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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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Almost Duped
April 18, 2018

In reply to by FTC Staff

Bridget, So, then, what is our best recourse to catch someone who is trying a scam? My cousin has been talking to the Carl Breigner mentioned in these posts. She asked me to research him and of course, I found out about him on this site. We would like to catch him, stop him from taking further advantage. What do you suggest?

FTC Staff
April 18, 2018

In reply to by Almost Duped

You're asking a two part question -- how to catch a scammer, and how to stop him from taking further advantage. To stop a scammer, you can report him to law enforcement, websites and wire transfer companies. Report to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint, the website where his profile is posted, and call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492 or the MoneyGram Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400.

To stop him from taking advantage of your cousin, you could help her stop communicating with him, and stop sending money and other support.

Keddey
February 17, 2018

In reply to by wild stang

I have been talking to someone on instagram he says his name is mark kishcov and daughter danya...anyone else?
Tried to scam me to
April 04, 2018

In reply to by Keddey

Some guy on Facebook tried to scam me too. He private messaged me saying he had cancer he is dieing. He is a millionaire wanting to leave me all his money etc.... Then he wants me to send 500.00 to his lawyer for the will. I am not stupid he wanted me to give him a copy of my drivers license etc.I told him no i blocked him. I told him no one has to pay anything when someone dies and has a will for someone. Be careful on Facebook too. Scanners private message they don't want anyone to see who they are.
corinna3
February 24, 2018

In reply to by wild stang

I've had who I think is the same guy on Instagram. Says his daughter is Allondra and his name is Roland James. Total fake. I looked up his picture on images.google.com - if you have a photo look them up!
efarias
February 28, 2018

In reply to by corinna3

Hi Corinna, I think I am also being scammed by the same guy. Is there a way we could exchange pictures of him with his daughter. He told me that his name Heath Jeffrey Sutton and his daughter is named Abby and she is 6 years old.

misha1113
March 21, 2018

In reply to by corinna3

I am talking to him right now. he is going by doctor Roland James he has a daughter her name is Maria and he works with doctors without Borders he is in Syria right now he will be home in May and he wanting to tell me he found gold that’s all he said so far I Kind of want to see how it plays out
Worried mother
March 12, 2018

In reply to by wild stang

Omg this is the same man I have his daughter is in a Turkish school he’s supposedly out on an oil rig on a contract he told me his daughter name was Linda but today it was Belinda and he’s saying she was robbed last night at school has a head injury with internal bleeding and needs money to get her treatment I googled boarding schools and hospitals there’s 2 in turkey(Istanbul) and no1 has heard of this girl this is definitely the same man I actually can’t believe what I’m seeing!!! Can u leave me some way we can swap emails or something as I want to show you this man prior to him I had a man frank also I twigged straight away with this frank and he blocked me but I did send pics etc atop alert others this may be a diff frank but the guy called Jason Antonio is the one with the child and mother died in car accident I came over this site looking for scams and only by chance that 1st comment seems to be the same man! It’s sickening that people can lye and pray on vulnerable people honestly! Please get in touch WILD STAG
same old story
October 14, 2018

In reply to by wild stang

i have met 2 men i now believe to be scammers. one uses the name dean robert with the same oil rig story and the other was scott wilson. both say they live in nc. Beware
Worried
February 29, 2020

In reply to by same old story

I have been talking and mostly texting for a couple of months. I met on a dating site. He name is Scott Adams. Wife was in an accident 7 years ago and he has a 13 year old daughter Nancy and is a boarding school in California and he lived in North Carolina but is now in turkey doing a piping engineering type job this will be his last job will be retiring and coming home to me he is very romantic and can get to your heart fast today he asked me to marry him I have never done anything with his picture on Internet Because I don’t know how to do that. I do have several pictures of him and one with his daughter. He is very nice looking gray hair sometimes dark 6 foot tall if anybody has heard of him please let me know thanks
Sbb
February 18, 2021

In reply to by Worried

Hi, I think we have been talking to the same person only he goes by the name of George Adams and says he’s in Cape Town working, also has used the name Gregg and Adams Howell, I spoke to him for the best part of a year, and then he asked for money for materials which I wouldn’t give him, please don’t send him any money
CLO
March 19, 2018

In reply to by Glory

I'm so sorry this happened to you. My mom got caught up in the exact same thing. Same story and everything. Unfortunately she still believes it's real. Good for you for not being fooled anymore. Oh and these men in Nigeria are pros. It's the capitol of internet dating scams. They can make it look like they are calling from any area code they want.
TC
April 06, 2018

In reply to by Glory

I think I ran into the same one on an oil rig Istanbul has a daughter in boarding school going on excursion to China, needs money $2k for the trip, his bank accounts are frozen. If I contact this travel broker and send $3k to get him home he can pay me back and send the money to to his daughter when he arrives. Calling me his wife in less than a month... I so wanted it to be true.
TheseDayz
January 07, 2019

