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Image of cupid and heartNot 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.

A woman looking at a dating site on her computer.

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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.

FTC Staff
July 26, 2016

In reply to by Noniemarie

When you file complaint online with the FTC, you choose how much personal information you want to give. You can tell us your name, address, phone, etc. or you can leave out that information. You can give details about the scammer, and keep your personal information private.

Take a look at the complaint form at FTC.gov/complaint.

If you want to get a reply from the FTC after you file a complaint, you have to give your email. If you don't give your email address, you won't get a reply to confirm that we got your complaint, but the information you give will still go into the database that law enforcement uses for investigations.

Don't use your…
June 24, 2016
Ive been experimenting with these guys on fb and find if u don't know them don't friend them if your friends know them ok. I found that they will look at ur fb photo and send u a friend request ok. Accept and check out their fb if few photos and not much activity they are a scammer unfriend them quickly if they claim they are in a foreign country under a big contract as engineer oil and gas connection run as fast as u can unfriend them as fast as u can type also claim wife and son was killed in auto accident and how much he loves u and sends u pix roses and love notes, please give me a break don't waste ur time get out and meet someone in person. I'm still single live alone and loving it there ain't no free ride out there for us they are looking for one themselves they wouldn't be in Facebook if they are wealthy makes sense those guys have women lined up and waiting. We have got to use common sense girls or u may lose more than money check those dudes out first ask for their cell no or address see if u get it probably not. More than likely the photo ure looking at is probably not him so wise up and let them know we've caught on to their schemes I play around with them and the drop them just to show them I'm too smart for their Bs. One name is Alexander Leonard or Leo Alexander he is a nut case claims he works under contract in I believe Ireland he looks Irish claims he's from LA claims son and wife killed in accident he takes pix of all these printed love poems plus pix roses hearts etc and sends them I unfriended him quick also very good looking guy in brown suit and tie blonde Goes bt Larwence and he also is working out of country ignore all these bums and go out and have some fun spend your money on you . Also he gave me a 903 area code number to text but not call when I would be on fb so we could chat ISO I did a reverse phone number check biggest scam there is located all these numbers with 903 area code to Ben Wheeler Tx they call and want money saying u owe back taxes and IRS going to sue u bull IRS will send u a letter in the mail and target seniors because scare older people into sending them money they collected over a million $ from seniors last year hang up on them they will also tell u to go to ur computer cause there's some problem tell them off and hang up. My motto is if too good to be true it probably is hope this helps a lot of innocent people from the low down scammers out there roaming around waiting to devour us also those posing as military probably aren't maybe some if two or 3 pics on fb don't take the bait . Good luck and be cautious who u befriend on the Internet
Philly Keith
June 27, 2016
It's not just men, I have a women contacting me, sent me a picture of her father's will and can only get the money if she marry, at 1st I was intrigued, but I know it's not right, she's saying she lives me misses me then she said she would take care of the will then come to the USA but she need 1500 for the plane ticket, I have a copy of the will, if only it wS true, I can't find her pic in image search but what's it sound like to you?
wordswithfriends
June 29, 2016
I was contacted on words with friends by someone claiming to be in the US military in Afghanistan - said his name was Chris Shields - claimed many of the same things - dead partner - young children - retiring soon - would have a big payout on retirement - wanted to meet me but I had to email and pay £100 - I was suspicious from the start - he was very convincing but it was a scam and when I said I wouldn't email the army he stopped contact immediately
Dutch Lady
June 29, 2016
I have met on Facebook a man he told me he was Command Sergeant Major of the USA Army in Afganistan and he asked me to pay for a parcel that will be send to me by Fastlink Shipping and I had to pay for the delivery 6341,00Euro´s. I did not pay for his package and Mr.Dossier Dieter Falk said I was heartless,wicked and cunning, but my money is still in my bank account and I found his photo on the site Military Romance Scams
Too Nice
July 04, 2016
I have been speaking to a man who claims to be an engineer and living in Greensboro NC. Said his wife died in car accident. Has two children in Australia. He says he's an engineer and is still in London now. He left suddenly in Feb 2016 for job proposal. Has not returned yet. Unfortunately. I fell for this scam. I did wire money. After finding this site I have realized now it is a scam. They suck you in and when you say no they keep texting and guilt you into sending more. These people are very good at what they do. My guy goes by Bruce Revell. Has anyone else heard of him. Met him on Match on February. He is still txt I g me. Says he needs money to eat and pay half of ( private apt) bill where he has been staying. Also supposedly he had appendix out. Of course on his way back to US. Said had attack while at airport. I can't believe I fell for this. I am a intelligent woman. But let me tell you ladies. They play such great mind games.
Angels
July 05, 2016
This comment is for the people handling this page. Why are the margins sooo wide - if the margins were narrower then the amount of material could be extended horizontally and much more be fit in the replies. It would be so much easier to read. Thank you.
worried daughter
July 07, 2016

