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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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.
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In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Please, I think my so called by melanie
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
Yeah I've had 3 girls in like 2 weeks say they were working for Unicef and that they're managing properties in Nigeria if they need money for their phone for a ticket out of there. But I have gotten girls to give me their address and full name a way to call them and actually talk to them but I keep telling myself that it's a scam that It could never work, then again I know some people who have been very successful if you actually talk to them on the phone and you send things in the mail back and forth that's pretty cool you gotta start off as a pen pal. The reason I'm on here is because there is a Russian that's where she loves me send me a new picture everyday and all I have to do is pay for her passport she can afford her ticket we have spoken on the phone with a few times plenty of email I just don't know if it's possible
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
Back in July, I had a friend request of some lady. The profile Pic was just a picture of a boat and words about Jesus. But looked through friends list and couldn't see any mutual friends. So thought I'd accept request to see if I could find out more. Eventually saw a picture of her, and well let's say I was pleased I accepted her, she was quite pretty. But I never got in touch.
Then one day out the blue, just had a 'Hi' so messaged her back about HR later asking how we know each other and said is she from west of England or Midlands. And she didn't reply, just sent another hello. And I vaguely remember, during EU referendum I was posting comments in forums about wanting to leave and think She liked one of the comments. So I asked her if it was through that, and said yes and it's shame we left. I asked why she sent me a request when I'm glad to leave.
But started telling me how she lost both parents, but dad died in Plane crash in Labos, but she now gotta travel there to collect $52 million. But just kept Chatting n having laugh for quite a while.
And then one day asked If I could send £100 to pay for final papers to get this inheritance. Why would you travel so far without money to collect it? And why can't they deduct it off the inheritance. But after I said I couldn't afford to and we've not known each other online long and never met. I don't want to.
And she stopped messaging me. And eventually after asking why she not talking she said what's point being friends if I can't help. So I said, so you befriend me just for money. And said no. But when I said see it from my point of view. She avoids answering. I said if I'd known her in person, I may have her a small amount as tester. And if she did move to uk, I'd like to meet up. But now all of sudden today, she's in a new relationship. How' she manage that with guy in US when she meant to Be in Nigeria. Elizabeth M Cowell is the name
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Someone I know has been in by helpless
If someone puts money into your bank account, and you withdraw the money and send it, and the bank finds out the deposit is no good, you must repay the bank. You are responsible for your account.
If someone tricks you, and says he put money in your account, and you take money out and send it, you will lose money. The bank expects you to repay the money you took out.
You take a big risk when you use your bank account, or open a new bank account, to help someone you met online.
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to Helen Christiana Terry is a by tomtombees
In reply to I have seen this a couple of by Jeanne
In reply to look what this guys said to by perezazul12
In reply to What is his name? I must now, by Be alert
In reply to What name did he use? by Army
In reply to I met someone online he's in by slowpoke931
In reply to Did you go through with it? by AngelsHalo
In reply to I met someone online he's in by slowpoke931
In reply to Do not give him $ he is not by CA
In reply to Has anyone herd of a Frank by Be prepared