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While plenty of successful relationships begin online, scammers also use online dating sites, apps, and chat rooms to trick you into sending them money. These imposters create fake profiles to build online relationships, and eventually convince people to send money in the name of love. Some even make wedding plans before disappearing with the money. It’s a big problem: reports to the FBI about online romance scams tripled between 2012 and 2016, and imposter scams were among the top reports to the Federal Trade Commission for both the general population and the military community.

These scams can take a military angle with imposters stealing servicemembers’ photos to create phony profiles. They might claim to be servicemembers who can’t get into their accounts overseas or who need money fast. The first sign of a scam is an online love interest who asks for money. But the Army’s Criminal Investigative Service (CIS) says that the military doesn’t charge servicemembers to go on leave, get married, communicate with their family, go online, or feed and house themselves on deployment. We have also heard of scammers re-using servicemembers’ photos again and again, so it can be helpful to do some online research on the love interest’s name, photos, and details to check the story out.

If an online love interest asks you for money:

  • Slow down and talk to someone you trust. These scammers want to rush you, often professing love right away; or pressuring you to move your conversation off the dating site.
  • Never wire money, put money on a gift card or cash reload card, or send cash to an online love interest. You won’t get it back.
  • If you sent money to a scammer, contact the company you used to send the money (wire transfer service, gift card company, or cash reload card company) and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask to have the transaction reversed if possible.
  • Report your experience to the dating site and to the FTC.

For Military Consumer Month, share this video to help military consumers steer clear of online romance scams.

 

 

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Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
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Don't use your…
June 15, 2020

In reply to by vey0702

I have had the same thing. He had one son in private school , his name William greorge I’m Kabul Afghanistan, for a peace mission. Sent me photos. Very nice looking man. Very built with tattoos on shoulders. He even sent me a picture ID to Match. With I. Two weeks he asked for $ 300.00. He said he is divorced. His wife cheated on him with best friend. To say the least. I did not give him money!!
L
September 23, 2020

In reply to by Don't use your…

Seems that we have the same situation. He's name is Patrick Williams a US military residing in San Francisco, California and currently base in Syria. He's 45 yrs. old and planning to retire soon. He has a son and also divorced. He asked money to me because his son is currently in the hospital due to accident. He said that his 2 cards were lost and he wasn't able to transfer money to doctor Williams but I refused to help him and he's really mad.
Gmv1964
August 15, 2020

In reply to by vey0702

Did you get pictures of him cause that sounds like the guy I just dealer with ask for amazon card after two weeks...Texting on hangouts name was marsh stephen....do you have a picture of him. Dark hair tattoos on his arm
im chatting to…
August 25, 2020

In reply to by vey0702

Im chatting to a guy from Phoenix Arizona, not married dont have kids. asked me to send him money 3 weeks after chatting met him on instagram. he was supposedly in Afghanistan then went over to south Africa. I wonder if this is the same guy ?
Smy24ley
May 27, 2020

In reply to by cn

OMG im talking to a rely nice guy now. He says hevis in the army will retire soon, has a son 15 and his wife left him for someone else. He calls me twice a week from were ever he is.ask me to marry him when he gets home.im a widow and this was my first time getting on a getting on a dating sight. He tells u whatvu want to hear. He gave. Me his ssn. Says he is on a secret mission over seas. Please contact me see if its the same guy.
Karen 360
June 12, 2020

In reply to by Smy24ley

Raymond says he has a daughter sent me a picture of Visa said his wife passed away four years ago had asked for money I said I was broke he wrote back money doesn't matter if he loses the package sent he still in love with me this is weird he sent me flowers candy an bear I believe this guy is living in a double life he says he's from Albuquerque New Mexico but his profile says he's from Oklahoma
Broken505
April 20, 2021

In reply to by Karen 360

I was asked on Facebook for a friend request for 9 months we’ve been talking. Says he’s a computer contractor and is not in military but working thru contract divorced his wife cheated with best friend has a 7 yr old daughter who lives with a nanny has a home in Manchester England and one In Nebraska No parents and rich. Loves me like no one ever has says he’s coming for me to marry me but needs money for calling cards and medical for his daughter I’ve prob sent 2,500.00 I’m tired of sending money and I know now he’s a scam he has a strong accent and says he was raised in the us doesn’t match I have lots of pictures we can never video chat I guess I got good it’s sad that men use women like that and have no problem doing it
Nakk
July 21, 2020

