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Looking to start a new relationship? For some, that may mean meeting a new love interest online. Word to the wise: sometimes it’s best to lead with your head and not your heart.

Millions of Americans use dating sites, social networking sites, and chat rooms to meet people. And many forge successful relationships. But scammers also use these sites to meet potential victims. They create fake profiles to build online relationships, and eventually convince people to send money in the name of love.

The Federal Trade Commission receives thousands of reports each year about romance scammers who create fake online relationships only to steal their victims’ money.

Unfortunately, an online love interest who asks for money is almost certainly a scam artist.

The FTC’s new infographic, developed with the American Bankers Association Foundation, lists common signs of online dating scams and what to do if someone you meet online asks you for money.

Below are some tips to identify a real romance versus a scammer cruising for a target.

Online Dating Scams. Has an online love interest asked you for money? That's a scam. Scammers know millions of people use online dating sites. They are there, too, hiding behind fake profiles. Signs of a scam: Professes love quickly. Claims to be from the U.S., but is overseas for business or military service. Asks for money, and lures you off the dating site. Claims to need money — for emergencies, hospital bills, or travel. Plans to visit, but can’t because of an emergency. $220 million lost in 2016. $56 million lost in 2012. Reports to the FBI tripled over 5 years (4,476 reports in 2012; 14,546 reports in 2016) What to do: Slow down — and talk to someone you trust. Don’t let a scammer rush you. Never wire money, put money on a gift or cash reload card, or send cash to an online love interest. You won’t get it back. Contact your bank right away if you think you’ve sent money to a scammer. Report your experience to: • The online dating site • Federal Trade Commission: ftc.gov/complaint • Federal Bureau of Investigation: ic3.gov. Learn more at ftc.gov/imposters and aba.com/engagement

Please share this information with others. Victims may be embarrassed to talk about their experiences, but you can help. A simple phone call, email or text, saying “Look what I just found” and sharing this information may make a difference in someone else’s life.

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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.

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.

Kroddy5
February 13, 2018

In reply to by Foolmeonce

What's the person name i also have a name & account info of this guy i met online he started off being kind talking about God etc when i couldn't get my daughter to send more $ to his " pastor" he behind very abusive via text however he paid 2 of my bills before this. Which I sure he will call chase an maje a false report. Ive saved all texts messages showing him sending texting me. He even texted my daughter saying he was buying me a car but i had to come up w 275 an he would pat the rest.

ScamHaters United
February 01, 2018

It is getting popular for women to open Bank Accounts for their online lover. Collect money and forward to on and open credit cards. Also to send iTunes and Amazon and other gift cards ALL WHO COME TO YOU AND SAY MILITARY ARE FAKE. ALL WITH PROFESSIONAL JOBS ARE FAKE. NO REAL MAN CONTACTS A WOMAN FOR LOVE...AND MONEY.

Vergethisgirl
February 25, 2018

In reply to by ScamHaters United

Yes. Why iTunes and Amazon gift cards. Do they turnaround and sell them??
Nevaknow
February 01, 2018

Wow! I so wish I'd had this information last year, I sure could have sent you some pictures, emails, ID's and phone numbers of one scammer. It hurt like crazy to think all he wanted was money.

Now it hurts to think I was a "Mark". I was really stupid. If my story can help someone else,it is worth it. Been there, L

Whoops
February 01, 2018

In reply to by Nevaknow

Even annoymous, thanks for sharing that which is normally not shared due to embarrassment.
P.J.
February 01, 2018

In reply to by Nevaknow

No reason to be embarrassed. It can happen to anyone, especially those who say "it could never happen to me". Maybe there is a trick they would fall for that you yourself would not. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. I wish you a good one. Be happy!
CD
March 01, 2018

In reply to by P.J.

I was hit up after making comments to a Beautiful model on Instagram. She claims to be Rosanna Arkle. She keeps insisting I get Walmart or Chase Slate gift cards for her trip to SRI Lanka and she will be putting money in a account and extra for me.
Tryme.go
October 30, 2019

In reply to by P.J.

That was me! It could never happen to me! Yeah! Over a year late and 160,000 $ wasted that's me! I feel so stupid! But I can assure you never again, if I can help others with this I will I just don't know how! Computers and facebook and all the sites was all to me when this happened! That was one big reason I got taken advantage of I didn't know what to look for and I never told anyone about any of this
JUSTME
February 05, 2018

In reply to by Nevaknow

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! You are NOT STUPID!!!! YOU ARE JUST TRUSTING!!!! I RECENTLY HAVE BEEN SCAMMED FOR MONEY FROM A SCAMMER ON POF, and it is embarrassing and emotionally painful, but I will heal and move on in life and use this as a "hard life lesson experience, and I am so happy and glad that I NOW KNOW THE SIGNS, WHAT I DID NOT KNOW THEN, A YEAR AGO!!!!!

