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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.

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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.
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  • 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.

Gail
August 02, 2018

In reply to by sophie

Sounds like the guys whose been contacting me. Says he's Anderson Williams in U.S Army, Stationed in Kabul. Afghanistan. Claims to have 8 year old son. He claims he's in love and wants to marry. Then asking for $300 itunes card. Why not just ask for cash. I told him I'm a poor woman and have no money.
Tracy
September 18, 2018

In reply to by Gail

A friend of mine has a similar story. Joshua Miller is the name. Did anyone come across that one? Apparently stationed far off and needs money too. Sound familiar to anyone?
Ganna
January 20, 2019

In reply to by Gail

Now his name is James Williams. After contacting to me on fb, we have started to talk on Hangouts and he deleted his fb account. All this time I have been waiting when he asks about money, but he is still very polite and very careful. So he is very patient. Please be aware girls, I am begging you don't believe and don't waste your money which you earn by hard work
Just Me
May 04, 2019

In reply to by Ganna

I met James Williams on a game site. After a few days he told me that he would be leaving the states, for Mexico, to work on an oil rig, claimed he is a contract engineer, and he asked me if I would consider talking to him using Hangouts. He told me that he was an only child, both of his parents were dead, but that his ex-wife and daughter lived not far from him. He told me that his phone was running low on minutes, and asked if I would buy him a phone card, once he was in Mexico, stating that was his only way of communication, how he sent files to his boss and that the cards were not sold where he was. I purchased him a few cards. Then he asked me to add his daughter to Hangouts. She informed me that her birthday was in a couple of days and that she had asked her dad for a iphone. She then asked me if I would buy her a $100 itunes card. Surprised by her request, I decided to look up 'James Williams scam' and was surprised to find other people had gone thru the same ordeal, by someone (or maybe the same man) using that name! Beware ladies!
Used
November 12, 2019

In reply to by Just Me

Any pictures of James Williams? Story sounds the same.
Consrened and …
March 12, 2020

In reply to by Ganna

Do you have any pics of this guy?
Miss Skeptical
July 08, 2018

In reply to by Anne

Sounds like Marcel Zachary of San Diego, CA. Does he send you photos of himself with a pug dog? Greyish hair that is heavily moussed on top?
Macerbe
May 08, 2018

In reply to by Suzer

I have the same situation a mariner engineer somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean tells me he loves me called me my love my honey now he just had his daughter start talkin to me on Hangouts web page I just don't know his name is Derek his Facebook page looks for real, in order to make sure it was him I put a message under his picture on his page just saying is this you and he did come back to me and say yes that's me so I think the picture is him, but he asked me to buy him $50 worth the iTune cards which I did not so I'm totally floored by this I just don't know
Kramwh8
May 14, 2018

In reply to by Macerbe

I’m also talking to a Derek with a daughter named Sharon wondering if it is the same man? I met him on Twitter not FB
Don't use your…
June 18, 2018

In reply to by Kramwh8

My mom, who is 70 years old I've been talking to a guy named Jerry who has a 10 year old daughter named Sharon. He is supposedly in Afghanistan and goes out on patrol everyday and uses that as an excuse as to why he can't talk during certain times. Only talks to my mom on the phone in which the area code is from New York or send her text. Attempted to pay her phone bill for her for her cell phone but payment was rejected and then wanted her to go buy iPhones for everybody and have them sent to New York. I tried to tell her he was going to involve her in some kind of a scam through AT&T with those cell phones and now she has a bill for the activation fee for at least three of them if not more. When she told him she wanted to cut off the relationship she threatened suicide and told her he was going to come here to Oregon to visit her and take her to Washington DC for his supposed retirement ceremony from the military. His name is Jerry L and I found a profile picture of a Jeremy L on Facebook and it was the same picture this guy sent my mom. We have a satellite VA office in the town where I live so I'm going to take her there and have her speak to somebody she will maybe listen to because she sure isn't listening to me. Now she has a $300 and her phone is shut off. I told her to be careful when she first met this guy but she's divorced and lonely and just wants that one last love.
kramwhit8
June 18, 2018

In reply to by Don't use your…

Hmm, maybe the same guy. I got the oil rig story not military but it's also a NY phone number.
tammy
July 15, 2018

In reply to by Kramwh8

i know a derek from twitter nahgout and instagram says ame thing to me
Don'Sedona t u…
July 28, 2018

