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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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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.

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Munni
August 25, 2020

In reply to by Shirley

Hi Shirly, Do you have any pictures of him,please share with me.I am having same situation recently.i meet a man on hangouts online dating sites.He claims he is an emergency doctor on oil and gas sector in rig of Los Angeles California with Norwegian Multinational company.He is very good looking and looks like a doctor in the picture. We fall in love immediately,so decide to meet.and he told me that I have ask his emergency vacation from the company.so I did and his company want me to pay all the cost for processing fee of 1850$ ,so I sended already last Friday(19/9/2020)and they want me to send cost for replacement another doctor. Now I realized that what biggest mistake I have done.He never give any personal information, talk or chat only in hangouts and Skype. Always spoke very sweet and calls me queen, Angel and honey. He said he also have a daughter, studying in boarding schools in Atlanta,Georgia and wife is died from cancer. I think is the same person. I request him to make video calls but he never want.We always talk on Skype and chat. Please aware of this man and never send any money like I did.
Pydyoo
July 08, 2020

In reply to by Lucky I saw th…

This guy is trying to talk to me now. I know he getting ready to scam me but it will not happen.
broken
December 16, 2020

In reply to by Lucky I saw th…

I think the same guy Dr Mark Williams is scamming me too. Says he is a doctor in Syria, from Californis and needs money to break his contract with the UN so he can be with me
Dooped
November 03, 2018

In reply to by Upset

Hello.... I have the same exact story. He used the name Dr. Henry Blake and he had a UN postman named Jason also. He was stationed in Afghanistan and wanted to send me a box containing gold bars and his medals, awards etc. Unfortunately, I sent money, Itunes cards etc. Please contact me so we can report this guy. I saved all of the proof
texasgirl
November 05, 2018

In reply to by Dooped

Week of November 1st, 2018. I have been talking to a Instagramer who calls himself Terry Walker. He claimed he was a General, in command in Damascus Syria. Said no relatives. Parents died. Has 2 children in states. I noticed his grammar was terriable to be a General. He said he had been in the service 18 years. But kept telling me that things were getting very bad in Damascus, Syria. One day he text me that people in Damascus were being shot and killed. His camp was very unsafe and very dangerous for him. He said he had been there 6 months, and still had 2 more months till his contract was up. He was afraid for his life. He said he had money in the states, but no way to access it from Syria? He had a Military Lawyer to get him a “Certificate of Leave” but he needed 500$. Would I send him the money and I he would repay me when he got back to the states. I had never seen money designated in the format of 500$. It should have been $500. If he really was from the states. He begged me. He said he needed the money to leave Syria and he was afraid for his life. I said no, and left the conversation. This was too fishy so, I checked his followers. He was following one lady in this profile. He had 5 profiles with the name Terry Walker, with different numbers at the end of his name, This profile was under TerryWalker88. I texted the lady follower and she replied. I told her who I was and ask her if she knew TerryWalker88. She said she was speaking to him at that moment. I told her he was asking me for $500. She said he was asking her for $5,000. Or something like that. I said “Wholly Crap” he is trying to scam you and me! She told me he told her the exact same story he told me. She had already sent him a Phone Card for a month. Why would a General need this? I did not let him scam me, and I was able to warn her. She said that he told her that she was the only woman he talked to. She did not know about the other profiles he had. He wanted the rent one of her Mobil homes she rented when he got back to the states. I advised her that with his salary as a General he should be living in a mansion and bring her with him if he really loved her as he said he did. He should be taking care of her, not her taking care of him.
ishescammingme2018
December 08, 2018

