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It’s Valentine’s Day and love is in the air. You may think you spend a lot on flowers or chocolate, but losing money in a romance scam would cost you even more. Last year, people reported losing $143 million to romance scams – a higher total than for any other type of scam reported to the FTC. And, according to a new FTC Data Spotlight, reports of romance scams are on the rise.

What do we mean by romance scams? We’re not talking about the person you thought was “the one” but ended up being a dud. We’re talking about people you meet online, who lavish you with attention … and then ask for money. Usually they want the money by wire transfer or gift card. They might claim they need it for a medical emergency or to come visit you. Then they take your money, but there’s no surgery and no trip.

Romance scammers are hard at work wooing people on dating apps and social media. They may lift photos to create an attractive profile or even steal the identity of a real person. Just like with real romances, it may take them some time to gain your trust, but the scammer’s payoff can be big. Last year, people reported a median loss of $2,600 from romance scams.

How can you avoid romance scams?

  • Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven’t met in person.
  • Take it slowly. Ask questions and look for inconsistent answers. Check the person’s photo using your search engine’s “search by image” feature. If the same picture shows up with a different name, that’s a red flag.
  • Talk to someone about this new love interest. And pay attention if your friends or family are concerned.
  • If you suspect a romance scam, cut off contact right away. Then, report to the scam to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. Notify the dating site where you met the scammer, too.

For more information, read Online Dating Scams or watch this video:

 

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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.

Lost60
September 21, 2019

In reply to by zzz

This situation is similar to what I experienced. Anthony Wilson Senior Pilot United States Air Force only child parents deceased and he has a 13 yr old daughter Lily Wilson who is in Accra Ghana staying with a friend. Money money money. Use the child to get money!!!!!! I borrowed money from family and friends to help and it was a scam!!!!!! How am I going to pay back ALL the money and my bills? Bad credit, behind on my bills now what can I do?
'jecsh
October 06, 2019

In reply to by Lost60

You will never be able to get your money. I was scammed 2 yrs ago and wish i had seen this information and websites that try to warn women sooner. I was naive, but learned my lesson after losing alot of money. M
Stupid
February 28, 2020

In reply to by zzz

I recently was approached on Facebook. He is orthopedic surgeon working for the U.N. in middle east.Gaza Strip. Has a son in boarding school, parents dead, born in Spain,brought to US by uncle, raised in orphanage,put thru medical school by program sponsored by U.N Wife died, Sweet talk,lots of baby,told me he needed to ship $1.2 million dollars out of the Gaza strip would I pay for shipping? $3500.00. I said no. He wanted to have it shipped to me. Even gave me the code to open the container it was in. I still said no. Then suddenly he gets moved to Afghanistan, needs phone card to text me. Wants $300.00. I said no. Supposedly, orthopedic surgeon,goes by JOHN ANTONIO. Gray hair,brown eyes, sons name: Jerry.
sphing
April 19, 2020

In reply to by Stupid

Approached on FB MSN, the same day tell me to move on hangouts, surgeon from LA, working for UN in Syria, name Hugo Henry, divorced, needs money for data, want money via Western. Anyone related?
Callie09
April 20, 2020

In reply to by Stupid

I recently had someone approach me in Instagram suuuper handsome man grey hair orthopedic surgeon in the UN working in Yemen. Born in Brazil moved to Houston to study then Miami then recruited to UN. Wife widowed has an 8 yr old daughter. Said he had royalties from some family in Yemen that they gave him for saving their son. That he’s getting transferred to Iran and can’t take all his things plus $900,000 cash that he wanted to send to me via a secured logistics! We have FaceTimed it is him from the pictures he’s absolutely mesmerizing but hell no I’m not stupid! Maybe it’s the same man.
Dee
May 05, 2020

In reply to by Stupid

Mine was an ortho surgeon working with the UN in Afghanistan, daughter in a military school in Arizona...starving to death...plz Western Union her some money!
musicbeeb
August 08, 2021

In reply to by zzz

Yep that what I was told!! wish I had checked this site earlier!
DrBsBFF
March 08, 2019

