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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.

Kyraselene83
August 21, 2019
I have been talking to this guy I met on connectingsingles.com we have been in a relationship for 7 months now everything has been going great till he started asking me for a gift card first then money we are still chatting on hangouts he has 2 names he claims to be an upcoming model he's name is Phillip Patrick he keeps getting aggressive at me every time I say no about giving him money then he calms down and say's I must confess I still love you it can be overwhelming and you want to believe them.You can be foolish vulnerable and naive I still love him but he does not change do I keep this relationship and meet up with him in December that is what he wants to do meet me in December why do they have to ask for things
I’m so stupid
August 24, 2019
I’m hoping my story will help someone. I met someone on dating app OkCupid named Andrew Ishaid, but we never met. Andrew contacted (calling and texting) me using a VIOP phone through Peerless Wireless, I later found this information out through a reverse phone number look up. At the time He claimed to be a single Israeli father of a 8 year old daughter which his daughter lived in Israel with his mother and he was trying to buy a home in Calabasas, California where he was currently renting a place. He told me a tragic story that his ex-fiancé left him for another woman. He claimed to have grown up in South Africa and Israel, and worked as a Engineer for E-TEC e manufacturing which led him to live in Washington, Florida, and now California. I did a reverse image search did not find anything, he has a LinkedIn profile and Instagram that seemed legitimate. Although i was suspicious of his strong feelings for me I believed his story. Immediately he was setting up a emotional connection claiming to be the one. I wanted to meet, but claimed that he flew to New York for business and then headed to Egypt to pick up his materials. I Wanted to FaceTime but claimed he didn’t have it, requested Skype, and he used an excuse about his phone being poor quality. He insisted I use the KIK app to communicate with him once he was in Egypt. Using KIK app he proceeded to tell me that his materials were being held by customs. He sent me a link to Emsexpres.com website with a shipping number through KIK app so i can verify that he owed $8000, but requested I send him $4000 or whatever I could contribute. He claimed it would be a way to build a connection. He texted that “It would make him feel so good and I would want him to feel good ❤️❤️❤️“ Once I told him I wasn’t able to give money to someone I haven’t met, but could provide emotional support he quickly ended it saying that if I couldn’t help then we couldn’t talk anymore because he needed to focus on raising money and asking friends that would show concern by helping. Although I didn’t lose anything financially, I lost a lot emotionally. I started questioning myself: my judgement and my self worth. And I thought what did he see in my profile to choose me. So hopefully my story helps someone. I would hate for anyone to be hurt.
Was Scammed on…
September 01, 2019

In reply to by I’m so stupid

I had the same encounter on OKCupid w Andrew Ishaid and was in touch with him for about a month. I reported him to OKCupid and on this site. Please reply with your email address if you'd like to discuss further. I have a lot of photos, some video, pic of his passport (likely fake), and more. I lost money with him unfortunately.
I’m so stupid
September 04, 2019

In reply to by Was Scammed on…

First of all I want tell I’m sorry that this happened to you. I would love to discuss it further with and share information, but I’m afraid to share my email on this site. If you don’t mind me asking you questions. When did you start talking to him? How did you get video and passport picture information? And If you don’t mind me asking how much money did you lose?
I’m so stupid
September 04, 2019

In reply to by Was Scammed on…

Also I was wondering how did things end once you gave him the money?
I’m so stupid
September 25, 2019

In reply to by Was Scammed on…

I would love to hear more from about Andrew Ishaid
Concern woman
October 13, 2019

In reply to by I’m so stupid

Thank you so much for posting your original message. That’s exactly the same situation I’m going thru. This was very helpful. Same as you I became suspicious about so many feelings so quickly. I’m sorry this happened to you but at least you were smart enough not to fall for it. Don’t question yourself. These people pray of other people’s emotions and vulnerability. And don’t give up. The right person is out there. Regards,
do not send mo…
October 13, 2019

