Consumer Alert
Faking it — scammers’ tricks to steal your heart and money
Not 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.
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In reply to So sorry to hear this I am by Broke and disgusted
In reply to I too am struggling with the by Sickened and m…
In reply to If you gave the scammer your by FTC Staff
In reply to If you gave the scammer your by FTC Staff
In reply to If you gave the scammer your by FTC Staff
In reply to Recently, I was scam by by ayala544
In reply to Recently, I was scam by by ayala544
In reply to I know it's difficult. Break by Sherry
In reply to What was his story... I just by concerned
In reply to Be very careful don't by speeddialled
In reply to Please I am also in love the by Twins
US soldiers do not have to pay for leave forms. The US Army has many warnings about scammers who pretend to be soldiers.
If you never talked to the person on the phone or saw him in person, you can't be sure who he really is. You take a risk when you send money to someone you don't know, or tell them about yourself. If you tell him your bank account number or credit card number, he could take money from you.
In reply to US soldiers do not have to by FTC Staff
In reply to here is a list of fake names by annette kennedy
In reply to here is a list of fake names by annette kennedy
In reply to OMG, These people are all by tired of scammers
In reply to OMG, These people are all by tired of scammers
HI, I have been talking to a guy Martti Frode since July 9,met him on OK Cupid.The guy has a 14 year daughter and he's been texting me daily with numerous recent pics. Says he's here in the US for a BP contract, has a linked in profile as a Marine Engineer and several Youtube videos under his name. He's also supposedly a VP with Anchor Platform Services in the UK. The pics all seem to be the same individual. He is interested in immigrating to the US because the UK apparently is not friendly for businesses in the marine industry. His msgs are very romantic and he says he's given me his heart. He was in VA for some time but just before we could meet, he had to go to Houston for the BP meeting. Did he tell you that his wife had a child with another man and he was heartbroken and adopted his daughter Alina after his breakup? Says he dated another woman but found out she was after his wealth.And its been a while since he's been in a relationship. I havent met him nor have I sent him any money etc.
In reply to HI, by Cyrila
In reply to OMG, These people are all by tired of scammers
In reply to here is a list of fake names by annette kennedy
In reply to Please I am also in love the by Twins
Do not send $$. I am a 49 year old single man been had 3 times, I am sorry but you will never meet him, his leave will be suspended because an "escalation in security measures" code orange or some rap like that, he got reprimanded because his bunk was not made properly, boots not shiny enough or he got into a fight...
All boo hoo stories, "how unfair our love has to wait". Please don't fall for it because he will change the subject every time you mention the money and a week later some catastrophic happenstance will bring him to ask you for more, larger amounts, and you end up with a dent if not no savings or defaulted on important payments.
First one only got me for $70 before I found her photos on(use the site, run his images), second got me just under a grand before I found her and third one $2500 for a plane ticket+ other. Look for words like " babe", "food stuff", " have you eaten today ". I beg you, do some searching, don't send anything or disclose anything personal and if you don't comply, knuckle under, watch his messages demeanor change to near violent but only a couple because he doesn't want to scare you all the way off, he just wants you to think you could lose him.
Believe, he has already psych profiled you and he will twist you up, wring you dry and you will not only feel betrayed by the entire male gender those heart aches take along, long, time to fade and then because of Your suspicions you might miss out on the real deal when he opens a door, meets you in a store, offers you a hand with something, we do those little things when we are interested or attracted (boys are wired differently than girls) nice guys are very subtle and cautious because we don't like getting hurt either. Please, search, report and forward everything he sent you to the FTC, FORWARD HIM A LINK TO THIS SITE and CUT OFF ALL COMMUNICATIONS, change your email, phone number. I am SO SORRY.
In reply to Do not send $$. I am a 49 by Elderdouglass
As I read your post I realized just how severe myself son was taken,he not only believed everything this person told him but alienated all his friends and his family.
The person that took advantage of him was a random "friend" request on FB....which turned into "I love you, I want to be your wife, send me money, barrow money, pawn or sell everything you have and I will come to you foe the rest of myself life", money for airline tickets x at least 5....after every dime sent he was sent excuse after excuse as to why she didn't show up, or pay my bills so I can keep in communication with you (lights and Internet $500 a month), I'm starving and have no money for food so I have to sell my blood....on and on the stories go.
I warned him from the second I heard that this was a scam but he totally believed literally everything she said. I checked and found I think 5 different profiles with the same name, from the same city in the same country... Quito,Ecuador! She has been "red flagged" through Western Union and then changed the name to send money to.... he has had messages forwarded to him that were emails to a different guy saying he was sending her money and the amounts with tracking info...he believed her "hacked" story and sent more money.