Metoo
February 10, 2018

In reply to by JUSTME

I had an attempted scam on POF very recently. Had only used the site once before and it was bad enough (he was married) This time everythjngblooked legit. He had read my profile thoroughly. Asked pertinent questions. Got very annoyed that I wasnt falling in love with him. Stayed away for a day then came back and told me he was sorry but that now HE was behind with his work and could I get him an iTunes gift card so that he could get his computer updated. I copped on immediately but only because I had read the warnings on the site. I told him I knew and he (pretend) erupted and said "what's the point of you being in my life if you don't trust me?" The ironybof it. However i think he may have stolen someones identity and life picture to do it because he appeared in photographs to be legit.
Moneyfraud
February 01, 2018
Facebook has a lineup of scammers who are trying to make a hookup for money. They act very empathetic and they listen carefully. Then they come up with a scenario where they need money for an emergency. There are 100s of them on Facebook. The tip off is when they have a photo of them with an animal of kid. Then they somehow inform the kid they are getting a new mom. Lately, the scammers are on a peacekeeping mission.
Nofool
August 20, 2018

In reply to by Moneyfraud

I've experienced multiple times on Twitter & once on FB. One guy was in the military & asked for $1,500 because he all of sudden had an issue with his bank account and couldn't get funds from his 2nd job. He got upset when refused to open an account in my name. Another supposedly worked on an oil rig, contract was about to be up soon. He had a daughter living overseas in boarding school. He was supposed to be American originally from Florida but didn't have a hint of an American accent. He asked me to purchase $300 in itunes cards & send him the #s from them. Another asked me to be his go between to collect some $ that a former/deceased patient had left. Another one claims to be working in the state of Georgia. Says that he's Austrailian and on a contract for a solar panel job site. has to use special phones, cannot video chat etc. Tells me that he is in the hospital & sends a seriously photoshopped picture. Says that he needs medicine/antibiotics not covered by his plan, wants to know if i have $300 that I could send him. I say no, I was between jobs which he was aware of. Then he asks about my credit cards. Says that he's having issues with his bank & wants to have his checks sent to me/my account. Says that he will have his boss/payroll rep call me to authorize the changes, I just have to supply some account information and say that I'm his fiancee. They all declared their love almost immediately. They all had a daughter or son who lived somewhere else, also all had an ex that cheated or died in some manner. I actually found it a sad & fun distraction. I can't believe that people think that it's ok to treat people like this. No trust at all.
LogicalGal
October 04, 2018

In reply to by Nofool

Befriended me on FB and message me thru messenger for 3 weeks then let me transfer to hangout. I think I'm also talking to a scammer man. I have his photos but don't know how to post here to warn others. Really good in expressing himself but then after a month, he's already asking me to send money for his daughter but uses 2 different names to send the money to. Now he's asking me to send money $3,500 to pay his attorney for documents so that his funds will be transferred to me.
Dimples
February 01, 2018
A very good looking man in Army. Fell in love within 3 days after talking for 7 to 8 days wanted me to send $3500.00 to him to fly home. He was protecting Syria. I went along with him telling him l would send. Then l typed him a text telling him l was not an idiot !! And l was not sending a dime to him . He is in a Army Suit with the name James on it. Beware !!
Katiehasmail
February 02, 2018

In reply to by Dimples

There is a man who has now somehow given me reason to feel so guilty I dont send this money. He has over 11,000$ now. Hes scary and I contacted the FBI and local services. I inderstand the money is lost and I feel stupid- but the point now is he also is in the Army. ‘Sweetman123...’ (any derivitive), has his son, and as a single father. I caught onto and a half months ago when his birthday was fake. I went online to been verified and his phone number popped up and everything you said was real so I get for leaving him. But then things kept not adding up and not matching been verified. So now I am lost, sad, and had just left a 17 year relationship. So, I was very very naïve and you can imagine more heartbroken than ever. I have pictures and am eilling to help with anyone- help!
Feeling foolisg
August 23, 2019