In reply to by DrBsBFF

New development, he’s madly in love with me and wants me to write to the UN to release him to come home for vacation. He sent me exactly what he needed the email to say. I never sent the email but yesterday I received a reply from them telling me how much money to pay at particular locations so he can return to the USA to come marry me. Then I received a document that looks real but when I zoomed in, it’s dated 2017 and signed by the UN Secretary from that time frame! What should I do with it? Who can I turn it into! He urgently wants me to pay the money that I have repeatedly told him I do not have! H E L P!!!
Chengbautista2…
March 26, 2019

In reply to by DrBsBFF

Whatvis the name of that person can you tell me I think my friend and you are talking only one person . Do you have a picture of him?
Racingchic
February 06, 2020

In reply to by Chengbautista2…

Same here can you tell me how name and do you have a picture.
MJR
June 07, 2020

In reply to by Racingchic

Please I need this guys picture He's so handsome said he's a surgeon in UN Yemen Son John Widowed Pictures on Instagram Can't find any Google to match him Says he's James Grimmett I blocked him now but I'm scared Help
Carollee
April 10, 2019

In reply to by DrBsBFF

Omg! This is identical to what im dealing with! He claims to be a doctor in Yemen with the Unitednations. He wants me to send him $2750.00 for the UN so he can get his vacation or leave. He will not take no for a answer. He says to me "do you want me to die here? Please please help me i dont want to die. I want to come to the US and marry you baby please help me. I am going to die here. What about ken who will take care of ken? I absolutely dont have money like this by far! He calls me, and the conversations take place on hangouts! He has sent me pictures of himself and also does video chats. He says he is from Egypt, he didvslip up the other day and said Turkey then denied he ever said Turkey! Im so interested to know if Dr SAMUEL VEIDER IS THE ONE THATS SCAMMING YOU ALSO. He gets very angry if i mention him as a scammer! Please comment... HE SAYS HES IN YEMEN. FROM EGYPT, LIVES IN MIAMI FLORIDA, HIS SO CALLED DECEASED WIFE IS FROM SPAIN, HIS SONS NAME IS KEN, ALMOST 15 YRS OLD, HE SENT ME A PICTURE AND THE KID HAS BLACK ALL OVER HIS FACE. HE IS SAYING HE WANTS ME TO BE HIS NEW MOM! I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR BACK..
Dud66ss
April 26, 2019

In reply to by Carollee

Has anyone had any contact from a girl in Davao City Philipines, she hadnt ask for anything substantial yet but i have doubts she is legit and a couple red flags have appeared like her facebook profile disappeared and opened under something else and she wants all conversations in whattsapp now!!!
Msfirelady 8888
May 08, 2019

In reply to by Carollee

I am scammer free as of a few minutes ago. He is in the Military. He is not but the picture he is using is a real Staff Sgt, in the military. He was a facebook for one day. Stephen Towns is the name he used. On the uniform it read MidKiff James. From NC now stationed in Kabul Afg. widowed has 2 children living in Spain with their nanny, wants to marry me. Ask for Itune card, wanted me to pick up money to send to Nigeria for his friend that got stationed there. Now wants money for a flight to come here to be with me. I heard that (do you want me to die here) since December 2018. He sounds like the same scammer. Get rid of him. Good luck Carollee
Ann
May 11, 2019

In reply to by Carollee

I also have been communicating with a so called doctor in Yemen who now has a need for cash. Similar background information. I'm wondering if all is same person.
Arlene
August 13, 2019

In reply to by Ann

I got scammed on POF. He is extremely good looking, he asked to go on Hangouts right away. The scam goes like this: He is in Yemen, goes by the name of David Hunt, works for UNICEF as a brain surgeon. He works for 5 weeks abroad in Yemen but lives in the US, raising his 7 year old daughter by himself because his ex is a drug addict. Same bs: after a few days he started the intense messaging, he loves me, video calls, etc. Got very angry when i told him he is a scammer. He said he needed money to get home because it is not safe there but his accounts and CC don`t work there. I knew from the very beginning it`s a scam but wanted to know how far he would go. Please everyone: if something is too nice to be true, it it unreal!!!
Dva316
October 22, 2019