She has told him she has "raw gold" she will smuggle into the country sell it and they will live off that....also she has told him she needs all the money to prove that she can make it in this country, but they will refund it when she gets here. She threatened that if he fails her she will kill herself, and so on which gets even worse....he believed it all. My son was taken by this crook or group of crooks for more than $20,000.00 which is insane since he sent her the money she demanded without taking responsibility for his own bills. Anyway, I just wanted to throw this out there in hopes it will help someone that's not as trusting and gullible as my son.....
I did have enough and sent her an email stating I was reporting her and her scam to every official I could with all documentation, demands, promises, etc....to this she sent my son a message saying I threatened to "kill her"...absolutely pathetic....her name is Cho Marie, Marie Misseh, Cho Marie Misseh....and the new name she had him send money to is Berroa Perez Mabel....and another A Soh Virgine???? I'm so glad you caught on before being totally taken....
In reply to As I read your post I by angry mom
In reply to this same woman is trying to by tiger
In reply to Thanks for your reply, I by angrymom
You could also share this FBI article that describes how romance scammers work.
The FBI says the scam usually starts when you’re contacted online by someone who appears interested in you. The person might have a profile you can read or a email a picture to you. They might chat back and forth for weeks, even months, to build a connection. They might send small gifts. But eventually, your new “friend” is going to ask you for money.
The FBI warns people that you could get caught up in money laundering if you cash phony checks and sending the money overseas, or re-ship stolen merchandise the 'friend' sends to you.
In reply to Please I am also in love the by Twins
In reply to Hi!My name is L., I have by Lisitsyna
In reply to Please I am also in love the by Twins
I met a guy name David Robertson I need to know if he's a soldier or not cause he says he loves me and miss me and his son so can I please get some help here please soon he said he be home before Septembe
In reply to I met a guy name David by tammy c
The US Army has warned people about scammers. Scammers pretend to be soldiers and tell all kinds of stories about themselves to get people to send money. Sometimes they say they have children who need money.
Don't send money to someone you never met.
The US Army says:
In reply to The US Army has warned people by FTC Staff
In reply to This guy said he's in the by Pk422
In reply to I met a guy name David by tammy c
Look I am former military and military people NEVER I repeat NEVER have to pay to leave or any of the other BS these con guys are trying to pull. The military get's them there and get's them home... They issue their gear etc. Don't fall for these loser guys whining stories.
In reply to Look I am former military and by Not conned
This is happening right now to me. I met this person online claiming that he is in Military station in Kabul Afghanistan he goes under the name of Dave Soto and told me he has a daughter and widowed.
Long story short we started chatting and and get into relationship Im so fallen for him. Now his asking for money because he said his daughter has broken her legs while she was in the park with friends. In the very moments I stand with what I believe is right I told him I will not send any money to him and now he is not replying back on my messages so its clear now that it was a SCAM! Ladies please be guarded your heart and money.
In reply to This is happening right now by lotismi
In reply to My friend started getting by Wymonia
In reply to Look I am former military and by Not conned
In reply to Thank you for the information by happydv04
Members of the US military have email addresses that end in ".mil." If the person you're talking to won't send you even one email from an address that ends in ".mil," he probably is not in the military.
The ".mil" will be the last part of his email address with nothing after it. The ".mil" is in his actual email address, not something written at the bottom of the screen, or included in the signature or added as part of the message.
It's wise to pay attention to red flags. If you meet someone online, you really don't know who they are, and if he asks you for money, it's probably a scam.
In reply to Look I am former military and by Not conned
In reply to Look I am former military and by Not conned
In reply to Please I am also in love the by Twins
In reply to What is the soldier's name? I by DBen
In reply to I have a guy saying similar by Raye
In reply to I have a guy saying similar by Raye
In reply to Please I am also in love the by Twins
In reply to Do NOT SEND any money. I am a by Rachel P
In reply to What was his story... I just by concerned
In reply to Could you please help me. I by C58
In reply to It is very simple. The guy by js1966
In reply to Call me 912 292 5916 I have by Don't use your…
As stated in the FTC's blog commenting policy, we do not publish personal information, like phone numbers, in blog comments.
In reply to As stated in the FTC's blog by FTC Staff
In reply to Call me 912 292 5916 I have by Don't use your…
Hi.i guess i am a victim too of these scumbags.. i met this guy on FB.. he gave me a name FRANCIS DARREN. we started chatting sin feb 22.. i was skeptical but i continued to talk to him coz he seems so nice and gentle and sweet. an american guy from texas he said but currently in Ghana to claim a " nanny Will" to cut it short.. we chatted and eventually fell for each other even by not seeing each other yet. now , he wanted to marry me and get the nanny will so we could start a life. the problem is he couldnt process the nanny will from Barclays bank coz the bank is askin for money to process it.. so last nite it came to a point where he asked my help.. hahaha voila. i knew it.. when i refused.. he said i broke his heart. and made him sad. . the funny silly thing i did back then was i sent nude pics of me.. but latter part last nite .. he wasnt able to pesuade me to send him cash.. now i blocked him on FB..