HI - this guy Ricado James has his Facebook blocked so i can't see anything. i need to find out more about him. I think he is scamming my elderly mom. he "lives in Dubai but from Turkey.. how can i google search him??? please help anything will be helpful

FTC Staff
July 07, 2016

In reply to by worried daughter

You might contact the social media site and tell them you are concerned, or talk with your mom about the messages she is getting.

You might show your mom some of the stories people posted here about people they 'met' online who turned out to be scammers. You could read about what romance scammers often say, and tell your mom about that, or show her this one minute video about romance imposter scams.

alien
July 07, 2016
I hope someone can help me, I met someone on a gay dating site, he was the same age as me, and sent me pictures, and I thought wow, someone this handsome really is writing to me, he didn't say he was young or overseas, and said that he lives in New York, and he was an engineer and Architect and would send me pictures of construction sites that he was working at, and said that he had a firm in New York, and he didn't ask for my e-mail address until later when we got to know each other. then we exchanged number but will only use Viber as he says that he likes this service, no questions asked and I didn't mind as we were just talking, so the following week after we exchanged numbers and email address he was going to Rome to visit his mom and girls, he said that he was divorced and because he was gay, but anyways, he went to Rome for Easter and will be back in two weeks, well a week later was going to be my birthday, and he asked for my address and I did ask for his as well, and he did give me a New York Address, so again, I didn't question it, but on my birthday, he sent me roses, and I was very happy and then he send me a picture of him holding a sign saying happy birthday, I was so happy and I thought I found my dream guy, but when he was suppose to go home his mom fell down the stairs and broke her knee, so he had to prepare for her care, but then he had to go to Berlin for a meeting which they accepted him as the designer of their building and he had to go to Ghana and has been there since, we have been corresponding for several months and he keeps me informed on the progress of the building, and was suppose to be here this week, but delay in building, but now he says he ran out of funds and cannot finish the roof, he says that he had to use all of his money and several of his people have helped and asked if I can fund him 50000 dollars to help, but I said that I don't have that type of money and asked if I can get a loan and he will pay it back when he gets here, but what is bothering me know Is that he isn't being loving as he was for the past few months and he said that its because he doesn't know what is going to happen to the building, so I was thinking about him and did a google search and his pictures that he has sent me is of the famous photographer in New York, and I am confused as he didn't seem like a scammer, but the guy I have been writing to is Godfred Hesse and does anyone know if this guy is real, I know his pictures aren't but I am having such a hard time believing that he is lying to me, I can't afford the 50000 but he doesn't stop writing and he isn't begging, he is upset that he can't get this project done. Maybe I am being stupid or guidable, I don't know, and I am not that ugly looking, so I am confused, please help.
Too Nice
July 15, 2016

In reply to by alien

Don't send money !! He will keep you hanging on. But, trust me he will start putting the pressure on. And also say things like, trust him, love him etc.... I understand where your coming from. But hang tough !! Prayers are with you.
Philip007
July 20, 2016