In reply to by Arlene

I'm more than happy to share photos My guy is in Australia and a 12 yo daughter who is in Ghana with their caretaker but he lives in Virginia where he was raised with a black mom and Indian dad. Cute as hell and mild manner. We text,
TC4400
January 03, 2020

In reply to by Dva316

I have been talking with a guy from Australia for a few weeks with a similar situation and background. Can you share his picture..
Mad
March 08, 2020

In reply to by TC4400

The guy I have been chatting with on hangouts is also from Australia widowed with 2 kids. He is in Iran right now and needs money. I just keep telling him I don’t have any. I have pictures of him and his two kids. I feel sorry for the real person in the picture
Maya
December 18, 2019

In reply to by Arlene

Hi. I think iv been scammed to with this man. Can we exchange the information pls.
Mrkshzmkzrk
December 22, 2019

In reply to by Maya

I’d also like to exchange info. I have been scammed as well
Ibella002
September 26, 2020

In reply to by win

This is the first time someone ever did me like this, I am still in a state of shock I can’t believe this happened to me, but should have seen it coming, he did put up a lot of red flags.
Anita
March 27, 2021

In reply to by win

Hi, I’ve been talking to a man that says his name is Steve Robert, but on Instagram says his name is Steve June. Some of what he’s been saying sounds realistic, says his wife died in a plane crash and that he has a son named Kyle. Says he’s a rig engineer at the UN. Thoughts?
Gorjo
October 22, 2019

In reply to by Ann

Let through dating app: Hinge Name: Alvin (Ryder)? Went to Whatsapp Number: +1 (267) 571-3520 Email requested for vacation leave to: Commander.leaverequest@ Story: Surgeon working in Yemen for UN. Widowed four years ago A daughter From Dallas, Texas with Greek background. Called me daily for weeks and started telling me he loved me and missed me and pushed me to say the same. Claimed since it was Yemen he could not tell me much nor send photos from there. Progressed to asking me to send a leave request. I reported him since I worked out it was all to far-fetched and a UN administrator would not have a gmail address.
Thebil
December 14, 2019

In reply to by Ann

Same here I've chatted a doctor in Yemen under NATO, and had a son 15 year old whose in Dubai boarding school. Has a tutor there and said his own son lost his cp that's why the tutor asked me to buy cp for him so that we can communicate with his son always.Coz he said his son really likes me to be his mom. And now this doctor Andrew James wants to visit me but he can't have his vacation leave without the papers and some Secretary named James Baldwin chatted me to pay for his papers worth $1255.Unfortunately I don't have that much money that's why I've said I'll not pay. And that Andrew James cancelled his flight coz I didn't pay his paper he said he will pay me back when his here in my place. So sad I have been scammed. I lost my money to buy his son cp, then he asked for sim card after we chatted his son on WhatsApp and then his son asked for Itunescard. That's why I've uninstall that app and did not talk to that doctor in hang outs.
Kate m
March 30, 2020

In reply to by Ann

Has anyone chatted to a craig brandon an orthopedic surgeon in Yemen?
kittykat
May 31, 2019

In reply to by Carollee

Ok so I’ve been talking to this guy that I met on Facebook ..he sent me a message via Facebook messenger he gos by the name Scott Jeffery Alan or Jeffery (Scott) Alan he says he is a is military pilot Air Force Im assuming when we met he was in Yemen parents died in car accident a while back has no family is on secret mission but says Hes back in Libya never asked me for money but I offered to get him k tunes card due to his account being inactive and his phone doesn’t have international service and a local forgein I tunes card won’t wor since he’s from New York west New Jersey New York to be exact
reba
August 19, 2019

In reply to by kittykat

The similar thing w/Amazon cards because he needs them for connection to internet & calls? He is at sea in Anatolia & can’t get his money? I’d like to see the photos you all have??
Confused In DC
November 12, 2019

In reply to by reba

I've been dealing with someone by the name of William Stanley, who sent me a FAKE Texas Drivers License and has a son named Daniel in Boarding school. I sent him Amazon cards and now he's telling me his son needs $$. I'm not even giving in to that LIE. Also, he did get angry and upset when I told him he was a SCAMMER!! I can live with the fact I lost $200, but some of these women have lot WAY more $$$ than that!! It's a SHAME people are out here Scamming Folks out of there Hard Earned $$$.
Caught me
January 17, 2020

