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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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Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
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Romance Scams
Grace
July 07, 2020

In reply to by Elle

Hi Elle, was this guys name Kelly Roberts by chance. He has a 16 year old son and his wife died ~ 10 years ago of Leukemia. Works as an engineer on an oil rig in Canada.
PollyAnne
May 21, 2020

In reply to by Lane

how long did it take before he asked for money? your situation (early compliments, widower, family pics, worked on oil rig) sounds exactly like what I am dealing with. can you advise what his ethnicity is? was he an engineer working in an oil rig in Italy?
Mememe
February 20, 2021

In reply to by PollyAnne

I am also talking to an Italian who lives in the USA. he has a daughter who lives in cyprus. This one calls himself David Brian. and he has no hair and has a beard
His Godess
June 09, 2020

In reply to by Lane

My off shore lothario’s name is Gregg. He “loooves me” he has been looking for a woman like me his whole life. He wants to marry me and have babies with me. He has a gorgeous son who is 12 years old. He first needed money to fix his phone so we could talk. I was at work so I couldn’t. He was able to get his phone fixed. He does a side business as a Bit Coin investor. The man is gorgeous, can’t take it away from him. Last thing he asked was for me to open a bank account for his investors to send money because he can’t get money from where he is. I told him I couldn’t have a bank account because my ex husband was always taking my money from me. My gallant love is going to make my ex husband pay all he has done to me!!!! But honestly, I have one in Yemen too. And in Siria, and oh, one lives in NYC!!! But can only talk at night because of the nature of his job. He works at the UN!!!
Aarya
July 12, 2021

In reply to by His Godess

I met American guy orthopedic surgeon UN from Syria.. he msg me on Insta said he is a widower having a daughter 9yrs old. Anyone familiar to this? I have his photos too.. I suspected his chat in 3days and stopped but still wanna know the scam
marie
June 10, 2020

In reply to by Lane

Im texting with a man on oil rig, needs transport money, asking me to contact UN to give him leave off rig, asking $6,500usd. Too good to be true, his spelling changes often, has a son emailing me, he talks strange for an american. I almost sent money. Too many unanswered questions Cant take selfies, had me send google play card, then said used card, sent amazon card that was good. So I spent $100. Had me take blood oath to confirm our union, Yes he blew up when I wouldn't trust him. I often thought how many people are involved in this conversations. Using Andrew Peterson chemical engineer. Im supposed to send the money tomorrow, I dont think so.
Jack
August 23, 2020

In reply to by marie

A blood oath ... something like.. "I swear on my life if I ever betray you against the will of my love, death will be my destination..." my thumb still hurts where I cut it.... that was about 6 days in, then asked for money today to release him from his contract. shameless.
Don't use your…
June 17, 2020

In reply to by Lane

Lane, This happened to me, meet on Craigslist April 2016, told me he was a Widower, worked as Chief Engineer and Operations Manager with Shell Oil on an oil rig in the AUK Oil field on the North Sea. He said his name was Richard Bell, home address Waldorf, MD, USA. Showed me pics of himself and grandchild. Unfortunately, it did not end well for me and I became a victim.
lac
March 02, 2020

In reply to by Libra

Ohhh... I had this guy ask me to download Hangouts and chat there. He hit on me very hard in that chat room. Hasn't asked for money, which of course I won't give me. But why do they all want to use Hangouts to chat, as opposed to where they initially saw you - Words or Instagram?
Nancy Drew
April 25, 2020

In reply to by lac

He wants to use Google hang out because it’s private. The joker I was communicating with Online would always tell me “go to Google hangouts” I always wondered why. If he has a Gmail address and is using Google hangouts , he could be a scammer . Will sweet talk you for a bit and then ask you for money. Most times the photo you see won’t really be him. My guy use the name Philip Ragnar. I found out he was a scammer. Then he claimed his name was Hanson Oversini from Nigeria. He asked me since he was truthful what I still be able to help him? A liar is a liar is a liar! Don’t be fooled by these clowns. Real love doesn’t cost money. And whatever happened to men taking care of women?
Darla
June 19, 2020

In reply to by Nancy Drew

similar name of a person could we connect and you send me a picture
Jan
May 29, 2020

In reply to by lac

Hi I met a guy online through IG and his name s Leonard Williams .. he said he s a surgeon in Iraq with the UN mission whatever .. has a 10 yr old daughter and a single dad.. asked him where his daughter is right now and he said she s in boarding school... very romantic and only has sweet words to get you.. I only talked to him once but my friends told me this is a scam ... so I confronted him and he got upset.. video called him and he got upset!! Also he said that this an only child and his parents passed when he was 10 yrs old.... what a scammer
JSB0419
June 08, 2020