In reply to by Too Nice

Too nice.. my friend, it is a scam. If he loves you then he will understand. Just say you are sorry, you can't send any monew. You are sure he will get past this seeing what a successful brilliant man he is. Tell him how hurt you are for not being able to help or being there to help him but you have faith he will make it through this... after that he will probablyou realize you have no more eyes to send and leave you alone..God luck. So sorry.
Jessica Spencer
July 08, 2016
Hi, I wonder if you can tell a scam artist you'd like to sue his butt for not paying you back. I gave him money, never thought about scam artists. I live in a small comm. never heard of this. He said he would pay me back, but never has. Maybe sue this guy and tell him him he better pay up. He said he would pay me in double. Yeah right! Where is the money?
Cloudy
July 10, 2016
SO .....pretty sure but not 100% sure i was scammed already. My question: i am very far in debt now and want to leave my marriage. Tired of the loneliness and emotional abuse. I am concerned about anyone finding out i sent money 4 yrs ago via western union and more recently via moneygram. I dont want anyone to know of my stupidity it is my price to pay, my responsibility. Can anyone say or do you know if this will show during the divorce proceedings??????
fuzzyq
July 11, 2016
i dnt know if they realy love south african ladies
Hurt in Idaho
July 12, 2016
John Gorham -- daughter Jenny (21). Same scenario. Watch out for this one; he spends the time to make you feel like a Godsend to him. Said he was an independent contractor working out of Reno, NV. Jenny supposedly attends university there. Widower of five years. Wife died of cancer in Germany. They came to America to make a new start. He has a thick German accent. He secures a contract on an oil rig in So. Africa for seven weeks, and wants to retire after that. He won't let you break off contact while he's gone. He insists that couples, to be strong, must maintain contact. He works on your sympathies. Everything that can go wrong goes wrong in his trip to Africa. He cries a lot. First asked for an iTunes card, because he needs to purchase a program to help him with his work. I could not figure out why he just didn't purchase one at the airport on his way out of the country. To show good faith and to be helpful, I purchased one for him. I think that is the mark that they look for to see if you are a giver. Then, he needs equipment, because of course his and Jenny's computers and her phone and speaker were taken at the airport. He wanted top of the line Macbook Pro's and phones. I could not get them, which angered him. I started to break it off, but then we thought maybe his wife did things like that for him when he was alive. Then, he supposedly lost his wallet off the oil rig. I wired $100 for food, while I thought he could get his cards replaced. I wired it in his name, but she said no, he could not pick it up but would have an employee do so. So, I rewired it in that person's name in South Africa. He then said they were about to get kicked out of their hotel unless he got some more money, and he would lose his passport and be homeless. He was crying. All along, he said the oil rig was broken, and he was busy trying to raise money for the parts. He said he was legally responsible for all the money, as he is the one who signed the contract, etc. I fell for it. I do not have extra money as I live on SS. I felt compelled to help them with the hotel, and sent him half of what I had for the month. However, because I sent it in his name instead of the employee, he was unable to collect it. That made him angry and made me feel guilty. I got smart and refunded the money to myself thinking this was the last straw. Then my daughter and I googled these scam pages. I wish I had known prior to going through this. It's painful and humiliating to know one fell for it. But I thought, because of the time we spent building a relationship, it surely was real. NOTE: We were introduced on POF by a woman who wrote me there, supposedly called Brenda. She thought we would be good for each other. At first I wanted no part of it, but she convinced me otherwise, and I provided my email to her. HE had no presence on the internet in that name and said he did not do social media because of being tricked by a woman and hurt in the past. I believed him. The rest is history. Don't believe the sweet words and the poetry ladies. It hurts.
Candicorn
July 13, 2016
Add Mark Olson to that list. Gave a really long military title, turns out he used different parts of military to make up his title. (Infantry combat) a team leader of the CTF Widow-maker Commander’s Personal Security Detachment.Troop A, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment partnered with 2nd Company/2/3/205 Corps ANA conducted operations to clear the village of Zendanon in Zharay District, Kandahar Province of Afghanistan in order to disrupt Taliban influence. I shut him down quick when he asked for a gift card for a sat phone. I asked for his military email and he told me not to contact him again. Please be careful out there.
Delta918
January 21, 2017

In reply to by Candicorn

I have recently been duped by this guy. Didn't send money because I found this comment first. Thank you!
pigsfly17
January 30, 2017

In reply to by Candicorn

I had a guy named Johhny Wiseman contact me on POF with the same exact job description. Only chatted 3 days so far. Very lovey-dovey. Too much, too soon. My search brought me to this site. Thankful for the warning. Also widowed, 2 sons being cared for by a nanny. From Sweden, but his educational history does not match his age. Emailed from a gmail account. So far has not asked for anything, but I was wary.
Justenlightened!
February 20, 2017

