Consumer Alert
Faking it — scammers’ tricks to steal your heart and money
Not everyone using online dating sites is looking for love. Scammers create fake online profiles using photos of other people — even stolen pictures of real military personnel. They profess their love quickly. And they tug at your heartstrings with made-up stories about how they need money — for emergencies, hospital bills, or travel. Why all of the tricks? They’re looking to steal your money.
As if all that isn’t bad enough, romance scammers are now involving their victims in online bank fraud. Here’s how it works: The scammers set up dating profiles to meet potential victims. After they form a “relationship,” they come up with reasons to ask their love interest to set up a new bank account. The scammers transfer stolen money into the new account, and then tell their victims to wire the money out of the country. Victims think they’re just helping out their soulmate, never realizing they’re aiding and abetting a crime.
Here are some warning signs that an online love interest might be a fake. They ask you to:
- chat off of the dating site immediately, using personal email, text, or phone
- wire money using Western Union or Money Gram
- set up a new bank account
Did you know you can do an image search of your love interest’s photo in your favorite search engine? If you do an image search and the person’s photo appears under several different names, you’re probably dealing with a scammer. And if the person’s online profile disappears a few days after they meet you, that’s another tip-off.
Here’s the real deal: Don’t send money to someone you met online — for any reason. If your online sweetheart asks for money, you can expect it’s a scam.
Unfortunately, online dating scams are all too common. There may be tens of thousands of victims, and only a small fraction report it to the FTC. If this happens to you, please report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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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.
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In reply to seems our government doesn't by 49,000.00
FullName: James Lopez Rank Code: (SSG) Staff Sergeant (MOS) HOMELAND SECURITY T.Num.1461m0409965 reginment address Ain Assad Armforeces Base mail. po.Box 6653 Albaghdadi Help me find this person please not sure if hes a scamer james lopaz hes im google
In reply to i need a serious help by jerica35
Scammers use photos of other people, even stolen photos of real servicemembers, to create fake online profiles.
Scammers often say they're from the U.S., and they're working overseas or serving in the military. They claim they want to visit you, but some terrible event happens, or they lose money in a business deal and can't get here unless you send more money.
If someone you meet online starts asking for money, it's probably a scam.
Don’t send money to help someone who has a sudden problem. Don't buy things for them online, or accept packages at your house and send them to another country. Scammers will keep asking you for favors and money. In the end, your money will be gone, and so will that person you thought you knew.
In reply to Scammers use photos of other by FTC Staff
In reply to i need a serious help by jerica35
In reply to I am having same thing says by mojo
In reply to i need a serious help by jerica35
woow I am a Nigerian lady and this is exactly my story. Been scammed by the same dude. His online photos show a very tall, light skinned and very good looking gentleman The man (name he is used with me is OLUSEYI OBAFEMI) says he is from Fresno California.
Met him on a Nigeriandating site, claims to be a Christian, is widowed (WIFE DIED IN A CAR CRASH) has a son (about 14) and is a ships/ marine engineer currently trying to get a docket space in Nigeria. He talks a lot of Christian talk and says he loves TD jakes etc. Anyway he duped me of almost $1000. Told me he came to Nigeria with $8000 and had run out of money and needed the money to travel to Abuja to get his license signed. Said he is awaiting his credit card which he said is being sent by courier from America to Nigeria. Told me to send the money to a JUSTICE EMMANUEL who would help him collect the money and bring it over to him. JUSTICE EMMANUEL he claimed is a nice chap who used to help him get his supplies while he was out at sea at Oron in Calabar Nigeria while taking his exams to be able to practice in Nigeria.
Truth be told I knew it all wasn’t making sense but I still fell for it and I blame myself. It hurts because I needed that money to go do some tests at the hospital. And now I can’t get my tests done. Thing is he has a strong American accent i.e. he definitely grew up there and he is scamming well-meaning Nigerians too. So these days scamming is not restricted to any one race or country. ; I forgot to add that he said he was in the US marines for so many years. Claims his has no family left etc. I got duped just a few days ago by this man ie 5th and 6th of April 2016 and still have my bank receipts of the monies I sent him. It was only when he stopped picking my calls that I decided to research him and came across this site. Only wish I had done this earlier
In reply to woow I am a Nigerian lady and by Kiki
In reply to i need a serious help by jerica35
In reply to i need a serious help by jerica35
In reply to USA grant govt department by takla
Please start by reporting this. Report to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. You can also contact your state and local consumer protection agencies, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
If you gave your bank account or credit card number to someone who took money without your permission, contact your bank or credit card company.
In reply to I'm dealing with a scammer by sostupidifellforhim
In reply to is he using an australian by Ajk1111
In reply to I have a person calling and by LMC 1111
In reply to I was talking to a man who by Coastal412
In reply to This same guy tried to scam by Tina
Received a friend request from a Scottish engineer living in San Jose doing a independent contract job. Very very romantic writing roberts richard Ferguson I DID NOT acept request but wrote emails on my Gmail and aol account. He was a a fantastic romantic writer and almost had me BUT he made a new email address arichferguson and ended alex cares RED FLAGS as his other emails all where richieferg82 . if it is to good to be true it is.
In reply to I was talking to a man who by Coastal412
In reply to I was talking to a man who by Coastal412
In reply to Met this man on Facebook,told by Floragirl
Please report this to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations. If you used a wire transfer company, contact its customer service or fraud department and give details about the transactions.
In reply to Met this man on Facebook,told by Floragirl
In reply to Met this man on Facebook,told by Floragirl
In reply to Want to report Craig's last by sunlvr15111
If you were charged for something you didn't receive, or that wasn't as promised, contact your bank or credit card company. You can contact the customer service or complaints staff at the online listing company too. Go to ftc.gov/complaint to file a complaint with the FTC.
In reply to Want to report Craig's last by sunlvr15111
In reply to I met a guy online we had 1 by missy
In reply to anyone have contact from by jemmar31
In reply to I am in contact with williams by Mary
In reply to anyone have contact from by jemmar31
In reply to anyone have contact from by jemmar31
In reply to Im currently taking to by Concerned k
In reply to Hi Concerned k by figthergirl
In reply to These articles have been very by jane odle
You can report this to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The information you give goes into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
Also, you can report the international phone numbers and other information to econsumer.gov. Law enforcement agencies use information in econsumer.gov to identify and investigate fraud that crosses international borders. Your complaints help agencies in the US and abroad work together to crack down on international schemes.
You can also tell the wire transfer company about the scammer and the names and addresses he used.
In reply to I have met a guy on a dating by Dannielle
It's good that you're asking questions about the story this person is telling. If this doesn't sound right to you, you can stop chatting.
When the person says he loves you right after you meet, it's a sign of a scam.
Don't ever send money to someone you meet online, or let them use your bank account. Scammers often tell people to wire money, especially overseas, because it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money after you send it.
Watch out for someone who immediately wants to talk or chat outside the dating sight. Watch out for someone who reports a sudden personal crisis and pressures you to provide financial assistance.
In reply to I have met a guy on a dating by Dannielle