In reply to by reba

I have been scammed to the tune of 15,000,. He is a marine engineer, born in Netherlands, divorced from 20 year marriage (she cheated) 1 son in boarding school. On a ship in Black sea off Turkey. Need Google play cards for internet use,etc. different times 500.,200. etc Getting large sums of money being shipped by Treasury Bureau,6000. need money to ship, then need money for customs, then a Royal stamp at border being held etc Showed paper from US and National Geographic for expedition would receive 9 Billion Dollars, was at end of Expedition but can't leave ship or get paid until he replaces, whoops first need 1500. to get a part to fix, but then he broke it and cost him 100,000.to replace machine , he raised all but 15,000 and he needed it immediately. When I told him I was broke, he said use use 401 K or IRA savings.. My financial adviser refused to send the funds. All along this way people I was dealing with , bank personnel ,financial agents kept telling me it was a scam. He was so sweet, sending me love notes every day ,phone calls, I had really fallen for him, I didn't believe until the 15,000 and my financial agent saying if I insisted to send the money that I would have to close all my accounts with them. Part of the reason I did not think fraud he gave me access to an International bank, signed into his account, (so he could prove he would pay me back), showed he had 7 plus millions dollars and he wanted me to transfer 1 million to my account. Of course it never happened, the code..Cost of transfer COT just did not come to finalize. So girls learn by my experience. I am a reasonably ,smart ,conservative, woman that fell for all the logical reasons, even against my own better judgement.
Buttons
August 29, 2019

In reply to by Carollee

Sounds like the gentlemen that tried to scam me. I asked where was he from, because he texts in broken English. Said he was born in Germany, but lives in Tampa Fl. The he wanted me to send money for his luggage, which was in ....YOU GUESSED IT.....TURKEY! Was to wire a money gram to someone by the name of Aashir Ijaza. The money was to be worth millions, but once he arrives here it would be smaller. He goes by the name of "James Raphel". He lives at "Hangout" if you type in jamesraphel83@ he will surely answer. Oh and has a 5yr ol son named Terry who wants me to be his mother. He's in boarding school, while he Works on a Oil Rig called Turmoil, which doesn't exists.
DonDebra't use…
July 23, 2020

In reply to by Buttons

How do we out pictures o. Here or check them out on line. My guy was Turkey and Germany also
Sandy
September 22, 2019

In reply to by Rlucious

I talked to a guy For four years.He worked on an oil rig he was an a engineer He was from Ohio he said but was on a ship in Nigeria He asked for money but I told him I didn’t have money to send to anyone .We talked quite a while His wife died giving birth To his youngest which is a girl he also has an older son . I finially did send money but only once in a while I told him I didn’t work and had no money So let’s say in these four years I have probably sent around 3,000 all together He was good he sent me his passport picture he sent me pictures of his friend and him He sent picture if his daughter and son of a birthday party At his house for one of his kids Showed me pictures of his mom his sister everything he or someone talked to me everyday on the phone but would text 5-6 times a day and talk said he loved me couldn’t do without means that he loved me forever more He was good at what he was doing . Then he wanted me to open a bank account for him he wanted to use mine I said no to that Stupidly I did open one a couple of months back I put 25 in it to start well it was fine Then he got to asking for the I tunes or google card a Sephora card all kinds he never said anything about the account but kept demanding I get these cardsWell I got a letter from chase bank I owed them money I called them I told Then I didn’t send any checks in to look and see If I had gotten checks I never order checks They cancelled out the order gvv
DCS
October 28, 2019

In reply to by Carollee

My guy is in Yemen. His name is Larry Roberto. He has a son named Jason, he’s 15. Larry claims he will die there. He wants to come home. He’s from Italy and his wife died i horrible car crash. Is this guy a scammer?
mech1993
February 18, 2020

In reply to by DCS

Yes. Definitely a scam. I am currently talking to a very similar one now and trying to get him to the point of asking for money so I can report him. Italian with 13 yr old son. Wife killed in car accident. Works for the UK medical services. It’s all crazy. Took me a few hours to figure it out but been stringing him for a couple of days now.
Heather
April 05, 2020