In reply to by Candicorn

I too just had the same Mark Olson same lengthy job description same 2 boys and widowed etc. Happened today on POF dating site. I received only 1 email from him outside the site but knew right away with no ".mil" its a @gmail that it was not military so ran a search first before I replied. I hope others are careful about checking any "military" person out before corresponding with them. Yes everyone Please be careful out there.
Candicorn
July 13, 2016
Many of us feel embarrassed that we fell for this. Hold your head high because being loving, caring people in the world doesn't bring us shame! Remember YOU are the victim! I can't speak for anyone else but I was heartbroken to learn the truth. I just wanted someone to care about that would care about me equally. I just wanted a companion and someone I could love like I want, no deserve, to be loved! We are their victims because we have a certain expectation of love or because we are kind and caring. It is ok to still be this person! DO NOT let them change YOU! Be careful, be cautious but remember there are guys/gals out there for us who are not scammers! Tell as many people you can about this reality and protect someone else from this.
badooped
July 13, 2016
I have a guy that I am talking to goes by the name of Alfred Myler - states he is from Virginia but is a soldier based in Pakistan currently. I asked for his military email he said he can't give it because they are going through an upgrade. I asked for a video call because his accent isn't "southern" he said they are not allowed video calls or pictures on base. He claims to love me unconditionally but hasn't asked for money yet. I am wondering if anyone else has come across this guy.
Rey
July 14, 2016
There's a girl who contacted me via facebook and WhatsApp about two years ago, she claims to live in the Uk,then few weeks after she professed her love sending in text, sweat words....I blocked her immediately. Until few months ago, someone started sending me love text again with different phone numbers ..1(810)2083908, 40732584276, 41799771146, 417997711478, 1(555) 3354161. Always request for video chat so as to be sure of who you're talking to, never send a penny through money gram because it's a dead end.
Vern002
July 15, 2016
I got a friend request less than a week ago on Facebook. The supposed "she" contacted me via Facebook messenger and a couple nights ago I had a nice chat with the person. I told him a lot about myself (stuff like marriage is not for everyone and stuff like I don't being in pickles of situations and how I am not like those romance guys you see on TV and all that stuff and how I am an introvert). Also about how I've seen so many marriages go on the rocks. His only responses were: do you have aids or HIV, do you own a home or a car, what do you want in a partner, etc. The kind of questions he asked and the responses he gave after a while really started popping up red flags. I eventually told the person if I married her, it would be such an incompatible marriage. The facebook name is Kerry Mark and it is the one with the pug type dog in the picture as there are a number of Kerry Marks on facebook. He has two facebook sites with the same dog picture and one of has three pictures of the supposed self. I did a reverse image and low and behold the pictures did turn up on other sites. I told him I something to the effect he is not the girl in the pictures, that he is not whom he says he really is. I don't if the person is a he or she. All I know I think he wanted my money. I deleted the facebook messenger app temporarily and blocked the Kerry Mark with the pug in the avatar.
Amber
July 16, 2016
Hi, please help! I recently met a guy on OkCupid. We have been chatting for a while now. Hes in the Army deployed to Mali. I know very well about military scams so I have been very apprehensive, and did my research. Did the reverse pic search,nothing came up. I searched his name and all the right info he had given including pics came up. He hasn't asked me dor anything. I told him I was skeptical, and asked him to send a pic of him with something with my name on it. He did it right away. He sent a pic of himself holding a note that said I'm for real Amber. So far, nothing has happened that would reveal him aa a fake, but I am still hesitant. Am I talking to a real person or is this a scam?
Kathy43
July 17, 2016
I think I hVe been scammed 2.I meant a man named Major General Robert Bruce Abrams his says he is in Afghanistan working with the United Nations with peace keeping. He asked me to married him through the United Nations Marital Affairs and I paid $980.00 to get married to him. He is still talking to me. He never calls me by my personal name. He calls me honey, baby,my love. I am confused. I don't know if I am real married to him or not. Please someone help.
MAP249
July 19, 2016
its up to us the women and men who have been scam by these so called date line lovers to stand together and expose these people by putting there faces on facebook and other sites they used these site should not care it would weave this mess off of there services and cleanup a lot of these scams you can not expect these websites to do you are the ones who has been hurt and to tell the truth its your own fault the man I talk with did not get one dime from me and I fell in love to everything he said to you women he said to me but I was not sending any money and I told him no he told me he had a daughter he worked for exxon oil he had his own busness but then you are going to turn around and asked me for money I don't think so these people also deal with all races of women he said he was from duplin London stop dong it ladies so if we can start a group to put these pictureson line lets do it N N
Philip007
July 20, 2016
I think I am.speaking to a scammed but if so, she is good. Maternity nurse in ghana. We have video skyped no voice, talked on phone and email. She met me in a dating site. Moved to an email and sent me a bunch of questions but none personal. Dating questions ... what my likes are, religion, that sort of thing. We have been chatting for 3 months now. Last week her mom got very ill and almost died...now she is searching hard for medications. I of course became very skeptical but I remained concerning. She never asked for money until today. Says she has asked all friends and uncle. (Father died years ago) anyway, there are so many things that.add up and so many that dont.... we will see. I told her from the start I was poor and had no money... lol. She still talks to me every day.
Too many of us
July 20, 2016
I am I the same situation with a scammer. They are very good. Goes by Peter Josh. Two first names???? I can't find much info on-line for anyone with this name. Says he is from Armenia. I met him on Christian Mingle. He removed his profile shortly after and within a month, the site removed his conversations because he violated the rules. Hmmm! He uses WhatsApp and says he is from Jacksonville, FL. His voice and accent just don't seem to match his picture. He uses babe, hun and love a lot. Port Authorities are corrupt and asking him for money. He was able to get some from a friend but needed my help. I have been telling him that I can not help him financially. Really, I will not either way, but I almost fell for it. The story goes on and on. Within 2 weeks of being asked of money, I was also contacted for a job and that turned into being a scam also. Makes me wonder if it is the same person!! I wish there was a site we could post the scammer information on that was free. It would help people.
Ajwv
July 21, 2016
Im not sure if im talking to a scammer or not.. but i met kelvin mcmahon via fb in August of 2014 which im still talking to btw.. when I met him he said all the right things.. he said he lived in Texas but was from Ireland.. said he was a contractor and was soon sent to Africa.. claimed both parents were dead and his previous fiancee died of cancer.. i fell for him and it wasn't long till he said he loved me and wanted to come be with me and we would get married.. shortly after he went to Africa he asked me for money for building supplies to finish his "project".. i sent it to him and he said he was gonna come and get me.. its been almost 2 years now and I have sent him thousands for various reasons.. hospital bills and plane tickets which he always found a reason to not come home.. he always needs more money.. he claims he is now in London and wants my bank info to wire money.. the last account i had i let him do it and it closed my account.. i recently tried to break it off with him and he threatened to kill himself.. i recently also found a boyfriend that lives near me and Kelvin said he won't let another man still his wife.. i need to kno if he's a scammer or not cuz i jus can't deal any more.. help!!!
GSC
July 22, 2016
I've just realized I've been a victim of a scam and I feel so embarrassed right now! But most of all, I feel sad to realize that the person I thought I knew and that I'd felt in love with does not exist. We had been talking for 6 MONTHS almost daily, she really knew how to manipulate my feelings, we even started talking about getting married. She said she wanted to spend a month with me where I'm living right now so that we could finally meet and start our lives together as a man and his woman, she asked me for some money for the plane ticket and of course I sent it to her, the very next moment she blocked me from google hangouts and never wrote to me again. That person goes under the name Inem Uko, 24 years-old, from South Africa but living in Akron, Ohio. Very religious, works in a grocery store as she attends college. I've just learned recently that this is the typical scammer profile. What I cannot understand is how she could keep with this lie for 6 months without any remorse, all the things she said weren't true at all, that's what hurts the most, not the money.
Too Nice
July 23, 2016