In reply to by Smy24ley

I'm experiencing the same as what you described. Been with him fora year now. Saying he's on a secret mission. Been sending money and still asking for more. Tall, muscular, beared tattoos on cheat, arms age 47. Wish I can see the picture of him that you have.
Blondeone
November 20, 2020

In reply to by Nakk

This sounds like Sean Ryan. Has a son with kidney issue, is now wanting money sent to his sister for the deposit for his son's surgery. Sentence structure didn't seem like English was first language.
Mnancy
July 12, 2020

In reply to by cn

Hey I’m talkin with a person very similar to the message I just read. I’m wondering if it could be the same person
Jackie A R
November 16, 2020

In reply to by cn

hi all, I am talking to a man whom I met on Smule. He asked me to move to hangouts or WhatsApp and he took has tried several times to ask me for money. My sister told me he was a scammer from the beginning so I kept waiting for him to ask me for money and indeed every week he comes up with a different reason for me to send him money. First, it was for his daughter's tuition for her school in Switzerland, then he said he would send me money to cover that but he had to talk to his financial advisor and asked me for my checking and routing numbers to send me the money. He claims to be from San Francisco but is now in a peacemaking mission in Gaza City. I gave him the the info but that same week he lost his wallet. Then he said that he had gone on a mission and had found a box full of gold bars and jewelry and asked for my address because he was sending it to me to keep until he gets back to the USA. He got my address to send it to me. I asked for a tracking number and he said that I would receive an email with the tracking number the next morning. I received several emails with very poor English and poor web design and soon found out it was a fake website claiming to be transporting the box from him, Michael Logan James, to me in the USA. A week later, the representative from the site sent me an email advising that the box was stuck in customs and that to retrieve it I would have to pay the company some customs fees that was in the amount of $4588.00 and that each day it was sitting in customs, it would accrue $250 per day. He bothered me so much about this box! Drove me crazy for many weeks, then as he saw that I didn't have money to send wire to a (fake Flroida address) he ceized to bother me about it. Weeks later I was asked for money for food. He kept saying that he was hungry all the time. I dont know why I fell for that I sent him $75.00 through bitcoin. He ven taught me how to use the app to send him money. The most recent request is that he was given permission to leave the base but the army is charging him 2500 dollars for the plane flight. I blocked him for good. If they ask for money it's a SCAM. BLOCK THEM IMMEDIATELY. LOVE DOESNT COST A THING.
V.L. /CL
November 25, 2020

In reply to by Jackie A R

I am in a similar situation I got a friend request from a guy named Steve who was on Facebook and ask me to move to Hangout . Claimed to be a widow for 7 years and on peace keeping mission in Kabul, Afghanistan. Professed love and marriage for about 2 weeks then was shipping a box to be with his personal valuables. The cost to get them shipped $3,270.00 . Ship money over by fedex cash money to courier . Then pkg (so called) makes its way to Turkey but stuck in customs and he needs me to pay $16,898.00 by fed ex cash money to courier. This has SCAM written all over it.
Emilyrae23
December 06, 2020

In reply to by V.L. /CL

I'm going through same thing its telling me in have to pay 1,850 for a package and it has his legalegal documtnets in it
Kikay
February 26, 2021

In reply to by Jackie A R

I reported this male/female and got his/her name from my Mother who was able to wire money to him. I hope he gets caught and punished. Yes, he/she is a holding a vietnamese name and lives in California. Please do not engaged in this kind of conversation with anyone. They will continue to do it. You will know a person is legitimate if you him/her in person and do not ask for money.
Alba
November 12, 2020

In reply to by TOM67

Hi I have been chatting with a man who claims to be an American surgeon in Syria working for the UN. Reading your story I see some similiarities to what he has been telling me. I am unsure what I should do. Please advise me. Alba
Been there
December 11, 2020

In reply to by Alba

I also had a guy contact me through a dating website - said he was a doctor for the UN currently in another country but lived in US. Told me how much he loved me after about a week of texting. Then started asking for money because his bank account was messed up and he had to take care of it in person and of course couldn't but I would surely get my money back when he came back to US to get me. It was his daughters bday and he HAD to make it good. Started with $6,000 and even when he went down to $500 and I said I didn't have it - his LOVE turned to hate and anger. Had to block him.
Poppin
December 27, 2020