In reply to by I’m so stupid

Wow i met andrew on OKc and we talked for a while before he got into some trouble overseas he asked for money and I refused he asked me to fly out and see him which I did and I met him physically. I don’t think he is a scam but he is someone who is online using his real face to get money from people even though he’s story about his ex and kid is true I met him physically and we spent time together but he had a lot of baggage’s I couldn’t deal with and I didn’t wanna keep supporting a man financially.
Scammed on OKCupid
October 17, 2019

In reply to by do not send mo…

Update: Andrew Ishaid is now using the name Andrew Roccio. He probably Googled his name and saw my original post on this site and others where I talk about him. He likely changed names so that he can continue scamming others. Sad. He used to call and text me all day long for weeks. Sent me photos, videos, etc. I'm glad this guy, whoever he really is, is out of my life!
don't get scammed
October 24, 2019

In reply to by Scammed on OKCupid

I believe he is also using the name Andrew Philip. I met him with that name on okcupid. Similar story but he said his daughter was 13, named Anita. That she was living with his mother in Israel. Andrew said he was looking to purchase a house in Chicago. When we started chatting he was in New Jersey selling his house. Then he flew to Dubai for work. He became attached very early on, insisting he loved me after a week or so. He said he had a gift to send me. When he sent me the tracking (through emsexpres. com) his name came up Andrew Philip Ishaid. He didn't get to the point where he asked me for money. I ended whatever we had going on bc although based on a previous comment he could very well be real, this is all too much for me. There are other comments on this post that describe him as Andrew Philip.
Scammed on OKCupid
October 17, 2019

In reply to by do not send mo…

You flew and met Andrew? May I ask in what city? I'm shocked that you're saying he's the person in his photos. I say this b/c when he was supposedly trapped overseas in Egypt, he said he was coming home to Calabasas (in LA, 25 miles from me). I told him I didn't believe him so he sent me a photo is his flight itinerary on Luftansa Airlines. All the flight numbers & times and even the logo were accurate but I was still not convinced. I called the airline and they had no record of an Andrew Ishaid on any of the flights. When I told him he was scamming me and lying, he told me he was scammed by his travel agent in Egypt. I believe he photoshopped a travel itinerary. What a joke!
Aly
August 25, 2019
I had a man contact me via LinkedIn; the contact was unsolicited on my part. He used pictures of different men which I caught pretty quickly. In one picture, the background was Venice, Italy which I had visited before. He claimed to be a veterinarian from PA who was inoculating chickens overseas (Asian country). I asked if he detoured into Italy; he argued & said no, I was mistaken. Red flag! None of the pictures added up. He also wanted to chat on Viber which is an app my friends who travel overseas use. Red flag. His writing vacillated between a beautiful romantic & jerk, no in between. It took him 2-3 days to ask for a large sum of money. I worked in the financial industry for years. The story he tried to sell me didn’t hold a drop of water. I got him to call me on Viber. As soon as I heard his incredibly broken English, I knew without a doubt he was a scammer. Don’t fall for this crap! These people don’t care about you and will never love you. You are the con - that is all you will ever be, the mark.
Marthj@
September 04, 2019
There is this love scam I was in. His name is Edan Farthworth. Stating retired oil rigger. Lives in us. Trying to get back to us. Always wants iTune cards. Cause can’t get to his money. Was surpose to get off rig and there was promblems with helicoptor. Took boat but boat was sinking and ended up stranded on island with some crew members. He said lost personal items. His journey to get to us goes on. Need iTunes along his missions to us. Also said sending me a package full of money and gold and a ring just for me. Of course being old and my husband died 4 years ago I end up paying 4,000$ for package because it was stuck in customs in Canada. Story’s went on for 2 years and I gave up after 16 times he was surpose to land in Newark airport. I’m so embarrassed and stupid and didn’t listen to my family that right from beginning he was just a scammer.
I actually cried
August 26, 2019
His name was Rossi James. Was to inherit money from his dead fathers pension fund in Malaysia.. He has a weird accent. He was stranded in Malaysia needed 10000usd. Mum Malaysian. Wife died in car accident. Daughter in a boarding school. Wasted 2 months chatting to this scumbag... Who was I really speaking to.?
Snowflake29
August 27, 2019
I met this guy through plenty of fish calling himself Kennedy Adamson. I should have picked it up right away because he started declaring his love for me telling me he wanted to marry me and blah blah blah. I continued on with him for about 2 weeks add last night he up and asked me to get $100 iTune card for his son. when I told him I cannot do it his whole attitude changed. He started telling me I didn't care about him or his kids. I said you mean to tell me you're basing that off of whether or not I'll get your kid an iTune card. To make a long story short he pretty much told me he didn't want to stay in contact with me so I was smart and blocked him in all aspects.
Stefnotski
August 28, 2019
Does anyone know someone named Melissa Powell. She tried to scam me but her efforts did not work.
Cautiousguy
March 11, 2021