In reply to by GSC

Your asking yourself questions about a person that is not real. Everything is made up, scripted. They are pros!!! I too, fell for all this BS. And it cost me dearly. But, you will recover as I did (or am). All of us must hang tough. And, yes you probably will be contacted by another scammer. I think they put us all on a list. But, now you will know the signs to look for. Good luck.
Karen
July 28, 2017

In reply to by Too Nice

This is very true, i recieve a few more, on facebook by the same people, just different profile. I just blocked any one i don't know, and yes i learn my lesson.
nancy
July 22, 2016
Ajwv - so many clues that you have a scammer: #1 - named Kelvin - very common with scammers #2 - usually from two different places - they use this to explain their odd accent #3 - sent to Africa for a job #4 - parents/fiancée are dead #5 - falls in love quickly #6 - needs money and asks for your bank account info You have a scammer. Stop communicating with him totally and put your efforts into your real boyfriend who lives near you. Scammers often threaten to kill themselves if you don't "love" them anymore. They are most likely laughing in front of their computers. Just a warning, after being contacted by a scammer, you most likely will hear from others. Learn from your first so you won't be sucked in by others. Another thing that is common with scammers is that they say, "I can't wait to read from you", instead of hear from you. Good Luck with your real boyfriend !
Ajwv
July 23, 2016

