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It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Lots of us have profiles on online dating sites, apps or social media to find “the one.” But that interesting person who just messaged you could be a sweet-talking romance scammer trying to trick you into sending money. 

Reports of romance scams are growing, and costing people a lot of cash. According to new FTC data, the number of romance scams people report to the FTC has nearly tripled since 2015. Even more, the total amount of money people reported losing in 2019 is six times higher than it was five years ago – from $33 million lost to romance scammers in 2015 to $201 million in 2019. People reported losing more money to romance scams in the past two years than to any other fraud reported to the FTC. 

In a sea of online profiles, romance scammers can be hard to detect. But, there are signs you can look out for. Romance scammers start by using someone else’s identity to create fake profiles. They’ll send you flattering messages to make a special connection, say all the right things, and gain your trust. They might claim to be a doctor, a servicemember, or an oil rig worker living overseas. They want to make future plans with you. But then, something comes up and they ask you for money to help them out. Which nearly always means asking you to buy gift cards (and give them the PIN, so they get the cash), or wiring them money. 

Here’s the thing: Never send money or gifts to a love interest you haven’t actually met. It’s a romance scam.

  • Stop communicating with the person immediately.
  • Search online for the type of job the person says they have. See if other people have heard similar stories. For example, you could do a search for “oil rig scammer” or “US Army scammer.”
  • Do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture. If it’s associated with another name or with details that don’t match up, it’s a scam. 
  • Never wire money to a stranger, or pay anyone with gift cards. If someone asks you to wire money or pay with gift cards, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

For more information, read What You Need to Know About Romance Scams. And check out this video.

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Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
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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.
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  • 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.

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Dmh2002
April 05, 2020
I know someone who is being taken advantage of by a person who says they are the country music singer Tracy Lawerence he has takin this peron out of alot of money and the thing is he always wants it in a Amazon card??!! I dont know what he has said or promised this person. But she will not listen to what anyone had to say so I am trying my best to catch this guy in a lye to somehow prove to her he is a bunch of crock!!! So if anyone could help me out I would appreciate Kate it. Thanks
Sassy56
April 07, 2020
I am a victim of the online romance scam. I have had contact with Robert Rudd also know as Sweet daddy of California and claimed to be an oil rig contractor 200 miles off coast of Alaska. I have been approached thru the Scrabble go app and then asked to transfer to Hangouts. He asked for money and to launder money. He also asked for naked pictures and I was dumb enough to do them. He played on a lonely old woman and always seems to have the right things to say. Also portrayed to be a widow with a 15 year old daughter that stays with a nanny while he is gone on a contract. He claims to be born in Brazil and be of Christian faith. But had accent that did not correspond with Brazilian accent.
Strikeback
April 09, 2020
Has anyone been talking to anyone from Denmark and has been asked to get a Steam Card?
Sat125564
October 26, 2020