In reply to by tammy

Yes this sounds exactly what I have experienced. Yes two times. So first Oil worker second Afghanistan A master sergeant. Definitely a romance scam.
DISGUSTEDINGA
September 20, 2018

In reply to by Don'Sedona t u…

I had an experience with an oil rig worker who said his name was Rex Ford. I met him on Insta"scam" (my new name for it ). Said he was on a rig in the Gulf off the coast of Mexico City. Talked about God bringing us together. Said his wife passed 6 years ago from cancer but he didn't want to talk about it ever. Said he had a 13 year old son who was living with his 80 year old mother in England & going to school there. Oh he did finally tell me the name of the oil rig..the Julia. Anyway we talked 3 months & I was the love of his life & he wanted us to spend the rest of our lives together. To make a long story short, he sent me a "trunk" which supposedly was on it's way to me. I got an email from "the diplomat" which had typos & bad sentence structure. Then got another email saying the diplomat had to be paid $1320 to cover his travel costs. I replied to this diplomat & the scammer that I'm disabled & on social security & I don't have $1320 to pay someone I don't know. I immediately cut all contact with him..AFTER I told him exactly what I thought of him & thanks for wasting 3 months of my life. Pond scum. They will tell you ANYTHING. Don't be tricked like I was. Now not too long after I cut ties with Rex Allan Ford or Allan Ford, I had a follow request from a military man. Now believe me, I have blocked & deleted MANY men when something just didn't add up or there are red flags. So #2 looked legitimate, said he was an USAF Major from Pasadena CA working in Afghanistan for NATO Resolute Support. Says wife died of leukemia 4 years ago, has a 9 year old daughter & that his father had moved from AZ to CA to take care of her. Then he said his dad had a stroke (even showed me a pic of his dad in a hospital room on a ventilator, well some old man). Then the dad passed away, leaving the daughter with only the nanny. He didn't go home for his dad's funeral. Says he signed for the mission he's on & the only way out is to win against the Taliban. Talks pretty intelligently. Says he can't get to any of his money because his account has been frozen/charged off. Said his IG acct got hacked so he's not on it anymore. Funny..the guy above...I reported him to IG & it took them 9 weeks but they removed his account. I won't say how much I've given him but he says he tried to send me some money & I've never gotten it. He wanted me to send half of it to his daughter in CA. I'm thinking he's a scammer. I prayed he wasn't because I fell in love with him. But I'm afraid my gut feeling is unfortunately correct. Has anyone else talked with him? His initials are RP & his daughter's name starts with a W. He has asked me to write to the general at a private email address & plead with him so he could leave & go back home because his daughter needs him. The letter I got back seemed to be questionable with lots of typos & punctuation mistakes saying he sent my request. No answer yet. My soldier wants me to send the Gen. another email. It's only been a week since the first email. I have a sinking feeling he's not real & this really hurts. We haven't texted in over 3 days now. I'm certainly remaining silent! Anybody else had contact with either one of these men? I'm done with talking to men online. I already had trust issues because of my ex husband cheating. Now I REALLY have trust issues, in a big way!
GOLDIE
September 21, 2018

In reply to by Kramwh8

Wow...its a scam...the guy i was talking to name was Kelvin Rozenman Ford..he had claimed to have a 4 yr old daughter name Sharon. Met him off Instagram
Ash87on't use …
October 13, 2018

In reply to by GOLDIE

Wow he sent me a request on IG last night saying his wife cheated on him with his best friend and she left Texas while leaving the child. He is deployed in Afghanistan and a nanny is watching their 4 year old daughter. He told me to download a “cool” app name “Hangouts”
kittkatt5689
May 26, 2020

In reply to by GOLDIE

Really tell me more . I have the same guy contact me today . Same name and he states that he has daughter that is 5 yes old and the mother cheated on him and his from Dallas TX deployed in Afghanistan. Lol
Learned My Lesson
May 22, 2018

In reply to by Macerbe

That’s my scammer. His daughter is Lisa. Block and delete!!!!He goes by name of Antonio Giovanni.
blondenotdumb
May 16, 2018

In reply to by Suzer

sounds like David Brown french widowed with a daughter. oilfield contract
suspicious
May 28, 2018