In reply to by texasgirl

I met this guy on a unpopular dating site. We chatted and them I asked him to chat on Hangouts. He sent photos that were not on the dating site. He says both his parents passed away, he has a son who lives with his ex. Only child but has family that he does not speak with. He hasn't asked me for anything I mean nothing. When I asked if he could take a early leave from deployment he said he cannot. He has to stay there until it ends. On is dating profile he says he lives in the USA in Miami, Florida. He has no social media. I asked him after I did a thorough search and even an image reversed. Nothing has come up. He is asking me to wait until he gets back from deployment and then we can meet and spend time with each other. He claims that relocating would not be a problem if he ever found someone that he really wants to be with. He confronted him today and called him out about somethings and he seemed to be hurt. In the end he is fully aware that I am not and will not send him anything let alone money. Should I walk away from the situation or should I continue to talk to him and see what happens? Also we have never talked about his position in the Army. I never asked. He did give me a general idea of his location and it's not in Africa. He told what he does over there (didn't give me the line that it was a "secret mission")
Scammedornot
December 16, 2018

In reply to by ishescammingme2018

Hi, ishescammingme2018 my story sounds similar as yours. What’s your guys name?
N2deep
December 16, 2018

In reply to by ishescammingme2018

Please be careful ! They sometimes wait very long until they “ have you where they want you “ in the relationship commitment . They paint beautiful pictures of the future life you will have together and are always “ too good to be true “ . They are So Kind ! So Patient ! So Considerate ! And in many cases ... a man of Faith ! They have an explanation for Everything that triggers any doubt on your part ! They may not ask for money . They may ask for your personal information .. Little by little over an extended period of time . They may ask you to accept a check for them or a package for them or to pick up some money for them and forward it . Tell this man to contact you via phone when his deployment is over and then see him “ face to face “ and see where it goes . If he is legitimate ; he will do it . A scammer or someone working a con will not . Best Wishes and God Bless . Be Safe .
scaminohio
January 15, 2019

In reply to by texasgirl

This sounds just like what happened to me. He is in Syria fearing for his life. We had texts for a couple of months prior to asking for money. He needed to ship parcel out of Syria & had no way to access his money in the states. I finally had to block the call, but shipping company still asking for money to finish the parcel even today. It all sounded fishy, but he seemed really nice. Parents died, so i was the only one he could trust, to help. Glad i found this site & others that were experiencing the same scam. I didn't realize how many people are doing this scam. I plan to report this scam so others are not being victimized, not sure if that's what you women did also. You try to do a nice thing for people in need, then you find out its just a scam.
sladya
February 02, 2019

In reply to by scaminohio

Hi. Do you have pictures of this guy? I think that might be the same guy.
Morrison
April 15, 2019

In reply to by scaminohio

This happend to me in Denmark aswell Been chatting to a man stationed in Jordan. He is now fearing for his life and his only relative in US is very poorly so he wants me to recive a package from him and have it transferred to this relative. I sad no of course but he is still asking me to assist him. I refuse. Can he still send it to me as he got my full name? Im very worried and stressed at the moment Be careful out there.
funnygirl
February 25, 2019

In reply to by texasgirl

2-3 days ago..yes currently..I received a DM in Instagram from Dr_Philip_Mike. He using Dr. Mike a celebrity doctor's picture. He said he interested with me and want to know me. I already find it fishy but I need to confirm first. Then he start to talk about himself. He's CARDIOLOGIST based in Damascus Syria for peacekeeping mission. Sound familiar right! Thank god I found this site and read your comment. I blocked him straightaway. So be careful girls/women out there!
Riccio ester
May 18, 2019

In reply to by texasgirl

Wishe I read oll the coments before I luse oll my money to the scammer. I replay to the woman who have the same my story withe the widew withe he's 2 children yes I wose sow stupid to belive on oll hes storis I realy belive that the sam person he use name on hengauth mark daniel withe pictures off Erik swanson you can chak that I am really hop this scammer pay for oll he do to oll as woman
Fr
December 15, 2018

In reply to by Dooped

He uses Kelvin Smith and Lopez Smith...I found out about him in the military scammers website...after l told him what l found out he block me because I offer to send him what he wanted and more...he wanted me to send money to an address in Turkey under the name of Kevin Smith...Ihad some fun making him believe l was going to send what he wanted...
Starfish
January 24, 2019