In reply to by Alba

I think my aunt being scammed Same story surgeon. Military. Needs money to help him get out of war zone
Trying to spot…
August 18, 2021

In reply to by Ann1980

I met someone on Instagram. She sweet talked for about 3 days then started in with the sob story about how she’s out of work with no income, a d struggling to take care of “her poor old granny.” Who refers to a grandmother as Granny? After telling ‘her’ I can’t do that, she became very belligerent and bitter. Trying to guilt me for not sending $100! I just laughed. Since then, two others have done the exact same thing. I called them out and told them they’re full of it. Explained how they were part of a long line of scammers. They too proceeded to become very offended and went on the attack. I keep sweet talking them back in like it’s a game for me. They act all caring and then start hitting me up for money again. I say no, and they get angry. Two days later, it starts all over again. One sent me a cell # to call or text. I searched it and it’s an invalid number. She denied up and down that couldn’t be invalid. But I wasn’t dialing it. She since deleted the number from the message chain.
Tere
December 01, 2019

In reply to by peaches212

Me too ,he don't want to use a Viber messenger or Skype because of his nature of work .he was introduced himself as architectural engineer in Scotland. He said he was a widow w/out having a child.he was said his not an Internet person.he was promised he was meet me and still always delaying flight,and his transaction not yet finish until he ask for my help that I will send money for him because the company didn't release the money of his late father until he was pay the penalty. I realized after the dating site give always a safety tips if not sending money to The person that never meet in person.ive lost money $4,000aud.sad experience that I've dream to have a life time partner but it ended into a scamm victim
Sohurt88
January 01, 2020

In reply to by peaches212

Peaches212. This truly breaks my heart. I met someone on Instagram that goes by the name of Logan Preppy. He says that he is in the Navy and is incredibly gorgeous. He is currently in Libya on a "peace keeping" mission (or so he says). He says the most beautiful things to me but refuses to face time or make a phone call because he doesn't want to blow his cover. He has been asking me to purchase steam cards for him and is aslo asking for my credit card information so he can"deposit" money into my account. He says that he is an only child and that both of his parents died in a terrible accident. He also says he will be coming to see me this month and that he wants to start his new life with me. I know that he's a fraud and I want end all communication with him but I'm not sure how. So many pictures have been sent back and forth between us and I'm afraid he will use my information to get back at me. Is there a number I can call to report him? I'm so hurt and upset by this fake person. Hope to hear back from you. Thanks
Lola
January 20, 2020

In reply to by Sohurt88

Do u have a picture of him!? I think we talking to same person he asked me about amazon card for his son.... as he is away with military and can do nothing for his son?
scammed 1
February 21, 2020

In reply to by Lola

I got the same thing, a man standing in front of a helicopter, widowed with a son in boarding school. Saw my FB profile on line and knew I was special. He "fell in love", deployed to Iraq, has a contract with the UN and was to come home in 3 months. After two weeks of chatting on hangouts, he claimed his unit was attacked, 5 were killed and he was one of 8 who survived and was given permission to "break his contract" with the UN. The UN is demanding 10,000 to break the contract and come home. He promises to pay me back as soon as he gets home. His money is "frozen" so the Taliban cannot steal it. I have no money so he wants me to go to the bank and borrow it. To whom can we report this. He is on FB as Ray Gratz. anyone check and see if it is the same picture. To whom can we report this and stop it? Please he, or they need to be stopped. When he asked for money I deleted all his conversations. Now I wish I had them so I could show them to the FBI.
Rosy
October 20, 2020

In reply to by Lola

I met a guy work as spine surgeon in Syria for the UN and MFS from CA. He told me he is 52 and his exwife cheated him and divorced. His ex lives in CA with his 12 years old son. He wants me to send him 2000 dollars to pay his vacation application fee to go back to the states. And he continuously asks me for itune gift cards.
Charlotte
March 30, 2020

In reply to by Sohurt88

Hi, Can somebody help me please ???? A friend of mine is being catfished by someone pretending to live in Croatia and saying he's famous in his country. Same story : he was blocked in London and needed money. He had hospitalbills from his ill daughter etc. My friend really believes it's real and has paid him twice. Over 3000 EUR. When I explain her its a fantasy world she's living in, she's gets mad. I can't push too much, because else, she says, our friendship will be over. So I don't have more details on who this catfish is.. Anybody who recognizes this story : someone famous from Croatia ??? Thank you
Lovely35
April 19, 2020