In reply to by LouiesMom

What did James Krueger look like? I've been contacted by Jameson Krueger recently. I thought initially it was someone I knew, but quickly realized it isn't. Sounds familiar to a lot of stories here. Widowed with one daughter. Supposedly has a good job. Red flag for me, he's gorgeous, not many photos and I cannot see his friends list. Looked to see who liked a few of his photos and they are all Africans. Be careful out here peeps.
Oodmanhater03
February 12, 2018

In reply to by Dimples

Look here that mans is an old man. Born in the ancient tjmes

Laura
February 18, 2018

In reply to by Dimples

I am talking to a man who has beautifully swept me. Asked for leave in army to be with me but didn’t have enough for ticket and asked for money said when he gets home he will get into his fidelity and pay me back. He has sent me pics of him with his mates group pics and some from home and 2 short videos am I getting scammed?
hes never comng
September 10, 2018

In reply to by Laura

yes you are being scamed - been there done that - hes never coming don't send 1 more dime
Hangout alert
February 24, 2018

In reply to by Dimples

I’m not sure if it’s the same guy or not. He does have dimples in the picture he posted and is fairly attractive.This one called himself Michael Millier. Also wore an Army suit. Single father. Sent pics of kid who does look like him.Claims to be a widow. Did not ask for money but an iphone.Claims to be German but doesn’t have an accent.I also told him he was a scammer.!
Why me
April 18, 2018

In reply to by Hangout alert

What else did this guy look like because it sounds like what happened too me and I have been scammed out of a lot of money because of this I failed for it he was Charming and had the dimples and cute but totally lied to me and now I am scared because I think he is trying to pose as an investigator now to scare me saying he is sending Someone to my house and I have to pay them to clear my name I don't know what to do I already blocked them and reported to the money gram service and the websites and everything but I am still feel so stupid and scared
MrG
October 16, 2018

In reply to by Why me

Don't worry about the threat of being investigated. That's just another scam tactic.
confusion
August 19, 2018

In reply to by Hangout alert

Can you describe how he looks more does he wear a 1 phorm shirt and have an American flag tattoo? Please help
Say NoTo Scames
May 18, 2018

In reply to by Dimples

Is his name James Barr are sometimes go by Nalari Benjamin he tried to scam me for 1500 so his son could have surgery he was in a bad car accident but I checked into it and there was no little boy that was injured and he said that he was in Crocker City Missouri then he wanted me to fly the little boy here so I can get in medical treatment because he was in Syri just be careful and don't fall for any of this so sorry..
Not the one
May 22, 2018

In reply to by Dimples

Dimples I'm sorry that this is going on can you tell me what this guy looks like because I am talking to this guy name James Johnson and he is very , very handsome as well I meet him on Instagram and then wanted me to go to hangout been talking to him for like two months now has a sick son wife dead of cancer mother in a retirement home asking me for money but I'm not the one and he will never get it . Do you think he is the same guy ??
prokap6
July 20, 2018

In reply to by Not the one

I have a James Roberts I met in POF. Claimed wife died cancer, daughter died I car accident raising grandson. Mom and son in tennessee. Had a lot of pictures, but would never video. Now says deployed in Kabul
Confused58
August 28, 2018

In reply to by Dimples

This sounds the same as mine the romance went very fast , he knew just what to say said he was in the air Force , his name was James have a picture but not in uniform,I feel for him very fast after about 3 weeks something went wrong when he was getting ready to come home and retire. Then here it came he ask me for help with lawyer fees 5,000 dollars. I've been alone so long, but I guess that is what they pray on and I'm a good Christian woman .I don't understand all this
LindaAb
February 01, 2018
I noticed that I have begun to receive Friend Requests from people I do not know and who do not appear to be associated with anyone I know. I thought these to be curious and was also suspicious of them, so I denied them. Interesting that your article indicates that often these are people who claim to be from the US but are living overseas, such as in military service. One of the invites showed pictures of a man in various aspects of military duty, but his profile says he is not working and is living in Afganistan. These were red flags. Another invite was similar, but allegedly living in the US. I am glad you posted these warnings. Thank you.
Shariys
February 01, 2018

In reply to by LindaAb

Limit your friend requests to friends of friends. That will really cut down on that crap.
Leroy
February 08, 2018

In reply to by LindaAb

Set you request to friends of friends. Mine are set high to keep idiots like that from pestering me.
steerclearkids!
January 10, 2019