In reply to by nancy

Thanks for ur reply.. ive actually stopped talking to him.. especially after he had an atm card sent to me in my name that was supposed to be from his account but I found out the account was under investigation.. i knew he had to go.. and now I can focus on my real boyfriend
Ajwv
August 01, 2016

In reply to by Ajwv

My scammer has contacted me once again and claims he snuck on a plane and flew to California..said he deposited his paycheck to get money to come get me. He then said the check would take 7 days to clear but his lawyer could send me a card to send him money.. i asked y didn't he jus get the card sent to him and he said he lost his id.. it jus don't make sense. And now my boyfriend broke up with me cuz of him.. how do i get rid of him.. my friend thinks hes perfect but i really want him gone.. help
Scammed too
December 31, 2019

In reply to by Ajwv

Ajwv.. the same for me. Everything you comment, he sent me checks of course fakes too. But everything you said is the same .
Jeri
July 22, 2016
I met someone on a lesbian site, Elizabeth (Betty) Pugh. She claimed to be student stuck in Nigeria after working on an internship there with WHO. She got me to send her money to return home to Florida and her elderly grandma and toddler. Then she claimed to have expired her Student Visa (Cuban) and could not return to states without paying monies to renew her paperwork. All told she requested I open an account so she can get a loan from her company deposited because her Chase account had been frozen because she tried to access it from Nigeria. She is very smooth and very beautiful. Portrays herself like an innocent victim of Nigerian scammers too. She last told me she was living in a homeless shelter because she has no money. Anyone hear this one?
confused
July 25, 2016

I dont know if this man is a scammer . I found a man from Tanzania. He said that is working in Kenya. He said that he want to marry me and to have kids. at some point he stoped message me that often . I already have a ticket to Tanzania where we should meet. He asked me if im going to be alone.For now he didnt ask me for money. What to do? Pleas help me

FTC Staff
July 25, 2016

In reply to by confused

If you meet someone online, you can't be sure who the person really is. There are warning signs that someone you met online could be a fake. He might ask you to:

  • chat off of the dating site and use personal email, text, or phone
  • wire money using Western Union or Money Gram
  • set up a new bank account

You can use a search engine to search for copies of a person's photo online. If you do an image search and you find the same photo with several different names, the person is probably a scammer.

The U.S. Department of State has important information about safety, health, visas, etc. for people traveling to international locations.

Gloria
July 27, 2016

The scammer name who contacted me via Facebook is Nicholas T Alberto, supposedly an engineer in an oil rig in the Mediterranean, south of Italy and a widow. I noticed he was a scammer when he called and he didn't talk as Italian, he told me he loved and we was a widowed.

I confronted him because I researched him on the internet and found some guy reported as scammer same name but different photo, he told me that guy was not him, that he was an italian living in the US in Pensacola, Since I am a daughter of an italian, I told him to write me in italian, he did but it was translated from Google Translate. I know italian. I am also an engineer and he didn't know technical vocabulary.

When I confronted him, He told and swear he was legit, he told me he had a grandson and a daughter, and his wife passed away. My heart wanted to believe that however couple of days ago I did a reverse image and found out this guy is using the photos of other person, who posts continuously his life.

I just waited for him to ask for something, and he did yesterday he asked for 5,000 euros, I told him I will not send money after I read all about scammers I was in alert. He called me, he cried and I told him I will not send him money. I blocked him on Facebook, but he sent me an email, telling him to unblock him for him to send the information for me to send the money "asap" and if something happens to him in the oil rig will be on me, supposedly the company will cut water and food for not finishing the work he suppose to do due to a missing spare part that did not arrive from New Zealand. Today I filed a report on the FBI  and also file a report on Facebook. It was a really bad experience after 2 years of my divorce... Unbelievable.