In reply to by Fr

Hey I'm in conversation with a guy at the moment going under name of Michael smith since December 2018 I'm just wondering is this the same guy I did a face check and nothing turned up he's says he deploy ed near Africa and has no means to use credit cards and claims he needs medical attention and if you like he only want 1200 dollars serious what cloud does he think I fell from and yes he cried his undieing love for me do you think I nite have same person ?
MC
April 02, 2019

In reply to by Starfish

How do you do a face check? Also beware of a Micheal Gomez. Dark bearded guy. Claims to be originally from Spain, lives in New York, in Turkey working as a civil engineer for his own company has been there for 1.6 yrs. Has photos and video of b him and his family. A couple of photos of him and his blond haired daughter. Same story as you all. Quickly wants to know your future plans and professes their love to you. Even has you speaking to his Turkish translator. Then requests to help buy him an iPhone. Sorry.... Next! Haha scam
Fellforittoo
May 31, 2019

In reply to by MC

My scammer is in Turkey, too, and has blond daughter. Does he call her Sassy?
katielajoie
January 30, 2019

In reply to by Fr

I am currently being romanced scammed by a Kelvin Smith, a/k/a Kevin Harry who says he is an Engineer in Turkey. I sent him iTunes cards for his work documents. I have lots of pictures -- even baby pictures with his brother and his mother, pictures of his two daughters and him, pictures of him and his brother, pictures of him in rural Turkey working at an oil/gas plant with his NCC* Sweden jackets with his crew. He has tattoos all over his chest and written on the side of his chest is the words, "I will sacrifice for those I love." We have been chatting on Whatsup since Thanksgiving. Now he says he lost his credit card and cannot pay his staff and needs $20,000, the next day it was $10,000 and now it is $5,000. He wants me to sell my car, get a high-interest loan, or ask my friends. He was on Facebook but is no longer saying he mistakenly deleted his pages. He is on Instagram as Harry Kevin. He gave me his address in LA saying we would live there -- the address is for a house that is for sale. I would love to believe this guy but too much is wrong about his story! Anyone else know him?
Katbyrd2011
February 15, 2019

In reply to by katielajoie

I was approached by what seems to be maybe the same man. Only he said he was divorced went to do a job in Turkey is an engineer goes by the name of Wesley Walker. I told him I was married I was chatting with him for about 4?weeks when he contacted me said he got paid 1.7 million dollars and need a loan because he had to pay taxes on the money $85,000 . Said he needed $20,000 said he lived in Toms River NJ. I haven’t heard from him in over a week after I said no he got nasty. He has a Facebook page I don’t think he uses.
Cousin in trouble
April 01, 2019

In reply to by Katbyrd2011

Hi this so sounds like the guy my cousin is involved with. Do you have his Facebook name and or picture so I can check this iut and convenience her he us not legitimate?
Rocky
June 07, 2019

In reply to by Katbyrd2011

Do you have any pictures. I think I am talking to the same man.
tstoker375
May 28, 2019

In reply to by katielajoie

This is the same man I’m talking to. Tattoo s and all. Please contact me. We are still talking. Was the address 725 Bandini Street San Pedro ca?
tstoker375
May 29, 2019

In reply to by katielajoie

Yes!!!! Please contact me. We can compare pictures same story here.
Chefcarla
February 12, 2020

In reply to by katielajoie

I’ve been involved with a man named Brian Casey for 2 years. I met him on a dating site but he wanted us to talk on Kik right away. He says he is a engineer and every week asks me for a $50 amazon card to pay for his meals at work. I’ve spent over $5,000 on this man and when I refuse to send him a card he bombards me with emails about how he’s going to get disqualified from his job and how hungry he is. He’s never videocalled with me or heard his voice and I feel like I’m being scammed but every week he makes me feel guilty if I don’t pay for his meals with a amazon card. Am I being scammed. Has anyone else heard of him? He also claims to be Gods special messenger
concerned
July 09, 2019

In reply to by Upset

Hi there, I think my other in law is being scammed by this same person and am wondering if you have any photos still. He is going by the name of Dr.Adam Blake now, but the rest of the story is identical.
Adetermined woman
February 12, 2020