In reply to by Suzer

has anyone heard of a guy named Greg George? Said he is from Mexico, living in California, working a rig in Mexico Gulf. He lost his wife in a car accident and she was pregnant. Has a 16 year old daughter in school in FLA. When I got wise to him I let him have it and he begged me to leave him alone and he would never get in touch with another woman online again. Said I was wicked!!!! I said, yes, I am, and I put a spell on you, beware" he freaked out.
sarah
December 09, 2019

In reply to by suspicious

Yes sounds familiar and the one I met wanted 60000usd for daughters life saving operation - these guys need locking up! Wouldn’t send a penny and have delete hangouts and cut all communication - these scammers are the lowest of the low taking advantage of vulnerable women.
Suzer
March 01, 2018

In reply to by PamC

I met David through aN online game site. We'd talked for only a couple of weeks when he told me he was leaving for the oil rig and wondered if I'd keep in touch via Hangouts so that's what we've been doing. But I've caught him 2 different times telling me discrepancies - his birthdate & his daughter's age. Plus, we've talked on the phone a few times, and he sounds more like a 20-something man than one in his 50's.I admit that I'm starting to fall for him, but there's been a nagging little doubt in my mind.I did a Whitepages search for him via name, city & state, & his phone. Nothing comes up for the phone at all, & no one w that name is anywhere near his age. He hasn't asked me for money, but he just doesn't add up. And i was shocked to discover that its probably a scam. Has anyone ever talked with this same man?
Tired of trash
March 02, 2018

In reply to by Suzer

I think I know this guy too. He thinks I'm stupid, but every time I call him he never answers immediately, he always calls back. Oil rig for BP? Sound familiar?
Nancy
March 20, 2018

In reply to by Tired of trash

John Williams? Engineer on oil rig in Gulf; widowed; 12-year-old daughter in boarding school in Orlando. Needed iTunes cards for daughter’s birthday b/c his bank funds were secured. Eventually needed $$ to replace a broken pump. Sound familiar to anyone?
Debbie
April 04, 2018

In reply to by Nancy

Hi Nancy, I was talking to a guy name Powell Macaulay he was an engineer too he had a 8 year old daughter and a widower his wife die three years ago from breast cancer. He was on a oil rig in Gulf of Mexico his drill bit broke and needed money to fix it and then he asked for a iTune card unfortunately for him he didn’t get any money from me. He contacted me though Facebook at the beginning and from there we started talking he came into my life at the right time. My husband asked me for a divorce Last year so I thought why not talk to this guy he was nice looking my husband moved on why shouldn’nt I and yes I fall heads of heels for him I was heartbroken and still am. You ask yourself why did this happen? There’s s lot of people out there trying to take advantage of other people especially women! I’m so sorry the outcome wasn’t what I wanted
Cynthia
April 15, 2018

In reply to by Debbie

Debbie and Nancy, I have been talki g to Jack who lives in Alabama. he is a widower, 8 year old son. Jack says he works on a rig and is on Alaska right now. second day there says his machine broke needs money. so won t give it. I did send him 2 I tunes cards because he said he needed them for his iPhone I have Android phone so I did n t know. he professes his live daily and even has time set up to meet me. he remembers everything from day 1. he messages me so many times a day. I am heartbroken. he even sends me tons of his pictures. or I think it s him. my marriage is in shambles so it was perfect timing. last night rd him I can t find him anywhere and if he wants the money give me his social security number and my cousin in fbi will verify and when they happens I 'll send the money. I figured he d leave me alone. he just text now like nothing happened. I realize now it s a scam. I'm going to play him back, just figuring out how. is love to talk to you guys about this
PhotoLady01
July 20, 2018

In reply to by Cynthia

I have seen a couple posts on here now about men working in the oil field saying they need money for broken equipment. The workers in the oil filed DON'T EVER pay for broken equipment. My brother actually does work in the oil field and the oil companies take care of all broken equipment. I get men trying to scam me on FB almost daily. If it says they are military or oilfield workers with some sob back story like a dead wife of child, don't even start talking to them............ it is a scam.
Jillion
November 20, 2018

