about to lose my house. Water and electric shut off don't know how many times. Can't get out of the hole. But he's slick just beware. His name is Bradley Hutton. Raised in the UK. Moved to the US. Feel better known I'm not alone. Blows my mind. Just can't believe it. My son keep trying to tell me but I wouldn't listen. Took me 5 years, but I learned the hard way. Haven't talk to him for 6 or 7 months now Sucks.
** Ana
May 30, 2019

In reply to by Samatha

I am dealing with almost the same situation, civil engineer stuck in Northern Cyprus with a project. Can you share name and pictures ?
Kara
June 10, 2019

In reply to by Samatha

Same story, civil engineer from Canada, went on a project in North Cyprus (turkey), it was supposed to be for few weeks, then turned out to be longer..it has been 10 weeks now, has "equipment problems". I travel on business a lot and do stay at times 3-4 weeks. I was married to a guy who did 50 % and more travel per year, so I wasn't alarmed him going away suddenly on business, which happens to me very often, just when we were planning to meet. I am glad my daughter prompted me to research. He introduced himself as William Iversen, born in Sweden, schooled in England, lives in Canada since he was 14. He lives in the best neighborhood in Toronto, he says (studio/condo starts at 1 mil). I asked him which hospital is next to you and he didn't know - the hospital is just across where he said he lived and very well known in Toronto. He is very well educated, knows the world well.. I am well traveled and that is why I left this going, although there were red flags, he was very knowledgeable of the countries I have traveled to (more then 50!). I speak 4 languages, one is Spanish, and he would understand when I would talk to him. He really knows how to talk to a woman, I give him that, and the words he uses are just so charming. As for his problem that he had with the equipment and his Bank, I told him I am surprised you can't resolve it, VIP clients (as he claims to be loaded) are treated well, and all I need to do is call the bank and the guy responsible for me that knows me personally, since I am a VIP client. I also told him that people do not talk about banking and how much money they have on their account. I also said I wouldn't land money to anybody, including to my own husband if I was still married (he didn't ask me for money though, he was just all stressed out, "poor me" statements when I told him that). So he changed his tune into " I don't want to lose you, let's make a deal we never talk about this again, I will solve my problem". So it has been 3 weeks since then and he mentioned the problem again today, casually mentioning that they might put him in prison, they told him so, but he wasn't sure if they were joking. I said, I haven't seen this behavior in the professional world so I am surprised, and that I am sure that everything will be fine. I am curious to see what the next step will be, I am pretty sure that will be an interesting story. I haven't sent money, and I am not emotionally invested, not with the findings I have. I am not trusting by nature. One of the pictures he sent me showed up as Rowland_ incredible on Instagram with a reverse image search on google (it is free, so use it when you have doubts). He also claims he has an associate name Marcus Bradt (has linked in account but too little connections for what he claims to be). His son Terry is in England doing his masters and of course, he is widowed, but his wife Jasmine cheated on him, so he wasn't sorry when she died of cancer 5 years ago.....Mostly from what I read they go with trying to trigger empathy for money. That doesn't work with me, but he is still very "loving" calling me and texting me, so not sure what is the next step. I feel like "catfish" myself now, more like "killing" time. This certainly doesn't help my suspicious nature. For me, I was hoping I found somebody with the same life style, that would understand, and he presented me with what I wanted "virtually". Right now it feels like I am watching a movie - the effort that an intelligent person puts into a scam is simply scary
Sara
June 18, 2019

In reply to by Samatha

Are we dealing with the same person? Mining engineer contractor in turkey For three weeks,had a mishap, Damaged equipment, Wallet stolen I needed money to extend his contract or he cannot leave turkey. Do you have the name of your person?
Sally
June 19, 2019

In reply to by Sara

I'm dealing with a Noah. Just left for Turkey for an oil transport contract with an state-run Turkish company that seemed to come up quickly and be awarded even quicker. All this in the two weeks we've been in communication. I'm suspicious by nature and have seen some red flags, but he's done an amazing job of keeping me wondering. I haven't given him anything but was kind of wondering whether there would be a request for money. He claimed to be from France but doesn't sound like he has a French accent. He had or was using a LinkedIn account. Claims to have a "daughter" in England that emailed me to say welcome to the family.... Wants me to take out an international phone plan so I can call him - he just called me from his 905 area code Turkey number. Is that another way for him to get money from me?? Claims this deal he's working on will set *us* up for the future. Reading all these posts is a eye opener. I had picked up on some less talented online scammers earlier, but "Noah" has really thought this through and been a real slick operator.
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