In reply to by Stefnotski

I've got a girl right now claiming to be a melisa a powell trying to message me on facebook messenger and get me to message her directly. Pretty sure its a scammer. She doesn't use English well and I've already been asked by a Mary Powell last year to send money for an emergency. Imediatly was suspicious because of the last name.
pleasebecarefu…
August 29, 2019
Please watch out for Roland_Provost or Roland Provost 0147707 on Instagram. He has two accounts and is posing as a handsome widower with a son called 'Kelvin' who lives in America but is working on an oil rig in Scotland. He has a an 'American phone number' and freely gives out his address in exchange (eventually) for your address. DO NOT GIVE IT TO HIM. There are no pictures of him in the USA. This man is actually living in Poland and pretending to be a Christian. He was moving way too fast, I became suspicious and googled 'oil rig scams' and couldn't believe my eyes. When I confronted him he denied it and tried to convince me he was not one of them and I believed it; I even apologised and asked him to forgive me but something still didn't feel right. I googled it again to find out more information which confirmed my doubts. He never said my name, it was always 'dear'...everything which was already mentioned on here. The pictures are of him and his son but he's not a widower, it's all a part of the scam. He was clearly sloppy and I asked him for a random picture on the spot to call his bluff, when he posted it on WhatsApp there was that shiny gold wedding ring on his finger. ..BINGO! He tried to get an ITunes gift card earlier and I let him play around before springing it on him that I knew he was a scammer. He argued that he wasn't...called me a liar, haha! This man wanted my adddress after 5 days and got upset because I said no....! He is now blocked. Thank you very much for the warning signs I am so grateful for sites like this. I feel silly but thankfully it was only a few days before I put a stop to it!! If it sounds too good to be true it mostly likely is!!!
MariaStone1
August 29, 2019
My scammer, or attempted scammer, asked me to be his friend on Facebook, then moved to Words with Friends2. He claimed to be a mechanical engineer, from Quebec Canada, now living in Santa Barbara, CA. He owned his own business and does contract work locally and internationally in the petroleum industry. Met him 4 weeks ago, a good looking, smooth talking charmer. Sent me lovely romantic poetic notes and it was easy to fall for him. After 2 weeks, he told me he had a contract in Oslo, Norway and would be going there for the next 2 weeks, that he would come to my state to see me when he returned home. After 1 week in Oslo, I didn’t hear from him for several days, then suddenly I get a text saying he had been in the hospital due to an accident on the rig he was on. Even sent a pic showing him on hospital bed. Said he had to pay $58,000 to pay for the equipment that was damaged. He was liable because he was in charge. Wiped his bank account out. Just wanted to come home but didn’t have $900 for return ticket. Red flag: why didn’t he purchase round trip ticket knowing he was going to be there 2 weeks, then fly home? Started begging me to send the $900 to him. Told him I couldn’t do it. Told me if you can’t do it out of love for me, do it out of friendship. I will forever be grateful to you and pay it back with interest when I get home. He saw I wasn’t going to do that, so he started asking me to get an I-Tunes card in the amount of $100. I told him I couldn’t do that either. He started telling me to take my love and move on after awhile when he was convinced I was sending no I-Tune card. I have begun blocking him on Facebook and Words with Friends, etc. I’m just happy I had the instincts to know he was a scammer before I gave him money. He uses the names Alexandre Aubert, Alex Aubrrt, Alex Stefford, Alexandre Stefford that I know about. On his FB profile, he only has friends from Nigeria, dozens of them. I asked him about them and he told me he previously had a contract there. Strange he had no other friends. Has anyone else out there been scammed by this guy or near scammed?
The second one
September 04, 2019