In reply to by TC

I just had this happen. He uses Chrisfrey5050 on POF-Plenty of Fish, claims he lives in Warrensburg Mo . He stole someones photos that lives in another country. I reported his profile & they did not delete it. He will get you to use Google Hangouts to chat, but that also shows your email address. Claims he is an engineer working with a team in Damascus Syria for the UN last job before retirement. Has a 17yr old son in CA. He is going to take you to travel with him all over the world, & ect. He is very convincing. It is very heartbreaking & like fraud.
Kiwilass
April 16, 2018

In reply to by Glory

Yes I had the same. He is scamming. Mine was a few years ago. They have a child. Then on the way home there is a tragedy and need help. Block them asap
Hanaa
May 05, 2018

In reply to by Glory

What is the name of thus person I met someone with Simlar story who works in oil rig in the UAE
Maggie
August 24, 2018

In reply to by Glory

Know has been while for u but do you have any of the phone numbers or pictures. Have been talking to since 11/2017. Same stuff calls himself robin Williams Hodges Please help me I have really fallen
RDM
September 13, 2018

In reply to by Glory

Glory I hope we can compare. I was talking to a man name Thomas Downs. He said he is a geologist. He has an accent...says he is Portuguese. I have several pictures as well but cannot find any info on the web. He too had me setting up accounts and sending fraud checks. His number 410-994-3566
c
October 05, 2017

In reply to by tired of scammers

Many of these scammers, I learned, work as a team. So in your case the communications you had in the beginning, with the first 2(?) guys working on an oil rig, were fuel that you likely may respond again to someone in the same situation (3rd guy). And the last (3rd guy) very likely is the same fraudster behind either one, or both, the other fake profiles. It sounds like you are getting it now... just happened to me as well. So the love poems, "with the Lord, you and I, all three of us together..." and "Good morning babe", are not sent from the men you see in the profile photos -- those men are victims too of identity theft. I tried to verify for sure that the guy I was chatting with was for real, or not, by searching using the profile photos... but did not find a one. That was not the result I would have preferred but reinstates the fact of the identity theft and therefore the actual men being impersonated prob have taken all of their photos down from any website. In my case as many here it was a supposed Army Sgt. in Afghanistan, about to retire and looking for someone to spend the rest of his life with, get married. This was not FB, but a dating site where one can post several photos. There was only one photo and just enough info., age, height, and the line "HELLO - Am single here looking for someone spacial to spend the rest of my life with if possible ltr". Most people post 2-4 photos and fill out the profile. Then he asks in you have, or can download now, google Hangouts app (free txt, sms messaging w/call capability). So basically the majority of the chats took place via Hangouts, immediately moving off of dating site (prob so they aren't reported). On this chat app we exchanged more photos and he sent 2 of himself in Army uniform and a couple other ones. Then started saying something about his phone, not working right, hardly at all. Asked for iTunes Gift Card so he could fix it and we can talk on the phone. It goes on, and on, even in a short period of time like 1-2 weeks. Now you're really in love with what the fraudsters being texting based on the photos which seemed very real, they are... they just are not of the person you have been chatting w/it's a scam.
PoetKnows
March 30, 2018

In reply to by c

Sounds like similar guy asking for an iTunes card, ask me for $7,000 to clear some materials which he did not get from me. But he goes on by the name of a famous Celebrity. He even sent me selfies. Now he's asking me what bank do I bank at so I'm really going to see how this plays out.
Cali619
March 31, 2018

In reply to by PoetKnows

Hi does he go by the name of Heath Sutton. Do you have pictures because I think we are talking to the same guy?
Crystal S
April 02, 2018

In reply to by PoetKnows

What is the name of the celebrity. Because I think I'm being scammed by someone who is pretending to be a real famous celebrity. WHen I talked to him on the phone. It sounded different. Like middleastern. WHich I told my dad. And He said that I did not know of Malice. And that It sounded suspicious. This Guy wanted me to send 3 thou to a bank account in Turkey. WHich I was never going to do. But I don't know this sounds way suspicious. I'm going to cut this so called famous person off. Why? Because it just sounds phoney and suspicious. Always listen to your gut feeling.

