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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.

Anne
March 03, 2021

In reply to by Catseye56

If they ask for any personal info that they shouldn't be - do you own a house, exact birthday, ID... Run!!
Jojp
February 28, 2021
Does anyone had chatting with Mark William Davis. He's an architect from Texas, Germany. Very good looking working in Seattle Washington. Has heavy accent. I have video chat one time. Wants money for iPhone for his daughter.
AskingForaFriend
March 02, 2021
Anyone chatting with a David Lloyd Williams? About 55 yoa, says he’s a welder on the Perdido rig in the Gulf of Mexico, from Norway, with a daughter named Glenda. Good-looking guy has been chatting up my friend for about 5 weeks now. Hasn’t asked for money but I’m dubious after reading about all of these “rig workers.” I don’t want her getting hurt.
Cash
March 03, 2021
Any one familiar with David Grayson. Very handsome. From San Diego area. Just went out to the oil rigs.
Koder
March 03, 2021
Please I was just scammed by a person who claims to be in love and in need of money. After buying the gift card for them you don't hear from them again. Also people will be like they want you to come and fun but buy a game card for their kids which is not true. I'd be glad if investigation can be made on this people 8178183225 and 8722259689. Both have scammed me and I believe they're in California. Love will kill me
lostinfl
March 03, 2021
Hi has anyone been contacted by an "Addi Vyros" from ghana?
Military scam
March 05, 2021
Guy claims he is a orthopedics surgeon, widower, civilian in Iraq, wants funds to get home, faked military forms. See he is already back on dating site. Reported to FB and hangouts and whatsapp. Emailed ftc, fbi, and local military with photos, false forms,etc. I'm mad, hurt and feel such an idiot. I'm fighting back hard. Didn't give money. Use your gut feelings. This country girl is upset but plan on getting even. Don't want anyone else to go thru this.
Pen
March 07, 2021
I met someone on facebook that use european but learnt english in America who went for a job, but now he's in Europe, he wanted to talk to Whatsapp cause can't use fb messenger at work. In between 2 days said after he said things abiut his life, that he loves me etc, he asked me to search for a product for his computer to update it and he can't use his credit card there cause he works on a ship. So I denied I called him a scammer. The next day insisted that he didn't ask me for money and he was calling me on my messenger I didn't answer and he tried to video call me but I rejected the call. If he was a scammer why should he tried a video call?
patric64
March 13, 2021
If anyone on POF dating web site tells you his name is David Rocha who is an aeronautical engineer working in Turkey, it is a scam. He has a picture of a handsome man around 50 who claims he is from Indiana, and also inherited a company from his dad which is located in Malaysia, it is a scam. You are not talking to this individual, his name is Abul or Abrubul and he is a worker in an internet romance scam which affected 20 other people including myself. I reported him to the local police department, the state troopers, and filed a report online to the FBI. He also took out two credit cards in my name but used a different social security number and different phone number through Bank of America. I was also scammed by a man named Brian Thomas who worked on an oil rig in the Indian Ocean, that is not him when I found him on Facebook, it was either an Indian or Mid-East male who I didn't recognize. He stated he was from Jersey City, NJ which a lie, and I reported him to Facebook. Hope these comments can help someone who is talking to someone online through dating sites or Facebook. DO NOT accept friends request from someone you do not know. Thanks and have a good day!
Dlynn
March 14, 2021
Has anyone come across a Ruben Gaitan. I met him on Facebook Dating.
Wiser Now
March 14, 2021
Met Jefferson Maxwells on Words With Friends2. Seemed like a nice, educated guy so we chatted. After a few months, he says he loves me. He ends up in Dubai on an oil rig. Needs $1000 asap. When I say I can't send it, hateful, ugly words come out. Everything is all about him. Watch out for Jefferson Maxwells!
Ellennix98
March 17, 2021
Name is Brian Thomas claims to be on an oil rig in Germany please help
Baby69
March 17, 2021
Does anyone know a michal sherman??
88Keys
March 17, 2021
I met someone on Zoosk a year ago who said he worked as a solar engineer. He left for Istanbul(supposedly) to construct a solar farm, and I foolishly sent him a lot of money for more equipment, etc. He goes by the name Cedric or Derek Bellucci. Now I know I was scammed but my money is gone.
MsJs253
March 18, 2021
My mother in law is currently being scammed by a man named Michael Rawlings - he says he is an Ortho surgeon based in Syria not able to come home until summer - she is sending him phone cards (we know this is a scam) has anyone else had this same experience?
P.Mil
March 19, 2021
Be on the look out for Robb Anderson. He is supposed to be an E6 sergeant in the army. He tried to tell me he was on a secret mission in Cairo and was injured, needed 350.00 to get help. When he didn’t get it he was very angry with me. He is back on the website as a civilian named Mike. Also Dave Cameroon, he is working on an oil rig in Texas. He stopped communicating with me when I told him never to assume it is ok to ask me for money or gifts. Both of these men have profiles on Facebook Dating. I wish there was a way to post pictures.
KM
April 21, 2021