In reply to by MariaStone1

I think I might be talking to the same guy right now! Fits the whole description!!! Sent me a poem this morning. Work status exactly the same. Says he's in Pittsburgh right now. And has an ex wife in Canada with a 15 yr. old son. I got messaged from him through Meetup.com. Funny thing is I got a message from someone a week ago and the conversation started off the same way, exact wording but different picture. He also never answers any messages after a certain time of the night. But I have a direct phone number but I have not called it. He's going by Alex Stefford. OMG! Thank you for your post. He says he's living in Oak Cliff, TX.
Don't use your…
September 09, 2019

In reply to by The second one

What else can you tell me about this man? Hope you were wise enough not to fall prey to him.
Fredariaz
September 04, 2019
If a gentleman by the name of thomas / tomaz D Giovanni or Freddy Revilla contact you off any senior dating sites it is a SCAM. I grew close to these men who I NEVER met and would never video chat with me. I sent countless gift cards to iTunes Walmart amazon everything. I was sucked in by women who I thought where true and similar in looking for love and it was nothing but a scam. Tomaz claims to have a contract out of country to rebuild a damaged building. His aunt is sick and he loves to help her. His email is glndazer.r21 Freddy I found was similar to thomas’a story but asked for access to my bank information. I am out over 8,000$ SCAMMER BEWARE DO NOT SEND ANY MOMEY TO THESE MEN
Khali
August 31, 2019
Hi I need help because I think I'm being scammed for apple I tunes card by a woman claiming to be Jessica tilberoo living in Orlando FL with her mom I look up her skin is really white but I saw differently a sexy kinda dark Oriental and she is also want on Instagram as Jessica 4573
Betrayed11
September 01, 2019
This girl says her name is Tiffany Marie Mandy says she loves me, both parents died in a plane crash (later says her father was murdered by gangsters) she won't meet me but needs gift cards to pay for her school certificate in business management. Once she has that she has to be married and then she will be able to receive her inherentance that her father left her. Stupid me the inherentance I don't care about I fell for her because she is beautiful and loves me only. Her ex ran off with 10,000$ that she was going to pay for her certificate..... She has gotten $15,005.00 from me promising me we will soon meet. She says she is living in Ohio with her uncle Wendel thatcher
Sophie
September 02, 2019
I'm worried about a friend of mine who has been sucked in. Has been chatting to a guy who has said he is in the Army in America. Has a son but want to leave the Army come to the UK to make s life with her. But needs her to send money over so he can leave the Army she has to do a form for her to be his beneficiary. Want her to send Amazon cards over with her money on them. Then once hes in the UK got his funds will pay her bk.
scammed2019
October 15, 2019

In reply to by Sophie

this is all a scam. this is exactly what the person said to me.
Juan Carlos Cr…
September 02, 2019
I joined a website called Galactic Love and there was a girl who used the nick of Lisa Brad who asked me to send her 300 dollars thru bitcoins, i told her if I could send her less money like 50 dollars. I then told her that I couldn't send her the money thru bitcoins and she told me to buy an Amazon card. What a scam, I then went to Google search engine to search for articles tha talk about girls asking for money on dating-sites, and one of these websites that showed up on the Google search engine was this article. And after I read many of the articles in this site, I blocked that girl. What an evil world this is !!
KJ
September 03, 2019
Does anyone know a gal by the name of Emily Martins? Is she for real?
MSDAG
September 04, 2019