In reply to by Rose2018

I have been a victim and now I'm teaching others about this scam. Let me say this, I was a military wife, daughter and mother. You HAVE to have a bank account to get paid. No exceptions. Direct deposit is how the government distributes their payroll. The recruits are taken during basic training to get one, if they don't already have one.
Truth by Diane
March 24, 2020

In reply to by Adetermined woman

I have had dr. Adam Blake writing to me in email and telegram chat for a few months claiming to be in war as military. And needing me to send money to cover shipping of crate. Then calls from Germany. All zeros? And claiming it’s customs that has a package for me and how I owe taxes on it? Basically claiming to retire soon and he will move here to be with me. I never sent money. But I do have photos he sent me. And I was left off last with him going to help soldiers and there was an explosion and he went missing. And money asked for was like over 50000. Gave and account number to deposit in Georgia? The crazy world we live in. His email is mailto:ablake244@ In case anyone else is seeing this. And if your asked to pay for taxes on gold in customs , the email for customs came in as mailto :poststelle. hza- ffm @frank furtzoll. From Frankfurt Germany. I have pictures that he used also.
70maritza
August 22, 2018

In reply to by Cdtampa

I would like to see a picture of this person's identity.
M
March 23, 2018

In reply to by Charma

I think i have talked to the same guy..messaged me on instagram, asked me to go to Hangout and I also did a google image search on him and his name popped up Frank P but on instagram his name is henry s. with a goatee wit black and gray in it, says he lives in california, had to go to turkey to work on rig and has 2 kids and wife is deceased..
Paris Chic
July 07, 2018

In reply to by M

There also a person I met on Face Book, he said he liked my picture and asked for friend request. I generally don't except people I don't know but I kept looking at his picture and excepted it. His name is Donald Woods in US ARMY/NATIONAL GUARD in Damascus, Syria, Home Town is San Francisco, California. He's very good sweet talker,seems very nice. Says his wife was killed in car accident and has a 12yr old son in Boarding School.after so many messages from him and his sad life stories, I fell sorry for him when he thought he was going to loose his hard earned Contract money and his documents in a package at Atlanta airport, needed money because he had no one else to help him so I borrowed money from Loan companies trying to help a friend out. It was always something happened and he needed more. I was so stupid I kept going to loan companies borrowing more monies because he kept saying he have money in account in states and he will pay me back all money I borrowed. I wish I had read this strip and known about these scammers before I got so deep in debt. I've never talked or met this guy it was only thru messenger. After reading this strip and everything that was done to other women, was done to me. I hope these guys get caught.
Lady V
July 12, 2018

In reply to by Paris Chic

Dear Paris Chic, I’ve made the same experience with Dr.Gillberg Larsson who has been working for the UN in Damascus. A widower from Sweden with a 12-year-old son who is in a boarding school in Italy. He wanted me to get a box with goldbars and some money. I was supposed to pay 2000 Euro for transfer and such via Western Union. When I go there to pay the money, the company denied the payment as it might have been a fraud. Thanks everyone for sharing their stories, now I’m sure he’s a scammer.
Ms USA
August 28, 2018

In reply to by Lady V

I have the same scammer. I've been talking to him for 2 months never asked for money just sends sweet quotes and pics of him and his son saying his wife died in car accident t and he has no family and friends and he don't like talking to women because they lie and cheat. His name is Steve William, his birthday is September. 25 1967 he's 42. And he says he well advance to play games or be a fake. He's a charmer. He's on Instagram.
Gotcha-not!
March 13, 2019

In reply to by Ms USA

If he was born in '67, he is not 42...he should have done the math better.
Doozie
May 24, 2019

In reply to by Ms USA

Anyway we can post a photo.....Williams sounds very similar. He's on Instagram.
justgoaway
March 18, 2020

In reply to by Ms USA

This sounds like my scammer. Suitcase and pay customs and taxes. Wife in car crash and works to support 11 year old son in boarding school. Goes by Breck.
Don't use your…
September 23, 2018