Bluelancia
March 28, 2017

In reply to by Gloria

I believe I was scammed by the same person.
Bluelancia
March 28, 2017

In reply to by Gloria

Gloria, I have had a similar experience with the same person named Nicholas T. Albert (o). First, 2000 euro to save his inheritance in Italy, then 4000 dol to transport a missing part on the rig. Doesnt sound Italian but claims to be one living in Pensacola. Widowed with daughter and grandson. Very charming and romantic. Gets to be very mean and verbally abusive if you refuse to give him the money.
kgrogers1968
July 27, 2016

my mother in law is talking to a Eseigbe Desmond i told he is a scammer she gave him her bank info how to i help her and prove to her he is a scam and how do i report him? please help!!!

FTC Staff
July 27, 2016

In reply to by kgrogers1968

You could ask your mother in law if the person she 'met' online is doing things that are warning signs of a scam. For example, a  scammer may: 

  • ask you to chat off of the dating site immediately, using your personal email, text or phone
  • say they love you very soon after you meet.
  • make up stories about needing money for themselves or their kids for work emergencies, hospital bills, computers, etc.

Some scammers get victims involved in bank fraud. They start a 'relationship' with someone online, then ask the victim to open a bank account for them. The scammer transfers stolen money into the new account, and tells the victim to wire the money out of the country. If you get involved with a scheme of transferring stolen money, you could lose money and personal information, and you could get into legal trouble.

You can report a scam to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. If the scammer has a profile on a social media or dating site, you can report him to the site.

RUNTO ME
July 28, 2016

MY LUCK2 , taking now to 2ND guy who i check all his cute and sweet poem saying he what to be with me for the rest of our lifetime, that i am the perfect for him bla blab happen to be qotes and frace poem and event bussnees contract essays copy and paste from the internet ,

HE said he graduated for MIT and has a daughter name emily IS 20 AND IS in the Cambrian uk university. that HE does bussness as a builder architecture, what IT trow me off is his pictures when he said he was traveling to dubai to close a contract with Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

the pic is very clear is photo shoP as this Sultan is really old now as a do my research on google and find out the sultan is really old and does not look like the one in the pic he send me. HE RUN BY FABIANO TRAVIS NINO ON OURTIME, MIND MARRIED AND SENIORMIND.TODAY I SEND HIM THE SAME POEMS AND A SONG AS HE DOES.AND BLOCK HIM .

ok LADIES MY LUCK THE FIRST ONE ELSO SOO SWEET LOOK LIKE THEY ALL ARE SUCCEFULL MEN WITH GRAT JOBS BUT NO ONE TO SHARE THEIR SUCCESS AND GOOD TIMES TAVELING AND ALL THAT CRAP. , I HAVE THIS ONE SWEET GUY TEXTING ME FOR 3 WEEKS , THE FIRST WEEK HE WAS SUUPOST TO TRAVELING TO THE UK WHERE HE SUPPOSE TO BE CLOSING A MINES CONTRACT,IS 2ND WE WANT ME TO MOVE TO HIS TOWN HERE IN PENN.WHERE HE WORK AS A GEOLOGIES WHO FIND DIAMONS AND PRECIOUS STONE IN A MINES BY THE 3RD WEEK HE "WHEN TO NIGERIA" TO EXECUTE HIS NEXT CONTRACT IN HIS WAIT BACK HE WAS ASKING FOR MONEY TO PAID THE EXESIVE TAXES IN THIS STONE. BLOCK HIS #,THIS IS FROM {POF MATTHEWCARES}FROM PENNSYLVANIA"" CARFULL LADIESDO NOT NEVER SEND MONEY TO ANYONE YOU DONT KNOW. DONT PAID FOR THEIR SERVICE TOO .

lisa
July 29, 2016
Ladies beware - there are 3 FAKE active accounts of Rayan Jayden on Facebook that he used to scam lonely and vulnerable women who are desperately looking for love. He will send a friend request on Facebook then move to email, phone calls and text messages then viber call. Once you are hooked he will start to ask for money. The real owner of the pictures is Piotr
soonerlady1944
July 30, 2016
Has any one heard of a Bridg. General Austin Barclay, he told me that he is stationed in Afghanistan, wife passed away 5 years ago and has a 14 year old daughter that is in the bordering school there. He also has a home in Houston, Tx, has asked me for my private info. which I will not give him. not to send him money but for other reasons. This guy is a very smooth talker and was wondering if any one has had any contact with him via face book, he has sent only one picture of his daughter after I asked him to, but I would like to know more about him, I do believe that he is a scammer but of course he told me he was not when I said that he was, but I would like to find out more info. on him, so any help would be greatly appreciated.
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