In reply to by KJ

Sir after reading all these post, When ind ought do without. Everyone of us have been scammed or they tried to Scam us
Hi djjj
September 03, 2019
A person I know has already sent over 30 thousand to a catfish, she’s 70 years old and she believes every lie he’s telling her. He is using a mans face online who is quite famous. Everyone’s told her. Now she’s about to lose her home for back taxes. Can someone help me stop this please help . I’m desperate to put an end to this. She even had her bank fire her, and send adult protection out and she’s still convinced he is real.
Fridder
September 04, 2019
Do the names of James Wilfed, Um Nhove, Oscar Hartmann, or James Bennett sound familiar? Oscar scammed my best friend & the other friend requested me on FB. No way to any of them.
Feeling Vulnerable
September 06, 2019

In reply to by Fridder

I have been scammed by someone called John Hartmann - US military in Afghanistan
Texas scammer
October 15, 2019

In reply to by Fridder

Those names do not sound familiar however the guy that tried scamming me gave me an email address with the name reymondwilfred in it.
jewels
September 04, 2019
I have been in an in-line romance with a man who claims to be Russian and us working for Shell Oil in Istanbul building s gas station. We met on Hinge when he said he lived on Texas but was from Russia. This has been a very intricate story of his childhood friend/accountant who stole his money and how he was arrested in Istanbul for the crime his accountant committed, terrorist financing and money laundering. This has gone on for 6 months and he had asked me for money to pay his fine and get him out of jail. Yes I was stupid and sent him over $100,000. Dies this sound familiar? His name is Christof Markonvic.
Txgirl
November 25, 2020

In reply to by Alphabet

He is on Tinder also, talked to him for a couple months. Same story but I did not give him money when he asked.
Wasntfooled73
September 05, 2019
Currently talking to a guy by the name of Francis. He says that he is from Texas, his wife died of cancer and that his 2 kids are now in boarding school. He is on an oil rig in the Gulf. To start he needed an Itune gift card for 100 dollars. I didn't get that for him.. Even though he said that he just had to have it so he could finish up a very important project and he just can't work without music. The next time I guess he thought he really had me and that I would just give in.. This time he had an extremely important package that was going to be delivered to his house.. ( there was supposedly 750 thousand dollars in this package). But his Nanny at the time was very sick and in the hospital so no one would be at his house to get this said package. So he supposedly had it "worked" out so it would be delivered to me. The catch was a 600 dollar delivery fee that he acted like he knew nothing about. I was going to call and talk to the delivery company myself to see if there was an actual delivery fee, and when I said that he gave me a phone number to call and a person to talk to.. I told him that I would just call the "800" that I had, and I would talk to a representative there... He got so mad and told me that I just needed to obey him.. So now his latest one is that he needs a 200 dollar Amazon gift card so he can get a plane ticket to get off of the oil rig.. I finally told him this morning that I am not going to be sending him any money or any kind of gift card and that he doesn't need my help getting off of that oil rig..
AlliColorado
September 06, 2019
I started talking to a man 1st thru WhatsApp now on phone text who said he got my information from a service buddy, "Freddie" who I had met on POF. (I remember the name but not all the details of what transpired but felt he was a scammer.) Anyway, this James McQueen says he is US Navy EOD in Iraq. His information comes up as McQueen Strategy 7072784898 7075907177 7073414038. We would be texting on the 1dr 2 numbers but is miss some textsbof his or give versa so now we've been using the latter. He says he is from Florida but the phone numbers are California numbers. I asked him about it and he said it is because he had a robotics business. We've been chatting for awhile . I am in pretty good debt not from scammers but just trying to live when paycheck to paycheck doesn't cover it. He convinced me to give him access to my credit card online. He said he'd help me get back on track. He hasnt taken anything but deposited 2000. He wants me to wire, thru RIA money transfer, this money to a former soldier of his, Jason Daniel, who is stuck in Turkey. Is this legit? Is this a scam? He says he owes him $7000 for his monthly stipend. My credit card limit is $3500. So he want to do this several times until all $7000 has been sent to this guy.
dmudge111802
September 09, 2019
Has anyone ever heard of Stephen Bryon?
aniromer
September 09, 2019
Guy by the name of Carlos Van Holt. Working for shell in Ankara. Things seemed to be going well. Lots of communication etc.. then suddenly he has an accident and needs $1000 for medicine. Doesn’t want the money sent to him but to a different name.
Victim2
September 25, 2019