In reply to by PhotoLady01

This happened to me, but just deleted them. But I play the game Words with Friends, this is what they are targeting now, start a game with you, then come in and start a chat, the usual , where you from, what sort of day you having, then the want to know you more, can you go Hangout, they do persist, then when you say you don’t go in there, then it’s WhatsApp. I’ve made the mistake twice, last time was a guy working for Exxon Oil out diving to check oil pipes, and finding more oil, he was running the crew never done it before, he’d secured his house against it. Wife and son died in car crash 8 months ago, daughter of 7 he had to put her in a boarding school as no one to look after her. Then he asked if I could help him get his daughter Christmas present, he would get money to me when he could get home, he couldn’t access his account because he’d met a woman who scammed him out of thousands of pounds, told him no i was not an idiot. He apologised profusely then a week later told me his daughter was ill, he needed me to go and buy him Steam Packet Wallet because he needed it to find how his daughter was. When I said no, he hit but cross, said I was uncaring as his daughter I’ll and couldn’t find out how she was., I asked him to send me the phone number of boarding school and I’d ring them for him, he couldn’t do that because his iPhone had fallen in the sea. Things just weren’t adding up. He tried ringing me on WhatsApp but when I answered he said he’d borrowed a friends phone, but hung up.! Good job I have my guard up, because many people would have sent them money or whatever he needed. Those two people both came through playing the Game Words With Friends, seems they are targeting people through that now.
Cynthia
April 16, 2018

In reply to by Debbie

Debbie or Nancy id really like to talk to you guys especially Nancy. this sounds like Jack Robertson. My god he calls and texts all the time. how can we get in touch with each other?
abilgosdoris
April 25, 2018

In reply to by Cynthia

Hi does anyone know about eric fallon. An engineer in uk, widow, has 14 yold daughter, ask me he need vacation so he can visit me here, i was falling in love with him alread will still talking. I heard also about itunecards, school exam, bday, and coat of vacation. Still thinking its not a scam bec i seem Him good guy and good looking too. He send pictures of his daugthwr and late wfe. I dont know but i love him really.

Linda
May 05, 2018

In reply to by abilgosdoris

I wonder if we can display photos. He sent me a plenty. A chinese guy with a daughter
lucimill40
June 06, 2018

In reply to by Linda

I got the "do you mind if we share photos through email?" Contacted me through online dating site and also mentioned his daughter. I felt something was off from the beginning. I am contacting the guy on the pics that he sent me and let them know what is going on. Didn't get a thing from me.
Brokenheart805
June 23, 2018

In reply to by lucimill40

Hi lucimill40, Can you describe what he looks like in the pictures he sent you? also how old is his daughter? I have been talking to this guy I met also on an online dating site. He too sent me “do you mind if we share photos through email” too.
tatisisi238
September 01, 2018

In reply to by lucimill40

Please contact me, I think someone is trying to do the same to me.
YouAreWorthMore
July 11, 2018

In reply to by abilgosdoris

Please don't believe it. So many people have the same stories...including someone I know. If it is REAL LOVE and a REAL PERSON they would not ask you for ANYTHING other than your companionship. The "guys" start off as sweet and kind, gaining your trust but sometimes months after, needing money from you. Common qualities that should put up red flags: -A son or daughter in boarding school. -Their occupation makes it easy for them not to always be available (overseas, oil rig, secret agent, etc). -Their lives have a lot of drama. Often times, an illness, someone else dying, their kid is sick, etc. -They have their "friends, coworkers, family" build relationships with you so they can build up his "character", make him look good and real! -They always end up needing something from you. -Photos sent to you mainly don't show their face. It's very easy to get stock photos or the really good ones even photo shop! Go with your gut! You are worth love, real love. Be smart about it. Best of luck.
Russian woman
July 16, 2018

In reply to by YouAreWorthMore

Some days ago someone tried to cheat me telling that he is alone in his cargo in the hospital in another country. His name is Alexis Martinez.
Gigi
July 15, 2018

In reply to by abilgosdoris

Hi, we are talking to the same person. I have been talking to him, for 4 months. Called & texted me every day, all day! He gave me the exact same story that he gave you! He started asking me to send him money, for various reasons. I told him I didn’t have it, & that I felt we should end things, because I knew he was just scamming me! He got so upset, because he said that he Loved me so much! That’s when he confessed to me what he was really doing. He is actually in Nigeria! And, he is Much younger than he said he was And, this is how he makes his living. He meets older vulnerable women, on Instagram & online dating sites. He also uses FB! He has a distinct accent! He said he was an Engineer, on a ship, in Scotland, Hus 14 yr. old daughter was in boarding school.His wife died 3 yrs. ago , from cancer. He was going to retire after his contract was finished. And, he wanted me to request his vacation, so he could come to the states & marry me! He also, wanted me to receive his Consignment Boxes, that contained several million dollars! These people are in a ring! They all work together! Please Do Not send the man you are talking to money! He is just scamming you! They are extremely good at making women fall in Love with them! They get you to tell them all about yourself. That’s how they know what your vulnerabilities are! And, that's how they reel you in!! I am so sorry that you are also a victim, of this scam!!
Dma8083
September 05, 2018