In reply to by DCS

Yes it's a scam and as soon as you send money they will come up with another excuse to why it's needed more. You will get stories such as I had stuff stolen, my son is need of surgery or fake Larry will need one...Send money for those reasons and next you may get another email/text stating Larry has passed away from anything they create just to get more money out of you. So sad there are predators out there just looking to cashing money from innocent people.
Tasha
October 28, 2019

In reply to by Carollee

Hi I have been chatting via email to a so called Doctor in Yemen for a few months. He claims he is working under the United Nations and is from New York. Recently he said they were attacked on the way back from a clinic run. He said he lost all his cards and laptop in the incident. Later he asked me for $1600 to get his flight ticket saying that he will have his debit cards sent to me as it will take 4 weeks for him to receive them. I told him I dont have the money then he says "do you want something bad to happen to me here". He is aware now that i am sure he is a scammer. He is using the name Dr Christian Nelson Mateo.
Sarah
June 15, 2021

In reply to by Tasha

Do you have a picture to show. I need to check if it is the same guy
Flyfilipina
November 06, 2019

In reply to by Carollee

Ok. This is identical to what I'm dealing with. Except he is a dr in Germany, with an account tied up until January. Asking me to deposit 1000 usd into a LLC acct through the UN. The letters received in the email dont have a letter head. All communication are on hangouts.
blondie77
November 11, 2019

In reply to by Flyfilipina

I have been talking to a guy, claims he lives in Oregon but from New Jersey. Says he is on a mission in Yemen. No family that he talks to. Calls and texts everyday. Sounds almost Arabic and his English is really good both spoken and written. Has similar humour and grammar. Loves me, wants to marry me blah blah blah. I had a notion I was being fooled and I spoke to someone at a scam agency. She did a quick check and found that all of the pictures were of a Russian man with a different name. He never asked me for money and when I mentioned that my mom was worried about me because of the special she watched on W5, he demanded to know what I tell people about him and his job and then told me he loved me but needed some time. Fast forward a week, he called and said that we are over. Because of me, he was forced back to the US and his mission is cancelled. I violated government intelligence. He blocked me...
Gaga
January 12, 2020

In reply to by blondie77

Dear how did you find him on internet.please advice me.i am in same situation.
AW24
February 19, 2020

In reply to by blondie77

I too found out that the person I was talking to was using a Russian man’s pictures with a different name. I would like to compare pictures and share stories to see if it may have been the same person.
concernedfriend
March 08, 2020

In reply to by AW24

My friend is involved with a scammer that sounds like yours. He says he’s on an oil rig in Texas. He is using a Russian musician’s pictures. He claims to be a widow with a college age daughter. Can we compare pictures?
Nanacarol50
March 31, 2020

In reply to by AW24

I also am talking to guy who is using a Russian guys picture because he says he was scammed. Would like to compare pics and names. He is bugging me for money for food and it’s getting tiring . I did send him $300 last October but not one dime more. He has tried numerous times begging me for money and he will marry me and buy a house. Fat chance of that.
val100n't use …
June 21, 2020

In reply to by Nanacarol50

Hi your guy sounds very much the guy that I am currently talking with , he friend requsted me on face book, and i found out he was using a Russian mans ID, he gave me the name of Scott Parker, apparently lives in Texas however i have reason to believe he lives in Turkey, widow of course , works as an investor but needs $9000 to confirm a contract. sends fake photos , wont face time as his phone is broke!! born in and from Switzerland calls me baby , sweetie, im playing with him at the moment as he does not realise I know he is scamming me , I have no intention of sending any money!! do you have a photo we can exchange please??
Nanacarol50
June 20, 2020

In reply to by AW24

Where can we compare names and pictures. I would be glad to because I am done with him. He got 500 for me and no one else will get a dime. It was hard lesson to learn.
Nanacarol50
June 24, 2020

In reply to by AW24

Aw24 If you look under FB for Alexander Sosnin that is guys picture the guy who scammed me was using. Plus I found about 23 other names using that same picture. The name he was giving me was Jackson Joseph but he’d or others working with him would get first and last name mixed up at times. Jackson said he was a sailor for PIL. That’s what info and hope it helps someone else not get taken by him.
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