In reply to by Charlotte

Hi I really loved a baby daughter because i dont have it, oly two sons. My son showed me Ablo App and i tried browsing it without intention to find serious one. When i decided to delete app i browsed once and it landed to UK and one man messaged me.He said he is from Uk London and has daughter and son, wife died from giving birth.I was excited much and asked him to send pictures of her daughter. He was amazed to know that i loved kids so he asked my whatsApp number and sent me his pictures and kids as well. After hour of talking he decided to drove to school of his kids to show me on video call so I can see her kids and they can see me also. It took one hour before we talked on video because of his travel time. I seen them and he they seen my kids too. He asked me to accept him as lover after the video call because he introduced me to his kids as Future mom because he said he been looking to a good woman likes me for long time. He knew im doing charity works and helping people who in need. It was'nt on my care about his few questions like what work i have, how much i earned and what assets i have on my name.. He said he is a project engineer working at ENI international services ltd at London branch and that time he accepted contract at Istanbul Turkey. He sent me travel ticket, certification award to him for said contract, contract agreement and etc. After days, he told me that contract is hard, he need to invest personal money and need to complete it before he was paid in full. He told me each steps until he said he bought materials and equipments and his credit card declined. He helpless and no one can help him except me. He borrowed me 38,000 and asked to transfer it to a bank of a woman who has same bank i have because it is lockdown no money gram. After a day he asked my help again for plane ticket to go back at London and fix his card so he can pay me back. I offered him ticket because that is he needs and i have client who has travel agency here. He insisted money than ticket and say many alibis and angry that I dont TRUST him. I have doubt it was scam so I asked him a video call and promised to send him another 30,000 for plane ticket and food. I recorded whole videocall and it shows clearly that the man am dealing with and reffering to is SAME and EXACT on all pictures i have here and to video call i recorded. I sent him the video and tell him to pay me or i expose it to tv stations because i have precise evidence. Please someone help me to connect at TV station at UK so this serve as eye opener for scammer that still we can do actions to teach them a lesson.
Shomai
May 02, 2020

In reply to by Charlotte

sounds the same modus as the scammer who contacted me. He's "from Britain" but works as a military nurse in the US. His daughter is sick in Spain, and because of COVID and because of the banks are closed and he "has not processed his father's account for wire transfer," he needed to borrow money from me. When I pointed out that his modus is of romance scammer, he got furious. why would he even ask me to send it to other accounts instead of his if he is a scammer. When I pretended to have no money, he slowly lessened his messages. He appeared convincing because he would be consistent with the time in TExas, which was 23 hours away from mine. He sticks true to his storyline. However, his glaring ungrammitcal structure is unforgivable for someone who is British. When he called, his fake British accent is noticeable. But when asked for a video chat, he would say that he needed to buy a new phone albeit his selfies used both cameras (the front and back ) of his phone. Your friend might be convinced because he also sends pictures and videos. I was just lucky that I followed by gut feel. Go ask your friend for a picture and have it checked at tineye.com.
Rudy
June 10, 2020

In reply to by Charlotte

Really
Miss Muffet
August 30, 2020

In reply to by Sohurt88

I have finely met my catfish guy. He has told me so much about the operation. I’m so angry with him. He tells me the truth after a year of textin and talking by phone. His name was Larry Roberto. He had a son in the states. He was in yemmen. Then in Saudi Arrabia. I sent over $7000.00. Its awfel.
jenny
November 03, 2020

In reply to by Sohurt88

I have the same experience. I am actually chatting with one Mark Davis, only son, his parents died already, he is divorced because his wife cheated on him, he has a 14 year old son who is in a boarding school in the Philippines. Asked me to send money for his son food stuff. Also now he is asking me to help him get his contract fund from the UN. He also told me that he will come this December to marry me. He is also asking me to send him steam card or amazon card. I did not send him. He is saying a lot of beautiful things and promising so much. I think he is a scammer too.
Pattie
November 06, 2020

In reply to by Sohurt88

Hi So hurt88 did you ever get answer to your question? Who do you report it too?
Nancyb
December 14, 2020

