Consumer Alert
Has an online love interest asked you for money?
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.
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In reply to How can you find a list of by Headovrheart
In reply to How can you find a list of by Headovrheart
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In reply to Yes, call a private by lucabela
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In reply to I meet someone Canadian by Cooper
In reply to I meet someone Canadian by Cooper
Someone in the army says he's in Afghanistan. Asking for money in different ways. Pleading for me, I have not sent money. I'm still not sure of him. He says he has a security box in another country he needed my help to get by a letter. Not sure about it. I have been reaching him and can't find him. A little unsure.
In reply to Someone in the army says he's by Notsureyet1014
In reply to Someone in the army says he's by Notsureyet1014
In reply to I come across these all the by Cats8106
In reply to Seems most of the scammers by Tiger44
In reply to Seems most of the scammers by Tiger44
In reply to OurTime has a lot of scammers by Countrygal
In reply to Has anyone been scammed by by Lhh64
In reply to He is trying to scam me right by Red36
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In reply to I have been talking to a man by Foolsheart
In reply to I have been talking to a man by Foolsheart
In reply to probably...i'm in the same by me
How r we as woman who r being scammed but not one of us has wrote or said there name of the men that were doing this... I knw i just meet somebody in military and havent meet want same stuff ... Does Anybody knw this name... Richard Helseth from N.Y.
In reply to Has anyone been involved with by Laura
In reply to I was scammed by the best by cooperLV
You can report him to Facebook and to the bank or wire transfer companies you used to send money. Call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492 or the MoneyGram Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400. You can report to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint.
The information you provide to the FTC goes into a database that law enforcement agencies use for investigations natonwide.
Recently had a guy tell me he is a surgeon from the U.S, currently based in Syria, I started getting suspicious yesterday with some of the things he was saying. Sent me lots of pictures, asked me to marry him after less then a week, then proceeded to ask for Itunes cards so he can update his phone. Of course he told me video chat and calling is disabled for security reasons. Has a son being raised by a nanny, wife died 8 years ago. I googled his name and did not find anyone matching any of the stuff he has told me. I did not rush out and buy the cards as I was very skeptical and decided to look up iTunes card fraud before I did. Very thankful I found these stories and info before I lost out on money I can’t afford to spend
In reply to Recently had a guy tell me he by Thankful I che…
Has anyone heard of a scammer by the name of Robin Slot Jim? His business is Slot Construction. He claims to have been in Cairo Egypt building a new highway & bridges.
Robin Slot is Dutch, wife from England died, a son Michael in college in Michigan & a young son Alex who is with him. They had been living in US. Alex is American. Claims he owe Egypt a Clearance fee of $48,000, but does not have it, so they detain him in Egypt.
I gave him $57,000 and flys to Paris & gets detained because he owes Workers Union $60,000 to pay workers. He & his son have been in Customs Detention Center at Paris Airport & they want him to go back to Egypt to serve 3-4 years in prison.
Now he is asking for $35,000 to pay Workers Union & another fried gave him $30,000. Does this sound like a scam??
In reply to Has anyone heard of a scammer by VLW
In reply to This story has many of the by FTC Staff
In reply to Has anyone heard of a scammer by VLW
I was scammed out of thousands of dollars by a man who was supposidly in Turkey. What I know now, I was used and all of the money I had is gone. I almost lost my home because of this.