In reply to by Strikeback

I have. He is going by a name of Eric George. On an oil rig in Scotland. Sound familiar?
StupidlyHeartBroken
April 19, 2020
Has anyone ever been threatened by some of these people? I was asked to cash a check and when I saw the check and refused, he's threatened me, my kids, etc. I'm not sure how seriously I need to take these threats.
Paddlefoot
April 20, 2020
Can you transfer funds from a crypto account onto a regular credit card ? To put it in cash reserve, don’t sound right !
Sarah Thompson
April 24, 2020
has anyone been contacted by someone called Ethan Lewis stationed in Syria? he uses proper solder's pictures. He can send you picture of a solder called Lewis in the badge. Be wary. Sarah
leetazzie
May 09, 2020
Is anyone getting scammed by the name of Michael Nelson on Linkedln? He's in Afghanistan, he says he's a doctor, a widow, has a 12 year old daughter in boarding school and with Covid 19 he can't get access to his personal bank account and needs a flight out. He said he loved me after less than 3 weeks. He is very convincing but I am not giving him anything!
Nanacarol50
June 06, 2020
I am telling you of a scammer named Jackson Joseph. I gave him 500 but if I had given all he asked for it would have been over 10,000. He claims he is a sailor and works for Pacifc International Lines. He says he’s divorced and has a son who is 16 in Boarding school in US. I found numerous names that the picture he used was associated with. He said he lived in Canada. I stupidly talked to him for 11 months and.of course he promised marriage and a House.
Need Guidance
July 06, 2020
Dr on oil rig. Needs $ to buy a phone to call me often. Wants to marry me after weeks of meeting in online game. Very romantic and kind. Frightened of scam
Need Guidance
July 07, 2020
Scammed by “a General Practioner Doctor working 6 months on an oil rig in UK”. Went by the name of Howard Patrick from Houston, Texas Romantic from the start. Said his wife Died 3 years ago during childbirth and both mom and child died. Said he has 9 Year old son, Logan living in Houston with Nanny. Said he needed $1,500 to buy a phone to keep in touch with me because he dropped his in the sea. Colleague is angry that he uses his phone. Asked me to marry him immediately in September when he gets home from Contract work. Sent dirty pictures of his private parts saying that he wanted me. If anyone knows of this character, please Beware!!
RISK2020
July 19, 2020
Anyone encounter Dr David Jones, Middle East?
Rob
July 21, 2020
These scams are getting more sophisticated than this because some of this people don’t even hide their identity. I personally know of two incidents. The first one was a friend who got clearly scammed. The guy always had excuses about not being able to video chat, said he was rich, said he was a US Citizen living in another country, said his little brother died in a car accident, said he was a doctor, said he was kidnapped and kept texting my friend WHILE he was "kidnapped," was always coming to the US but something always happened last minute and never could make it, and he could never send her an picture right away when she asked... the scam was so obvious but she was so in love with him. He scammed her out of about US$2000. Now, what happens when the situation is someone who is just trying to take advantage from you? Does it count as a scam too? In the other incident I know, the scammer was a real person who lived in another country but they met in person. They also met each other’s family and friends through video chat. Then the lies started. He would give her all kinds of sob stories so she can feel bad and send him money and other things, which she did several times. He even asked her to just send her a monthly amount because it was “easier.” He could not travel to the US because he didn’t have a visa so obviously; he conveniently suggested that the easier way was for them to get married. Eventually she caught up with his deceitful tactics and stopped talking to him. Does this count as a scam?
Zeena
July 31, 2020
Women, watch out for Charles Newton, Kelvin, or a Charles Bennett. Same old story everyone else has. Key words- Nuclear submarine officer, Italy, born in New Orleans, widow, daughter named Rosie, ranch land in Jefferson, Tx. Beware. Will ask for money.
didn'tfall4it
August 12, 2020
Just a warning out there if you come across a Scott Parker from Texas. I was contacted in early July by him through SilverSingles. Says he is a consultant for international solar energy projects. He is charming and interesting. Chatted, emailed and talked to him daily. Lives 2 hours away from me. Now has traveled to Cuba to check on his rental properties. Been there 2 weeks and asked me last night to buy 2 IPADS for him. If anyone else thinks this is someone they have been in contact with-be careful. I will share photos with you if you contact me.
Dumb and dumber
August 20, 2020
I’m a old man with 72 years old, lonely, depressed and looking love . A man star y yo text me in Facebook and later in hangout, also in WhatsApp, he was very nice , very sweet with me and start ask me for money , He is in the Army don’t have family, and he has ptsd, I believe in him and I start to help, he ask me for open debit card for him and I accept because he told me he need for his money, someday ago I check the application cash and another men give money to him. I spend in gift and money around 15000$, and when I ask him about the other men , he insulted me and offend me. He has a iPhone I bought for him with Sorint and I pay the bills . With this information he can go to arresting? Also I saw he has different names in other applications for gay men and also i have his email , Somebody tell me what can indo
Bella
August 25, 2020
They tried to do with me, but as soon as they asked me for money. immediate block. I thought I saw the person in face chat, but I think it was a video that they had from a phone about this person.
Misskey
August 30, 2020
Has anyone ever chatted with a Mike Horn who works on an oil rig in Norway with a daughter who’s in a boarding school in Italy?
Rikimie
September 19, 2021

In reply to by Misskey

I encountered the same story ,, a swedish man working in oil rig and ha a daughter in a bosrding school on England ,,
Don't use your…
October 17, 2020
Has anyone been approach bye Anthony Hodges or Felix Princwell he going around asking for money scammer
Countrycamogirl42
November 14, 2020
I was scammed by a person pretending to be Toby Keith. He popped up yesterday evening and started asking for my personal info and I told him I was not allowed to give him my personal info and he started threatening me by saying he would call the FBI on me and I had to shut down my WhatsApp because of the threats that he made against me. I ended up calling a fraud agency and turning him in.
Singing loud
November 25, 2020
Someone tried to do this to me. A few days into chatting he claimed we were soul mates and meant to be. Pay attention to your gut. If he feels wrong it probably is. Be strong and end it.
Stephanie Voßbeck
December 10, 2020
I hope this company can help me with my problems. I am really sad.
Brokenheart
February 08, 2021
I need some help..been talking to a man calls himself Scott Richardson. Says he from Statesboro Georgia has had hard life parents died whe he was teenager was married but divorced had 2 sons Greyson a nd other son dont remember name. Anybody o fo please get back thankyou
spriet
July 13, 2021
i lost too much money by romance scam in the oil is there a possibility for a refunds? please
rosiebaby
August 02, 2021
Klaus Walter (widower) born in Germany presently stuck in Cyprus with equipment held by costumes from St.Cloud Minnesota David Lucas(widower with 1 daughter living with Nanny) originally from Berlin now with California Address held in Prison in England because he left Oilrigg without paying his employees
Vflor
September 17, 2021
Hello, My sister met someone named Marcus Brown whose a marine. They were talking for a week and he was deployed to South Africa . He said he wanted to make her his beneficiary and she would have to set up an account to be able to do that. They have not talked on the phone . He contacts her through WhatsApp all day but then says he can’t video chat. After two weeks he’s already told he loves her. His background: mom is bipolar, used to have a twin that passed away, doesn’t talk to his father - no family here in the states.
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