In reply to by P.Mil

This Dave Cameroon just got my aunt for 115k!!!! I am sick to my stomach - she knew better!!!! DO NOT FALL FOR THESE HORRIBLE SCAMS PEOPLE!!!
Sazzypantz
March 19, 2021
Anyone heard of a guy in Dubai that is a Marine Civil Engineer building a bridge there?
Caught on
March 20, 2021
Scott Raymond claimed to be an architect Dream job overseas All of a sudden needed help for eBay account Yeah, right Joys of online dating
Kanjigirl1
March 22, 2021
Mine is a German going by Donald William. A marine engineer I met on LinkedIn. Very handsome with graying beard. Says just life is in jepordy as he has to dive to fix ship. Wants money to buy out his contract. Wife died in car accident, daughter died of cancer. Has 13 year old daughter/granddaughter. Guilt trip by saying if you love me you’ll buy my contact so I can come to you.
Don't use your…
March 24, 2021
The guy came on Facebook and asked to be my friend and I became friends with him on Facebook not trusting him and I blocked him now 3 months later he is already gotten a gift card out of me he said to his daughter to for the teacher to auction it off to pay for her school supplies now he wants some money for a plane ticket 1200 dollars to come see me and live with me for the rest of my life says he loves me he told me from day one day he loves me what should I do he says that you can't video chat cuz you got to see in the Malaysian sea cuz he's out to see in the Malaysian sea and they will get in trouble if they video chat with you cuz it could cause an explosion and I'm crazy about him cuz he says he loves me and I think I love him but I don't know and what should I do is he telling me the truth or is he a scammer he gets real mad and cusses at me if I call him I've got pictures of him
Stormi
March 25, 2021
His name is Phillip Wright, his daughter’s name is Melissa. He has purchased a home in Harbor Bluffs, Florida, or so I have been told, and the only way that he says that I can meet him is to pass a test proving that I love him is to send $255 using Cash App to his daughters wallet. I have refused to do it. I don’t send any money to someone who I don’t know.
Almost scammed
November 14, 2021

In reply to by Stormi

I think this is the same person who goes by the name Philip Murphy. He has a 14y daughter named Jessica who lives in UK with a nanny. He's a widower for 7yrs, an Engineering Geologist working offshore. Credit card expired, needed $500 to upgrade his laptop. I couldn't give that amount, reduced it to $200. Then asked for bitcoin, then iTunes gift card. Told him couldn't give him that as well. Lastly asked to help his daughter to buy foods. When I told him I cannot help him, he threatened me. I have blocked him off.
Cutie87
March 25, 2021
I had one threaten me after I would not give him bitcoin he had his buddies send me text start threaten me . Then he says his phone was hacked that’s why I was getting those threaten texts . He goes by Bradley he’s from Austin Texas he says he’s us military . But he does not say he’s deployed overseas .
toggedtobetrue
March 28, 2021
Tony brown 56 from NY son prince in college get contract on a rig in UK. want money and google play cards. they run into terriost who set it on fire and beat him on two separate nights wants out ASAP wants you to help Alex Jonathan 45 from NC daughter currently in Egypt on military mission good looking muscle tattoos wants you to help him get out of there want money and personal info Noah Cole Benjamin 42 From UK had young daughter Melissa on a rig I forget what country. needs money for medicine and want you to help buy bit coin to help him get out of where he is Think they are all scammers just wanted to see
Sinnypgi
March 28, 2021
I met this 64 year old man on FB inder the name of Larry Richard. After the introductions he asked me to go to HangOuts. so I did and he came up under the name of Lucas Santos and my I question him on it, he stated that Larry Richard is his FB name. He is a widower and he working offshore in Dublin, Ireland and he lives in Houston, Texas..he expressed his love for me almost immediately and that was almost 2 months ago,now he wants to meet me and states that he don't get paid until the end of the contract and I would have to pay for his trip for him to visit me Did or does anyone else know of this man
Help me out he…
March 29, 2021
Has anyone heard of a Frank Yong? Claims to work on an oil rig and been quarantined for 7 months. Has quickly professed loved and asked for a phone card. Has sent pics and a small video of him on the oil rig. Is he legit or am I am being scammed so I can cut my losses early? I did tell him I would not be sending any money and he said ok
Don’t Fall For It!!
March 31, 2021

