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.
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.
In reply to BEWARE!!!! THESE SCAMMERS by JUSTME
In reply to Yes! It also seems like they by Marlene
In reply to Mine said he was a civil by Coco girl
In reply to Hi, by Califree
In reply to Yes! It also seems like they by Marlene
In reply to BEWARE!!!! THESE SCAMMERS by JUSTME
In reply to This just happened to me and by Elle
In reply to This just happened to me and by Elle
In reply to This just happened to me and by Elle
In reply to This scammer who you talk by China doll
You can report a scam to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that law enforcement uses for investigations. The comments you put here on the blog don’t go into the law enforcement database.
In reply to Scammers share your info with by Anon4life
In reply to Yes I lost 7.500 euro to help by Marys
Hi, I clearly understands exactly where you are coming from. I have lost thousands of dollars to an online love, hard life lesson learned!!!!!
In reply to What if someone is asking you by Stupid
I lost my money to fraudsters, but did not receive a letter from Western Union. I think I told you this when you posted about western union. I try with a registered letter to the address specified by you.Hoffe my letter will also accept. Thank you
In reply to I lost my money to fraudsters by marina52
If you want to ask for money back from Western Union, you must file a claim on the claim website. A registered letter is not a claim.
You must file a claim by May 31, 2018.
Go to FTC.gov/WU to start filing a claim. Click the orange button near the top of the page. Then click again at the next page. You will be connected to the claim website.
In reply to Very pertinent...I believe by Yep
In reply to One scammer got me from by Zebarche
In reply to More wide spread warnings by Rusty
In reply to think I am being scammed - by lkmyers318
In reply to think I am being scammed - by lkmyers318
In reply to I have a friend who has been by Jennylu
You may want to show her some comments that other people have posted on this blog about their experiences. Or, you could show her some information from the FBI. The FBI has articles on its website about romance scammers. The articles list warning signs of a scam.
It's useful to let people know they are sending money to a criminal. People who send money to someone they meet online might not realize that at first. When they understand that they are helping a criminal by giving him money, it can change their perspective.
In reply to I am ending a scam by Smoothly Scammed
EASIER SAID THAN DONE, BUT DON'T FEEL SO BAD BECAUSE I DID THE SAME THING!!!! I LOST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, GOT LOANS IN MY NAME TO HELP HIM OUT, HE WAS SUPPOSED TO PAY ME BACK AND I HAVE NOT SEEN A CENT OF IT. I AM NOT FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY!!! I HAVE LEARNED A HARD LIFE LESSON, NOT TO FALL EMOTIONALLY IN LOVE WITH A MAN, I HAVE NOT MET FACE TO FACE AND FORMED A RELATIONSHIP, SOMEONE WHO LIVES HERE IN MY HOMETOWN, NOT IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, AND NEVER SEES HIM, NOT KNOWING WHO YOU ARE EMOTIONALLY FALLING FOR AND BEING LIED TOO!!!!!
In reply to I am ending a scam by Smoothly Scammed
CORRECTION, AS I HAVE LEARNED FROM READING OTHER ARTICLES... IT'S NOT SCAM RELATIONSHIP, IT IS CALLED... "CON-RELATIONSHIP!!!!! WE HAVE ALL BEEN CONNED BY A SCAMMER!!!!!!!
In reply to I am ending a scam by Smoothly Scammed
In reply to Bridgett is there anyway by sadandlost
You can contact the Attorney General in New York to ask about the business. You could ask the person you're talking to for more information about the business. You can stop sending money and block communication.
If you gave personal information or your bank or credit card information to someone and you're worried it isn't safe, you can protect yourself. Contact your bank and credit card company and ask how to protect your accounts. Read these warning signs of identity theft and if you notice clues that someone is mis-using your information, report that at IdentityTheft.gov
In reply to Bridgett is there anyway by sadandlost
In reply to Bridgett is there anyway by sadandlost
In reply to I was scammed out of over $38 by Grandmaofabz
If you used a wire transfer business to send money to the scammer, you could report him. Call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492 or the MoneyGram Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400. You could report him to Facebook.
In reply to If you used a wire transfer by FTC Staff
In reply to Thanks Bridget Small. I am by KingLeo
Yes, you could contact both banks and explain what happened. You can also report to the FTC at www.FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give the FTC goes into a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations.
In reply to I was scammed out of over $38 by Grandmaofabz
Hello everybody, Do you know love website safe please? I Loved woman an online we was talking videos everyday almost for more 2 years a go, she said she's Sargent in U.S. military and she said she makes to me my papers to lives with her in U.S. I sent to her money also... just last week I see her pics. She was in Jail.. & she's liar about me. she's not Sargent in U.S. military. She's big liar..
In reply to I’m a victim of online by NorahT1
The FTC settlement with Western Union allows people to file a claim if they sent money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017. If you sent money outside those dates, you are not eligible to file a claim.
In reply to I’m a victim of online by NorahT1
Pagination