In reply to by Lady V

sounds like my guy said he had sick kid mom died in accident was in the middle east he had bald head with beard and tats
vickiegray
September 27, 2018

In reply to by Lady V

hello this guy sounds like the guy my aunt is talking to do you happen to have a pic ? but he goes by woods diego campbell
Onlinecurious
March 17, 2019

In reply to by Lady V

Hello, do ou have a photo of the Dr in damascus working for the UN? Appreciate our help!
Judibare
June 15, 2019

In reply to by Onlinecurious

This sounds like the Dr I am talking to. I need to send 30,000.00 to release his briefcase from IMF. then it will come to me and the UN will let him leave. He loves me forever and will by me a house and live here with me.
Nicky d
July 28, 2019

In reply to by Lady V

Hi Paris chic iam talking to the same man you just described his name is Donald woods and everything you just said about him he told me the same thing . But I ask God to review this to me and this is just what he did. I need to talk to you if possible please
2Smart4You
May 15, 2019

In reply to by Paris Chic

I accepted a friend request on FB, a Surgeon, from Montana. Right off the bat, I suspected he wasn’t who he said. Soon, songs from YouTube were sent, via hangout, love notes, called me “Dear” Sounded like a Hallmark Greeting Card. Widower, young son in boarding school in London. His English was not from a man that grew up in the states. His texts were almost illiterate. After a couple of months, he hit me up about gold bars they found while out on a mission. Asked me to contact his DELEGATE, to insure address, and how to get them out of the country. I had enough. I first told him that his math was wrong, using Kgs, the gold wasn’t worth the amount he stated. I googled such a scam, happened back in the early 80’s, I believe. I also wasn’t ready for Federal Prison, nor a guest on Dr Phil. I kept him on the line as long as I could stand it. I felt I was saving a lonely innocent woman with the time I took with him. I did not know there is a place to send evidence to, I recently shredded all the emails, and deleted that account. These guys are good, they study what to say. They look for single, divorced, or widowed women, and tell them everything they’ve wanted to hear from a man. A sure way to pick out the fakes on FB. 1. NO FRIENDS 2. No photos, other than themselves. 3. No posts Good luck ladies and gentlemen, they will not only leave you with a broken heart, but an empty bank account.
Cupcake 123
August 27, 2018

In reply to by M

I would love to see a picture of this guy be cause I have a guy I'm talking to on hangouts. It first started with an iTunes card, now it's up to 600.00 dollars toward plane fare, of course I am not doing it.He is a sweet talker plays with your heart and sends songs.
Incognito
May 21, 2019

In reply to by Bella

They more then likely stole the picture from someone's profile
lilly6990
January 12, 2019

In reply to by Cupcake 123

I think this may be my guy..name is Kevin william..hes a real sweet talker..sends songs and just reasontly asked for $100 iTunes card..even said he was flying in to see me...said his wife died in a car accident and has 2 girls living in a boarding school until he completes his contract where he's working out of state..wouldnt give me details..said it wasn't safe..he sent me a friend request on Facebook and asked me to Talk on hangouts then deleted his facebook..my daughter had reservations so I looked his picture up on google reverse and a bunch of names came up.im not sure how to send u a picture of him..
Not so cute now
February 28, 2019

In reply to by lilly6990

The guy trying to scam me is named Raymond William!! But a different day he told me it was William Raymond. He goes by the name daddyraywilliam2. Asked me to chat with him through “hangouts”. After a month of giving me cheesy lines that I knew were crap, being that most men never ask the questions he was asking, he needed money for supplies for his daughter. Sent me Pics of his daughter “Meghan” who has a nanny and is in private school. Sent me pics of himself that are too good to be true. Tells me he can’t call me because the vibration from a phone will make the rig blow up. I refuse to send money and repeatedly tell him I’m a broke single mom with no job. He keeps responding with how disappointed he is in me that I won’t help his daughter with school stuff. I still refuse. I deleted hangouts and set myself to private on IG. He spent part of yesterday harassing me to borrow money to help him. I won’t send money to someone I don’t know for starter. Keep an eye. I wish I could post pictures to compare.
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