In reply to by Help me out he…

Stay away from a scammer who calls himself Lycan Scot Stephen!!!! He will steal your Heart and your money....Many stories and lies!!!
Accountability
March 31, 2021
Met this one around 11/20 and as I’m reading the ones close to this dates they sound very similar This one was on a medical contract In Korea widowed with a nanny taking care of his young son in Cali wanted me to hold on to a package while he got back it soon turned into nothing but money transactions his parents were from Belgium I think it’s the same guy for a couple of these
buddy
April 02, 2021
omg thank u ive been speaking to a man for a week thought it too good to be true he has just asked me for money on google play but i would not so i looked up and found this he is going by the name Richard Wellington and same sorry says he is widow 2 kids working om oil rig in ireland
Annie 11
April 03, 2021
Just want to give a heads up that Daniel Bucky41 is now on Hangout so Beware! On oil rig, a real charmer until he starts asking for Bitcoin or Google cards,,,,
Pat 007
April 03, 2021
Just met a girl online says she needs a gift card to get her books online she also says she loves t me what should I do
Hay
April 03, 2021
Guy hit me up on instagram and I never reply to random messages from guys but this pandemic had me bored enough to do something like this. Claimed to be in the MARINES and just happened to have to go to Bahrain couple days after messaging me and we started talking on hangouts. He said he was having issues with his bank because he tried accessing while overseas and now he can't access his money. He asked for money and i shut him down immediately. After some weeks he said he was really running out. I should have blocked the first time he asked but I was too taken by his words and not familiar with scammers. I ended up giving $300. Then he asked me to be his next of kin. A big NO. Never give your SSN to anyone. Way too many weeks spent over this scammer and 300 dollars lost. He also knows my address which really scares me and has pictures of me and I don't like that. I don't know if he could scam me somehow with that info he has of me and pictures. Lesson learnt i guess..i know now this is one of the common ways to scam young women.
Annie 11
April 06, 2021
Beware of Oil rigs Engineer who asks for Bitcoin or Google cards always $500. Daniel,,,
Mad woman
April 06, 2021
Don’t be fooled with a pretty face and all lies . Fletcher Bryan with a son and a nanny . Lives in Alabama but stationed in army for 6 months 45 years old orthopedic surgeon who loves me in the second week . Wanted stuff for his son birthday cause his money was not available till he return to states to activate pin code. Called me Daily three times a day and sent poems with flower capture . Said no face time or Vidio calls cause was not allowed . Ask for iTunes or wallet cash cards . Very aggressive when I said no. Called his son my son. Son Anderson went into a coma and he needed 17k for surgery bill. Two months waisted . Nanny even called to talk a s send photos . Voice did not go with picture. Said he was originally from Brazil and college was spent in Alaska. Voice had a heavy accent . Worse part was the night time prayers spoke of god and would pray all the time . I’m so glad I found this info . No money sent .
Scammed again
April 07, 2021
been texting for a couple months with a handsome guy from Facebook Dating "Michael James" lives in DC, from Germany, working in Scotland as a telecommunications engineer. Fell in love with me right away, said all the right things and I fell for him too. Couldn't wait to get back home and be with me. Gave me his number but we have not spoken. Today, asks me for $100 on a Steam gift card cause he's "out of data." I am heartbroken. I know i have been scammed. I really liked this guy, so sad.
Mmmmm Don't us…
April 08, 2021
Richard Marini. Ladies beware of him. Same pitiful story. Engineer working on oil rig.!Fire. Needs money to fix it. He doesn’t exist on any search sites. Do not give him your money!
Lions
April 08, 2021
Has anyone had a runin with a woman named Cathie Colen?
Asiangal
April 08, 2021