Get Real
April 09, 2018

In reply to by PoetKnows

Must be the same guy I have calling me his wife and needed money to clear his materials for his big contract and how I must help him. He ends up crying on the phone too. Really! A grown man crying. And he always has a time limit on the money. His kids are in school in Istanbul and says his wife died in motor accident.
Scammeritis
April 11, 2018

In reply to by Get Real

Get Real, Sounds like my guy who is suppose to be a marine engineer who has 6 units drilling under contract with a oil company off the Gulf of Mexico. Within 1 week vowing his affection and finally "I love You". Including how much he would protect and never lie to me. Claimed he was a Christian man. He said he invested $23 mil of his own money and would make $33 mil out of this job. Only has 2 weeks to go and would meet me. We text every day sometimes several times a day. I did not hear from him this past weekend which was very unusual. When he did text, it seems there was an explosion and fire on one of the engines. Now he is asking me for "assistance" that he needs my help. But he wont come right out and say I need money from you. He mentioned he need 30% to get parts to fix problem. But again, it's never ask me for money but to assist him. I gave him a scenario which finally boiled down to he said needed $24,000 and had gotten $5,000 from a "friend" so only needs $19,000 now. I told him my money was in working funds which take my attorney and estate planner to approve before I could get any money. He seemed to understand, but later writes does not know what he is going to do and acts so despondent. He actually called me and talked for almost an hour. Telling how much I meant to him etc. etc. Never had done that before. His expression in writing is almost perfect and he speaks very good English. The background tale is the same as almost all of them. His father is US citizen and his mother is American. Wife and younger brother killed in car wreck, has 25 year old son who is living with girlfriend same state as he is along with mother who lives with sister near by. The text messages are getting shorter in length and he takes few minutes in between answering now. Before, it was within a minute or two most. That tells me he is onto someone else. But it almost seems like someone else writing when he always asks "what are you doing? and will repeat that even after I have texted back. This is a scammer...meets all the scenario widow, has money, financial woes and needs "only" your help to get him out of it. No sure what I am going to do... right now he is not asking for money...seems resolved he is not getting that from me. Just don't send ANY money to anyone asking when you don't know them or have never met.
Libra
April 20, 2018

In reply to by Scammeritis

I'm talking to someone who just left to Africa with his young daughter.He has a website,(work) has several business locations. His project caught on fire, workers in hospital. He takes longer to answer me, sounds like a different person at times. Needs money because there is a limit on how much he can transfer international. I saw his acct. He has millions. I don't even have a job.
FTC Staff
April 20, 2018

In reply to by Libra

A scammer can show you a bank account online that looks like it has millions, but that does not mean the account is real, or is really his.

If he asks you to transfer money, know that some scammers use people to help them transfer stolen money. They meet people online, create a relationship, and ask their new friend to use their own bank account to receive and transfer money.

If you do this for a scammer, your name is on the bank account and on the money transfer forms. If you get involved with one of these schemes, you could lose money and personal information, and you could get into legal trouble.

Keepdreaming666
May 02, 2018

In reply to by Libra

Hi Libra, How old is his daughter? What part of Africa did he go too? I have been talking to a guy also and he is into computers too. He also took his daughter with him. The only thing is that he is asking for money so that his supplies can be released from customs so he can proceed with his work. Do you have pictures of him can you describe how he looks like?

Get Real
May 05, 2018

In reply to by Scammeritis

Yesterday was first day I didn't hear from him. He wanted money to help him get iPhone as his was dropped in sea. He gets upset when I tell him I think he's a scammer or don't have ane money. They don't want to hear that. He's probably hitting up others. I read where they were following 3,000...that's why it's a few minutes in between replies plus on Hangouts they can reply to them as a group with same messages like love you, want to marry you, will never cheat on you and blah, blah, blah. I noticed sometimes he wouldn't finish sentences or poor grammar and then when I said something about being from Nigeria, he said let me Google that it's a country in Africa. Really? They try to be slick. He had bank account with several million but if you check the profile and address you can tell if it's real. They even misspelled active for status and had actice. They know how to pull at your emotions and affections and also use God to lure you in. Just know you're not alone and there are others going through same thing.
Another marine…
May 08, 2018

In reply to by Scammeritis

Oh my God!! Maybe we have the same scammer. His name is Michael Morgan from Bristol UK working as marine engineer. He kept telling me he will come for vacation and meet me. He emphases to me he wants true relationship but he keeps saying when I come meet you first, then we will talk how we maintain a relationship. But he doesn't talk to me all the time. He asked me to delete the account on tinder and other dating sites. He wants me to cook for him when he's here. He even kept sending me his gym pictures and his badge. But something don't act up right... One day, his grammar slipped out.i said I run into 2 African scammers before. He said you must be crazy. Then blocked me right away and deleted me right off on tinder so I can't search his profile.
same old story
October 14, 2018

In reply to by Scammeritis

This sounds familiar. He did call once and has a middle eastern accent. Claims to be a christian. He goes by the name Dean Robert.
SKYZONE
June 03, 2018

In reply to by Get Real

I have a feeling this could be MY scammer. He goes by the name of George Morgan Calls himself a military red crosser. Lives in Italy and needed money for mosquitoe nets. I got burnt.
CindyfrmGA
April 20, 2018