In reply to by LindaAb

same thing just happened to me..friend request on a private FB page..don't know how he managed to find me..messaged him to ask if we had friends/interests in common, said he was looking for a buddy and my name appeared..ha!..didn't know that when you message someone you are then connected to messenger..we texted for a couple of days and then he asked me to go to hangouts or whatsapp as it was "safer." sure enough next day his profile on FB was removed due to "spam" and "abusive content." we speak daily..very charming and good looking..swears on the Bible the pics are authentic..stationed in Afghanistan..blah blah blah..be home soon wants to get married, etc..goes by Frank Kelly
Mother scammed
February 01, 2018
My mother fell for this after my Dad died. Was going on for seven years till she met a flesh and blood guy who gave her an ultimatum about it. She stopped. She still thinks she will get her money back at some point though! Can I send you the info I collected from her on this? His user name was Thomas/Tomas Burnett I have some of her receipts and emails with address.
FTC Staff
February 01, 2018

In reply to by Mother scammed

You or your mom could report what happened at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations. People who report can choose how much personal information to give. Thank you.

jae 1014
February 01, 2018
A guy saw me on Facebook and contacted me. It didn't take longer for 2 weeks before the word "money" came up. Because I am a city gal, I instantly knew what the deal was. And, coincidentally, the EXACT points mentioned above is what I encountered - instant love, dad former military guy whose estate was being settled in Singapore (of all places for an African American/though not impossible), etc. A word to t he wise. Needless to say, I gave him a good piece of my mind and it wasn't pretty.
Perpetual Sunshine
February 12, 2018

In reply to by jae 1014

"Because I am a city gal, I instantly knew what the deal was..." LOL.....well, I am a country gal, and golly gee, slap my thigh and can you give me an amen sistah, I instantly knew what the deal was too!! Just teasing.....at any rate, I deleted Facebook, Instagram, Twitter accounts - ESPECIALLY Facebook as EVEN WITH tighter parameters,such as accepting friend requests from only "friends of friends", well that doesn't do crap....all these guys need is some unsuspecting person to accept their friend request, and then they "get to know" that person's friends and well, there ya go. And ladies?? Use something other than your pretty faces and cleavages in your profile pics. Talk about making yourself a target right from the git-go!!! I have had a few instances of this kind of crap, but one guy was persistent enough that it scared me. No social media account is worth going through this crap.
Kevin
February 01, 2018
It was just announced that someone in the city I live in lost $75,000 to one of these types of scams.
Susan
February 02, 2018

In reply to by Kevin

It's shameful what these scammers do to innocent people. They not only try to steal your money but break your heart as well.
Broken heart
February 24, 2018

In reply to by Susan

You are susan because i was scammed and in love sent a invitation letter to nigeria dating a men name chike aneihe for almost year and sent money too but then i stop he got my invitation letter final from me and started to change on me my preacher friend here in usa but nigerian told me i was being scamm by him and that for me to give him chike number in nigeria he will call him for me to see is he married there he was with family which i know it but i was following my heart not my head but i reported him to us embassy in nigeria about my invitation letter i sent him to come over to usa he was waiting on me to send him more money for visa fee and airticket he will never get it he is a scammer player on facebook i think he has a wife here also in america with child but she cant make him citizen its takes america to do that they want you to fly to nigeria to marry them also online dating site its not good safe even if you can see them on video camera they wife which they say sister can be there too there husband wihich they call brother can be there too looking at you and you want know it true nigeria and ghana facebook instagram is a bunch of lies 419 scammers from africa targeting us to get america money to make them billionaires millionaires listening up ppl plz stop sending your money to nigeria love affairs they can convert our money over there like example $100 usa money converted in nigeria money call over there ngn are naira money will give them $36,000 in usa $200 dollars sent to nigeria will give them $76,000 in there money if you send $300 of america dollars to nigeria ghana will give them $100.000 naira dollars in there money if you send $3,000 usa money convert to nigeria money will give them $ 1000.000.000 million dollars in there money so you see where am getting at now we are the target for africa for pretenending to love you in a week really i love you so much thats all there saying how ask yourself that and i just met you in one day are mybe one week its a scammer they look at your profile on facebook if you got up your higher pay job thats who they target money igbo tribes there are handsome!! But charming and lies yorba tribes there are handsome and lies these two tribes dont reslly get along in nigeria both want money money money money thats all i would here from the fake pastors on there to romance its not worth a heart break let down but i do know as a christain as i am God Jehovah does get all crooks for you soon are later exspecailly you are a good hearted person too as myself is so i leave who ever read this be aware of this man on facebook and instantgram he is a player with wives in nigeria and america he thought i was gonna be a wife to take care of all his wives hmmm American plz wake up they uses us ! For pretend love google some of the websites mivies on youtube nigeria movies pretend love
Estea
February 02, 2018