Stay away from Steve Rupert he claimed is the owner of telecommunications website: sr-telecom.net. Australian- American he claimed. His phone # 617 -706-4472 and it’s weird because if I called he won’t answer. And he claimed he moved from Boston, MA to Minneapolis and went to Alaska for a project and told me his bank was frozen and sent me a picture of his bank and after a month of chatting he asked me to send money for his parents caregiver for $2000 to sent it to Bitcoin ATM and I refused to send and he went crazy. Watch out ladies his a scammer!
Chocolatelover
April 09, 2021
Has anyone spoken with a person going by the name of Wilfred Greg. He's supposedly working in a shipping job in Turkey. Been professing his love for me, telling me he is a widow. Want to get married after he returns to the states. Then....he asked for $4000 to help get some equipment he need to finish his contract. NOT! Sent pictures. Spoken on google hangouts a couple times. I have pics and a number connected to it. Will share if someone tells me how to do it.
Annie 11
April 11, 2021
Is anyone else texting only with a guy named Daniel Bucky stuck on oil rig though claims to be Millionaire??
Annie 11
April 12, 2021
Well the Request finally came after 3 months of texting he needs $5,000 to get the equipment fixed so he can come home to me!! BEWARE of Daniel Bucky whose on Hangout,,, a real CHARMER!!
Shedevil54751
April 13, 2021
Ive been talking to a man named james stone he says he is the engineering contractor for aaron oil and gas it started out as a friendship fir about 5 months them it turned romantic he said he had to go on a buisness trip to canada to the oil rig and had to fix it. Then he text me saying he needed an apple card for tutorials to fix a machine then he kept asking for more yesturday james asked me for $8300 in bitcoins. For which i dint have he has 4 Facebook pages and one on linkedin. He has a daughter named sherry and a son named junior james is a very handsome man so its easy to fall for him he always said he had money and forgot the apple cards at home. Wanted to marry me Now he is threatening to go to another woman for the money he has called me rude names told me i was stupid because i posted his fraud on facebook all because i told him no i cant give him anymore money.
SF
April 14, 2021
What out for Johnnell(Jay) Williams sr from Vallejo Ca. He is a scammer who meets women on line (match.com) and scams them out of money
hutson
April 14, 2021
Had a guy from Toulouse France asked for money to get his shipment out of customs has a coffee import export company
hutson
April 14, 2021
Anyone have an encounter with a guy named Jean Claude Giesseppe from Toulouse France
Starting over
April 16, 2021
Talked to a Peter Nelson from Romania since Dec every single day. Feel as if we’ve known each other all our lives. He took job in Saudi he says and needs money for material shipment expenses. Seems so sincere. I’m in love and want to start over. Has anyone spoke to him???
Hurt but caught on
April 29, 2021

In reply to by Starting over

Hi, I have not spoken to your guy. But just wanted to caution you....be careful, I thought I was in love but turn out my guy was a scamner..they start with the same MO, that is, call you everyday, say they love you, text you, send you songs etc. Then they accept a job far away (mine said TURKEY), the equipment broke after few months chatting, asked for money . If you love them you'll help them. I was in denial has I wanted our relationship to be true. When I refused to give money, he asked twice. He ended it. I was hurt but you know something I wish it ended sooner as after that saw the same guy on different sites, different names profiles, locations. All I thought was thank GOD I didn't send money. These guys know what they're doing. I read up alot after the scam. Learned and can pretty much spot them and their MO. ask him a few questions, test the waters. I know you don't want to beleive. You may hear he's stuck there, wants to came home to you. I did a reverse search with pic unbelievable how many profiles. Plz be careful!!! Does Peter Nelson sound Romanian to you?
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