In reply to by abilgosdoris

Had guy also very good looking raised in uk but marine engineer in China at moment widowed with son in boarding school in Uk Nicholas brown anyone heard of
Peter Nicholas
December 12, 2019

In reply to by Dma8083

Yes I have been scammed by this se person this year
Deb
April 18, 2018

In reply to by Debbie

Key words that bother me: itunes cards to buy software, engineer, oil, young daughter, wife that passed away, bank funds tied up. He's in Dubai now on a job and needs money cause the bank froze funds lol...wants a credit card transfer. Weird thing is he has a local number. Daughter is living with Grandma in London but moving here this summer. Anyone else have this situation?
Weena1
April 21, 2018

In reply to by Deb

Deb just read your story I've talked to the person you described. Yes A total scammer. Impersonating a celebrity chef. Wants $ for an airline ticket home to Cle.NOT!!!
Deb
May 23, 2018

In reply to by Weena1

Even after he wanted my credit card and I said no, we still talked for a few more weeks. He said I would never hold that against you, but just last week he stopped texting. I am going to tell him that my gf and I won $44,000 at the casino and I want to go on vacation etc. And just mess with him....to see if he starts up again with the conversation.
worried about MOM
May 29, 2018

In reply to by Deb

My mom is getting scammed I know it, I feel it, but she insists on talking with this scum dog: My story is about the same, Oil Rig worker, young son 14 yrs old in UK -- has a briefcase stuck in customs needs 5,000 to release and his life savings is in the case over 2mil 00 Right! ! ! ! the story is long and drawn out but it is the same cookie cutter as all of you... How do I post his picture on here so you can get a look at him ????
FTC Staff
May 30, 2018

In reply to by worried about MOM

You can use the FTC article about online dating scams to help your mother. It lists common stories the scammers tell about themselves, and common excuses they use to try to get money. 

Please tell her that the FTC, the FBI and the Attorney General in her state want to protect her from criminals   Sending money to criminals helps them continue the scams. You can report a scammer to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that law enforcement uses for investigations .

MomsGIrlIsMad
July 03, 2018

In reply to by worried about MOM

Omg!! Hi I have been reading these and I just knew it!! Mhy mom has been talking to this guy David Georgie on Hangouts for over a month now. He started saying I Love you by week one. She has been widowed for 4 years and has been through so much! What a scum! I would give anything to catch him He is supposedli on an oil Rig and and has 2 daughters in boarding school who supposedly email her and call her mom. This is crazy! He just asked her fopr money about a week ago and when she said she didnt have $7500 he asked her to see if she could get a loan so he could get his rig fixed so he could come see her. Im disgusted
Nic
July 08, 2018

In reply to by MomsGIrlIsMad

Do u have any pictures ? I have a guy messaging me saying he is on a oil rig off Greece till September has twin girls who are in boarding school in Texas. He says he is from South Carolina ? Does this sound like same guy ?
Dd
July 30, 2018

In reply to by worried about MOM

My son's ex girlfriends father was scammed over 60,000.00 same exact story
ts2192
September 10, 2018

In reply to by worried about MOM

I'm in the same boat. My mom's been talking to the same guy for a year. I've showed her evidence that he isn't who he says he is (US Military sites with pictures he's sent her and his various alias' kind of proof) and he's convinced her that those pictures are his and that someone's stolen his identity. He goes by the name Johnson Cooper, aged around 45-50. A Sargent in the US military based in Nigeria (or a US base in the North-east region of Africa, I can't remember specifically), and he has a teenage daughter that lives with his mother in California. They do the whole "honey, i love you" "wish you were here" stuff, and it breaks my heart. He has her communicating with him on a separate app. Maybe google? The texting screen on the top is green if that can help identify the app. Unfortunately, I can't get into her phone cause it's face recognition. If anyone knows what I can possibly to do to save her, please tell me!! I don't know if she's sending him money, but for him to be around this long, I'm assuming she is. I don't know what else to do.
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