Many ask to be my friend on Facebook, I click on “about” to get more info, all their friends or responses are of a different race, a dead giveaway that this profile has been hacked using his photos and some geographic information but it’s not him at all. I report each one to FB and they thank me, but I think FB is overwhelmed now as there are so many. Just do a little detective work yourself, always assume no man is going to ask a stranger for money. About 2 years ago a good looking man living as a doctor in Afghanistan wanted to be my friend, for days he lured me into chatting via Hangouts and I realized in less than a week he was calling me dear, wanting to know what I was doing, etc. then said he was in a dilemma because he couldn’t get his credit card or money but needed someone to call a certain #, I refused to do it and he got pretty annoyed that I wasn’t obeying his commands. That was the last of him as he knew I caught on that he was a hoax! Amazing, women don’t just use common sense, I think vulnerable women are lonely and very naive. Been there done that, delete after reporting is the best thing. Even on dating sights, it’s just not safe anymore because we tell too much on a profile!

JUSTME
February 05, 2018

In reply to by Estea

No disrespect to you but please, do NOT put women down because of their mistake. Remember, you made the SAME MISTAKE AS THEY DID, IT IS JUST, YOU FINALLY LEARNED YOU LESSON!!!! SO, PLEASE, ALLOW THEM TO LEARN THEIR MISTAKE, TOO!!!
Rodnik44
February 12, 2018

In reply to by Estea

I'm too old and too happily married to be caught up in these sorts of things, but it seems to me, reading these various posts, some sound advice for meeting real, live, bona fide romance prospects would be to joint a Meetup Group in your city or vicinity. They've got them on every interest under the sun - just Google meetup groups. Option number 2: a community college continuing education class (language, sailing, dancing, real estate, etc). Both venues great for making friends and more-than-friends. I think online dating has become a minefield of scams.
Elle
February 01, 2018
This just happened to me and I am not embarrassed to tell people (in fact, I'm alerting everyone I know) because "he"/"they" were that good! They are master manipulators and I caution anyone communicating with someone who has a 321 area code. He said he was from FL (relocated to RI where I live) and while that is the area code for Cape Canaveral, it also is for SAT/COM phones, as I found out. During the two phone conversations I had with him, it was clearly an overseas call. Everything was very believable and real, there weren't really any red flags and it ended quickly when I pressed to meet him in person. I was shocked when this "successful man" who'd just returned home from a business trip to NY, asked me to go to Walmart to get him an iTunes card, and text him the 16 digit code on the back. (The local police said they could hack into my method of payment if it was a cc or bank account). I told him I couldn't understand why he needed me to do this since the last photo he'd sent showed him in front of a Mac computer where iTunes are readily available... That ended our fictional 3 week relationship. He also had asked me to complete a questionaire which I now realize gives them more information on how people think and they will use it in the future. I didn't question it, he filled out the same and I liked his responses. I've actually worked as a "professional match maker" and questionaires are common so that didn't bother me. He did say he was a widower, his wife died of lung cancer 5 years ago and he was finally ready to date again because he deserved love again, etc. So of course the stories pull at the heart strings. (He also had a "significant relationship" with God and wanted to find "one woman"; he would not be dating others during the time he got to know me). He sent many photos and what bothers me is that some were of him and his 14 year old son. I realize that the man/boy in the photos are not connected to the person I was in contact with and they are in fact victims and have no idea their photos are being used in this manner... The police told me that my photo is no doubt being used somewhere in the world as well (thank god I only sent him one!) but not to worry, they pull photos from social media and it's easy to do. I invested my time and my emotions but thankfully not my money. We all want to find that special someone but I would caution ignoring anything that seems too good to be true!
Sandstar66
February 02, 2018

In reply to by Elle

Elle, sounds as if we came across the same scammer... Wow, incredible! He asked me for $4560 to complete his contract to his lawyer. He has sent me so many lovely email which I have printed. He was a widower his wife died of lung cancer, his son lives with his mother etc... I didn’t fall for this creep. Thank God! I truly hope you didn’t either.
JUSTME
February 05, 2018

In reply to by Sandstar66

BEWARE!!!! THESE SCAMMERS ALWAYS, ALWAYS ENDS UP BEING A WIDOWER AND LEFT WITH KIDS TO RAISE - RED FLAG!!!!!!
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