In reply to by aniromer

Same thing happened to me. Same name, he said he had an accident and needed money as the doctor didn’t want to give him medication. BE CAREFUL
Victim 3
October 09, 2019

In reply to by aniromer

Same happened to me. Carlos van Holt. Engineer, currently on an oil rig in Turkey. Born in Utrecht, Netherlands. Lost parents when he was 6, grew up at grandma‘s. Lives since 2014 in California, earlier in New Mexico. Wants to build a family and settle down. Millionaire. Doesn’t write English like a native, can write a bit in Dutch. Gave a short voicemassage, but doesn‘t want to have a videocall. Sent passport, working contract, bank account. Also fb and insta seemed to be real. Didn’t sent selfies, cause he couldn’t. Said cell phones are not allowed there. Really sweet guy so be CAREFUL!!!!
Scammed
October 22, 2019

In reply to by Victim 3

Yes same exact story except he was living in New York before going to Turkey. Sent photos, work contract, passport and screen shot of bank account. Told me how much he loved me, blah blah, blah. Real sweet talker. Call him out on being a scammer and he will get really mad and ghost you.
A
November 12, 2019

In reply to by Victim 3

Hi, i just found your post and blocked Carlos Van Holt! Exactly the same scenario! Started talking to me on 5-6 October 2019 till now, everything you wrote i heard as well. Adding phone number he was using +1 (914) 465-6637 I did not transfer him any money, but he dared to ask twice and played on emotions and manipulated me! Here is his instagram account crlsvan i can also send screenshots if needed! Is he using somebodys real photos???
Another Victim
November 30, 2019

In reply to by A

Yes! Carlos Vanholt has not yet asked me for money but he is from New York and is on an oil rig in turkey. Says he is in love with me and is coming to see me in January.
Careful!
December 05, 2019

In reply to by Another Victim

Hi, Yes he says that he will come and visit you but by then he will ask for money!
Scotland Brown
September 09, 2019
Beware of a guy calling himself billy anderson on Instagram. Ask me to get him a steam card. He wanted to watch movies. But complaining about he has no lights and living in eygpt. Some thugs jump him. Needed money for his passport and flight back to states. I don't trust him. Claims in madly in love with me. Just crazy guy.
CJReed
September 12, 2019
I met this guy named James Reed. A real sweet guy working on a rig the Gulf of Mexico. He has asked for Amazon cards a 2 I Phones which I did not send. He refuses to talk to me by saying he doesn't have a phone(it fell in the oil) . He only uses Hangouts but says he can't accept calls. Only texts. Now he wants to take vacation to see me but they need my personal info. He wants to marry me. Says I have to request his vacation, pay for a chopper and another engineer to replace him. All his pictures come up as altered but I can't tell if they were photoshopped. The person I had to contact for approval of his vacation is David Morgan.
Baby cheeks
September 14, 2019
I met some guys on Ok Cupid. Never did I ever meet them in person. They would tell me that we would meet, but came up with excuses. They would ask me if I could get them a gift card. I would of course tell them no. They would ask if I could add them to my phone company and I get a phone for them. They would ask me for my phone company account information. I told them all , no. Baby cheeks
Deb
September 16, 2019
Has anyone heard of a Jack Antony ? Friended me on Facebook said he was instantly in love wife past away lovely txts now asking for iTunes card for daughters books but also wanted me to get a contract for phones says he will pay back here upset when I say no .Trust to make me feel bad