In reply to by Jan

Hi, I think that I am talking to the same man that you talked to. He told me that he is a chemical engineer on a oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. He said that his wife got killed in a car accident and that he was an only child and both of his parents are dead. His daughter is in a boarding school for girls in Canada. He is a smooth talker and according to his pictures is very nice looking. But after I started googling online, I asked him flat out what he was up to and he got angry and told me to stop looking stuff up and that I had ruined his day. The stuff he tells me about the rig is factual. I also met him on word with friends and he immediately directed me to Hangouts.
Mary
June 30, 2020

In reply to by JSB0419

Another scammer, I see! He's a smooth talker, alright, who can't even spell his name properly: Williams Leonardo, my a...beware girls: he's an overseas' predator as well!
Armie86
July 14, 2020

In reply to by JSB0419

Sounds like my guy talking to him for 8 months. He is on oil rig also, has girl boarding school. His picture is of a very handsome model. I caught him on it. Says its complicated and can't send me pic of him for Confidentially reasons of his work. He gets angry easily when u say no to what he wants u to do. Tries to say u dont love him if u don't do it. Has costed me 5,000. Claiming he will pay it back. Hasn't! He gets angry then says he wont pay it. Right now he is happy wants to be wirj me and marry me is trying to pay me back!! Will see what happens! I just want my money back and to move on.
Dontsend$$
August 15, 2020

In reply to by Armie86

You won’t get your money back he is a scammer and he will keep you hooked for as long as he can. Typical scammer story line. Next they will try and get you to launder money to get your 5K back. Block him.
Aarya
July 12, 2021

In reply to by Jan

I relate to this.. I just met him 4days back. He call himself Doc Gary Andrews from Nashville. I had an wrong instinct so confronted him today morning and he passed off on me.. used vulgar words and gone off.
Kittyclan
September 13, 2019

In reply to by Loulou2934

Hi I would be very interested in talking to you as I am also in contact with someone who is from Ottawa but told me he is in Cyprus right now working.He toid me the job is completed but they are holding his check as something went wrong with registration of his construction company. What name is he using? Did he involve his mother? He said on the dating sit that he is widowed with a 15 year old son who lives in Scotland with his mother.
ctat22
October 25, 2019

In reply to by Kittyclan

That's him! Mark Richard? Video chatted with him so picture matches
Venus
November 20, 2019

In reply to by ctat22

I am also in contact with a guy who said he had a son with a Scottish woman. He is using a London Number and he lives in Singapore. 56 years old, marketing specialist. I have his pictures with his 15 years old boy. He sounded like a Nigerian. When I told him the more you speak the more you sound like a Nigeria. I immediately switched to video calling. He interrupted the phone call. and blocked me !
fxp182
April 01, 2021

In reply to by ctat22

I think I’m talking to him, I have photos, please share?
agentvenay
May 16, 2020

In reply to by Kittyclan

Omg the guy I talked to was going to Cyprus for construction. He was an electrician had a daughter the mother was deceased. He said he lived in nevada. Went by the name Daniel.
Roland67on't u…
November 08, 2019

In reply to by Loulou2934

Hi Lou Lou. That’s excactly what happen to me..please advice me how to get this man..as the UK Police said they cannot do anything as the payments I made was international..Prague ,Budapest & Poland..
Mrkshzmkzrk
November 09, 2019

In reply to by Loulou2934

It sounds like I have this guy now. Can you tell me more about him? Did he address you as queen? Baby? Do you have his picture? Did you ever meet him? How did you find out he was African?
asorrentino51
December 23, 2019

In reply to by Mrkshzmkzrk

Yes my guy said his name was Brayden copper and was in Iran in the army first he said he was a lieutenant then when after 3 months he ask to send letter to U.N. so he can be with me on holiday my reply was I was to send money I never replied back so he begged for 2 says but he always called me his queen or honey
Rosep68
March 08, 2020

In reply to by Mrkshzmkzrk

I'm thinking I'm being scammed by maybe same guy he calls me queen and baby supposedly he is in us milatry as mechanic has accent sweet talker but won't video call he is a widow his wife died of cancer and has 6 year old daughter but supposedly lives in Australia so needs money because he's is coming home to Australia to open up his mechanic business but his account is frozen and needs to pay taxes for his mechanic equipment that he's ordered from Turkey very good looking but has lots of tattoos any one got pictures of someone like this looks European
alnk
May 03, 2020