In reply to by Sohurt88

I was told pretty much, the exact same story, from a Micheal Ludlow... He had a friend in the Marines, supposedly, whose name was Logan, & he was very good looking... I saw a pic of him, & his fiance'
scammed 1
February 21, 2020

In reply to by peaches212

So I decided to play along and let him keep messaging me so I can take it to the cops or someone. He told me he got information from his commanding officer where to send the money. He told me it was the UN. I got the address and routing number. It is Capitol One in MD. This guy or these guys think we are all stupid. If I had not found the people on this site I would not have realized how prevalent this was. I hope law enforcement catches these guys
NitaPLynn
May 05, 2020

In reply to by peaches212

Has anyone ever heard of a Ted James or a James Ted? He is in Kabul, Afghanistan. He needs money for to update his computer.
Agualoca
May 10, 2020

In reply to by NitaPLynn

I have a guys suppose from sweden and working as a Major in afghanistan ..it as been 2 weeks and he as ask me 2 days ago for itunes card ..he ask me 2 of 100$ and then he said only one is fine in what we are living right now ..lot a like all go you ...Thank you I almost got cut
jade
May 22, 2020

In reply to by Agualoca

I am in contact with a Raymond Lundstorm, he states he is in Kabul, Afghanistan and he is a special agent with the Green berets. I met him on IG & the conversation quickly moved to WhatsApp. I talk to him a few times a week - no video calls due to " Security." States he moved from Stockholm, Sweden. His mother & him left there b/c of an abusive relationship with his dad. Mom is being cared for by a nurse 24/7 due to Alzheimer's. He asked for steam cards. I tried to do a reverse google image , I am not very good on the computer. On IG his name is iamrayliam. His picture is on there & of course he is very handsome, states he was a model for a friend that does tattoos. I have several pictures of him. I need help. I'm falling for him.
Sammi
May 13, 2021

In reply to by jade

Thank God for your post. I met the same raymond lundstorm on wechat. Good looking guy and also went from Georgia to kubal. Said he cant have video calls because of security reasons in kubal. I have friends in the military telling me he is a fake. He said there was a mission ambush then split up gold bars with his green beret friends and needed help from me to retrieve the gold. Then bam an email asking for 16k custom fees but he cant access his bank to wire it. Then ask me to use my credit card to buy apple or Google cards and charge up to 16k then he can sell the cards on online and get good rates to fund the wire to customs and he has a remote bank that will fund my credit card back. I went up to 7k then funds never came and I read your post, called up the cc company band reported fraud. Hopefully my credit card company will forgive my changes and thank God for your post. Be aware of this raymond lundstorm from Sweden blonde hair blue eyes and tattoos.
jade
May 22, 2020

In reply to by Agualoca

I am in contact with a guy Raymond Lundstorm, from Sweden, in Kabul Afghanistan. Says his mom has Alzheimer's and has a full time nurse in Jacksonville GA. I have his cell & he gave me his home address- asked for steam gift cards - red Flag of course. I posted all about him earlier on here and want to see if anyone can help - not sure when my post will be on here. Please help !
jade
July 02, 2020

In reply to by jade

I would love to share information How do we do this - cab we exchange emails in private ?
rosie
June 15, 2020

In reply to by NitaPLynn

Leo Carter Hildreth, retired from military, in antique business and needs $$ to help pay for goods, claims he had to re enlist in order to pay for his debt and needs 10,000 for a Liberty Pass, claims he's in Bangor , Maine at the military base and is on special assignment, needs to have $$ wired (or bit coin) to military account, also gave me a ""secret special command" email address to the "man in charge" who will give me the account # for the money (hahah).. US_defense_department@ . Be careful Ladies as this idiot is very persistent.
Ckerr
July 31, 2020

In reply to by NitaPLynn

Yes he contacted me. He has twin daughters. He's an orthopedic surgeon.
Bwon't use you…
September 26, 2020

In reply to by NitaPLynn

One that posed as a General just tried that on me. The stupid man only waited one week to tell me he needed me to go to Walmart and get a card so he could fix his pic because he couldn't get the supplies over there to fix it. I knew it was the beginning of the scam for money and I disconnected Hangout and we won't talk again. He said he was widowed but his first name didn't sync with the General even though he used his pic.
Don'kreidenbt …
October 29, 2020

In reply to by NitaPLynn

Ive been chatting with Williams Malcom from Afghanistan. Wants money of course. 40's white attractive loves me of course just weeks in
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