In reply to by PoetKnows

The guy i suspect is scamming me is on kik. He says he is in the military and continuously asks me for an itune card. None of his reasons make sense and he said he loved me quick .He is using the name ADAM JOHNSON and his pics have MISSION BEAR wrote on them.
Patty
October 31, 2017

In reply to by tired of scammers

I also was recently talking with a man named Michael Morgan who contacted me through Words With Friends on Facebook. He said he was a petroleum engineer working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. He said he was originally from Almeria Spain and was divorced with two kids Nelly and Jeffrey. He talked about wanting to marry me and move me to his mansion in Wyoming. He told me he loved me. This past weekend he told me that he had a problem at work and could not work until he gets an electric heating jacket because the weather was bad and it was for his safety. He kept reminding me that he needed the jacket and he couldn’t afford to buy it and he didn’t have anyone. He told me he lost his credit card during a fishing tournament. He got mad when I didn’t offer any money to buy the jacket and I blocked him. No way was I going to give money to him. I hadn’t ever met him. My daughter googled his name and said he is a romance scammer.
Ashleygarvin31
February 15, 2018

In reply to by Patty

There is also a guy posing to be Brandon Watkins going by the name of Scott Watkins or Watkins Scott he also claims to be in Navy there is a real Brandon Watkins it is not him. This man is very good looking and catches the attention of any female but he is engaged to be married it’s not him

Kathyelliott19
March 12, 2018

In reply to by Ashleygarvin31

There's several guys using this mans pictures me and my sister have talked to 3 of them And have pictures he sent ...the guy I talked to was grey Watkins and Brandon Watkins and old the other name He is using but he never asked for itunes.

Liveandlearn18
March 17, 2018

In reply to by Kathyelliott19

Do these scammers pursue you? Because I fell for this guys gorgeous pictures and reached out to him. But now I'm 95% sure he's scamming me. When I confronted him, he got so defensive. He has asked for itunes card. And then Amazon cards. Sounds like a scammer to me.
Kornweibel
November 30, 2020

In reply to by Kathyelliott19

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FedUp with Scammers
March 17, 2018

In reply to by Patty

Facebook's Gameroom Words with Friends is LOADED with scammers. So many share the same sad story. I couldn't believe some of the W^$^* I was told. I hope you aren't keeping in touch with this guy, cause he probably has 19 other girls waiting for his responses.
Stoplying
April 28, 2018

In reply to by FedUp with Scammers

I too can say that Word is loaded with these damn scammers. I see a large group, sharing all info on you, after being questioned.They all share your info with each other before you even meet them. Horrible. They seemed to stop all the questions now. Using a different technique. Hangouts and webcam video. Then webcam "doesn't work...give me your mobile number" Bunch of scammers. I hope FB can get them out of there.
lydia0303
August 11, 2018

In reply to by Patty

Patty, I feel like we could be talking to the same guy. Goes by Michael Ian. Do you have pictures. He sent pictures of a very handsome guy in a purple sweater with collared shirt standing at the great wall of china?
YittaCA
April 09, 2018

In reply to by tired of scammers

Has anyone heard of Jacob supposed to be Oil rig Manager in Texas several women on Facebook has been contacted by this man.....2 says he's an Scam Artist....Anyone info please respond
Evelyn
April 18, 2018

In reply to by YittaCA

Does any one no soner hill I do believe him to be a scammer we have talk For months wife died child died then after we met son died but he never Actually came out and ask for money but sort of sounded like he wanted to he call me on messenger yesterday for first time but sound recording I sure not a person I try contacting again knowing he probably was but had any one hard if him
Becky Sue
May 23, 2018

In reply to by YittaCA

I am writing to a Jacob Leo Marco on an oil rig in the Norwegian sea, is a chief mechanic on the ship. Wife was a school teacher died 3yr ago and has a son named Felix, they adopted and now in a boading school in Ohio..Does this sound familiar?
Becky Sue
May 23, 2018

In reply to by YittaCA

I am writing to a Jacob Leo Marco on an oil rig in the Norwegian sea, is a chief mechanic on the ship. Wife was a school teacher died 3yr ago and has a son named Felix, they adopted and now in a boading school in Ohio..Does this sound familiar?
Becky Sue
May 23, 2018

In reply to by YittaCA

I am writing to a Jacob Leo Marco on an oil rig in the Norwegian sea, is a chief mechanic on the ship. Wife was a school teacher died 3yr ago and has a son named Felix, they adopted and now in a boading school in Ohio..Does this sound familiar?
Becky Sue
May 23, 2018

In reply to by YittaCA

I am writing to a Jacob Leo Marco on an oil rig in the Norwegian sea, is a chief mechanic on the ship. Wife was a school teacher died 3yr ago and has a son named Felix, they adopted and now in a boading school in Ohio..Does this sound familiar?
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