In reply to by Mrkshzmkzrk

whats the guy’s name? I am chatting with one who calls me queen and babe he calls himself andrew young
kiki5678
June 01, 2020

In reply to by alnk

OMG, I also have been talking to someone from IG that uses queen and babe...
Pattycat
July 26, 2020

In reply to by kiki5678

Is his name Dr. Lewis Presley? Is he an UN orthopedic surgeon Working in Kabul Afghanistan?
Phipps1
October 17, 2020

In reply to by Pattycat

Same for me His name is Dr James Randy I’ve already been scammed
Sick of scammers
November 27, 2019

In reply to by Loulou2934

Hey Loulou, what name was he going by? He sounds like the same guy I was talking to.
Kimlarge19
January 09, 2020

In reply to by Loulou2934

Did you start working with the FBI and EFCC yet? Do they require money to trace the scammer?
Mrkshzmkzrk
January 15, 2020

In reply to by Loulou2934

Could we please talk or exchange words via email. I lost a large sum of money to this guy a few months ago. Wish I read your post earlier. Have you ever seen him? How can we talk?
caught well an…
May 22, 2020

In reply to by Mrkshzmkzrk

I've got to talk to you Think we have been caught by the same guy Let's try and sort this out
Racingchic
February 06, 2020

In reply to by Loulou2934

Is there any way to find out who the person is in the pictures that are sent to me and find out if he is fake or a scammer?
Babygirl
February 16, 2020

In reply to by Loulou2934

Do you have a photo sound like the one im talking to but he says he is in the united states
Shawty low
April 05, 2020

In reply to by Babygirl

What you girls are saying sounds familiar to me too. He requested me on IG then told me to talk to him on telegram I asked why n why not over d phone. D name Roland James and on IG he's Williams James d picture is from a Mexican tatted but doesn't speak Spanish yet he said he came to San Diego wen he was 7yrs old, got cheated on but has 2 daughters n is a construction engineer. Spoke to him once he sounded Hindi but sent me a video where he's singing in d shower n he's 6'4 I hve done researches of his name n cnt find anything matching him n he said he's 38yrs old. Anybody no him please let me right now I'm playing along because I want him caught he asked me for an Amazon card of $200 n got lost then an iTunes same amount. He mentioned mom n sister.
dukr7
June 06, 2020

In reply to by Loulou2934

Hello, I had a similar experience with a man from Kuwait but his nationality was Egyptian. Same thing happened. omg I would love to connect with you.
S654321y
July 27, 2020

In reply to by Loulou2934

I’ve already contacted the FBI on the person who scamMed me
Duncan
August 23, 2020

In reply to by Loulou2934

This sounds like the one who scammed me. Are you able to email me to exchange details?
Sandy2020
May 13, 2020

In reply to by vanessa6297

Did these military individuals say where they were from, and were they were? I got a divorced military guy w/2 children and some information is verified other not. Still feel ifi about it. Claimed he sent me something and apparently stuck in customs in Turkey. They are asking for around $4200.00 to release the item to the US. Has begged me to pay for the packet to be release. The company used for shipping has a phone number buts not even an 800#. Any help greatly appreciated.
musicbeeb
August 08, 2021

In reply to by vanessa6297

I think the same one was with me. He asked for money for daughters heart operstion when asked why he was in the military they did not funds for that He got extremely mad and said he would NEVER contact me again. Thank you Lord!!!
DrBsBFF
February 26, 2019

In reply to by Frankie

Just received message yesterday from a scammer (we’ve been playing a couple of games about a week or two), I read about on here recently, Orthopedic Surgeon, widowed 6 years ago, son Owen @ boarding school in Boston.. wants to get to know me.. goes by Frank Williams. Well I mentioned him to someone else whose been trying to scam me, told him don’t worry I deleted him (this other guy asked me?’s, that I avoided answering), but today when I went back to game to update/look at my profile information because I have been playing for several years, I had to look up Mr. Williams because he stopped the 2 games we were playing on the board. Wondering if he and the other scammer are one and the same? Only difference is the other guy divorced his wife 6 years ago and he has a 12 year old daughter @ boarding school in Texas!
zzz
March 04, 2019

In reply to by DrBsBFF

and they are only children whose parents died and no family, you are their only friend they can rely on.
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