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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.

Quizzer
April 19, 2018

In reply to by Never Again

He says his name is Harris floydie ray widower 1 daughter works on rig on Quebec for Verona lives on California wanted to chat on messenger and sent photos I did reverse image the same photos are all over different websites he sends messages intermittently and long messages declaring love and that he had been scammed for 582,000 his messages look like copied off website and repeats everything beware of this scammer
Keepdreaming666
April 19, 2018

In reply to by Quizzer

Quizzes, How old is his daughter? I am also talking to a guy who has a daughter. Can you describe what they both look like since we can’t share photos on here?
urliltxtornado
November 24, 2020

In reply to by Quizzer

I am so glad I Google his name. Uep Harris Floydie Ray told me he lived in Guymon ,Ok . He's widowed with a daughter. I think he said her name is Sarah and she's 5, living with his cousin. He just asked me to send flowers to his "daughter" . He is a scammer.
Curious22
December 01, 2020

In reply to by urliltxtornado

This is curiously close to a person my mother in law is talking to. Except Sarah is 13 staying with friends.
Grace
January 13, 2020

In reply to by Never Again

The guy who is trying to scam me also I met on words with friends. He was a widower working on an oil rig in the gulf. I ask why his emails show 6 hours ahead of my time? He said he was from Bexley Ohio so I ask where he graduated? Also says he had family in southern ohio I ask for name and he didn't answer. When I told him I was asking around about him he got very upset. Told me to stop talking about him. He is going by the name Jordan Brett.
Npauj Npaim
April 16, 2018

I am talking to a guy named Harry Wallace Lord.I meet him on Christian Mingle. It is very intelligent,spelling and grammar is great. His father was an American and mother Indian. Father passed away 4 years ago,mother still lives in India. He is the CEO of his own company. He gave me the website to his company I looked it up it looks very legitimate. We were supposed to meet last week but last Wednesday he called and said that he have an emergency with one of his contract in Dubai and has to go take care of it. Now that he's in Dubai he said it's going to take him 3 weeks before he could come home. He even reserved a hotel room in town when he was supposed to come to meet me. But he reserved it in my name. I decided that I was going to go stay in that room since it's not coming to be near him. When I went in they tried to run the credit card that's on file it was denied. He has not asked me for anything until tonight.

He just called me, and said that he wants me to go and open up a bank account at a bank. It could just be met my name or both of our names. Supposedly he is doing independent Consulting outside of the company and he is being paid separately for that. And because he doesn't have access to put that money he wants me to open an account so that he could put those money in it. He wanted to be my name too because he want to take care of me. He wants me to have access to the money whenever I need the money it.

Has any of you have this type of issues? I wanted to believe so much that he is real, but this is giving me a red flag. Should I be worried because I have sent him so many pictures of myself and my family, giving him my address and phone number?

FTC Staff
April 16, 2018

In reply to by Npauj Npaim

This could be a scam. Some scammers use people to help them transfer stolen money. They meet a person online and create a relationship. The scammer asks the new sweetheart to use her bank account, or open a new account to receive money and transfer money.

If you do this for a scammer, your name is on the bank account and on the money transfer forms. If you get involved with one of these schemes, you could lose money and personal information. You could get into legal trouble.

SnP901221
April 14, 2018
Hi I meant someone of meet me she goes by two different names one is Linda berry and the other is lisha sexton has anyone heard of her she seems like a scam she has asked for itune cards and bank account numbers.she claims to live in hughson California and supposedly wants me to send her $300 dollars so she can get on a plane so she can come to Michigan and live with me and wants to marry me and have kids.
Scammer
April 14, 2018
Patrick, oil rig, Istanbul turkey. Hasn't asked for any money over the month or two, has a son and wife died. Sent me a photo of an older man with white/brown short-sleeved verticle striped shirt on an oil rig? black sunglasses on his head. Also, a photo with long sleeve plaid button up shirt and jeans, standing beside a waist high light post with flowers behind him. Sound familiar to anyone?
MommaBear
April 14, 2018
This Michael Brown has been messaging me trying to get me to give him my account information for my cell phone account so he can get his mom a phone. He said he was just sent to Africa and his son is living with his mother in Florida. He says his wife died from cancer and keeps asking me to give him my bank account so he can wire me money. I continue to say no and then he got upset that I don’t trust him. What a joke!
Labor Day
April 15, 2018
Met a guy at online dating site and went to Hangouts app immediately. It took exactly 7 days for him to ask for money. Says he is in military in Syria. Asked for iTunes cards too. Going by Jason Hannet. Anyone else communicating with him?
Playinggames2
April 15, 2018
My VERY first encounter with a scammer got me for 2 iPhone cards, and wanted as much as I can to send to his daughter that was in collage because she was arrested for DIE and needed a lawyer, after I told him I didn't have any to spear (1 week) he had "a heart attack " was in the hospital and suddenly stoped txting. This guys name was James Staley, sergeant in Army stationed in Fort Campbell military base. And the next one didn't get a chance to ask for money, his name was Frank Marshall in Africa, he got shot and while he was laying in a field bleeding he texted ME. BLOCKED HIM. 3rd was Todd Johnson in Nigeria, sent me a 2250.00 cashier's check to be deposited in my account then cashed out and sent to his "agent " in Nigeria, in the city. I gave all that info to the police. Now I'm playing one out cause I'm confused... this on has sent me flowers, and claims to be in Franklin Tennessee, working at home via.. computer and phone with an oil rig in the Pacific Ocean. This guy as pics showing he is rich, high end cars, bikes, clothes, and speed boats.... lol his name is Mark Griffin.
Vanessa1978
April 15, 2018
I met a guy on a dating app here in Belgium where I live . The man claimed to be a business man who worked as a dealer in cacoa beans. After talking to him online and sharing pictured he said he had to go to Kenia to purchase a new load cacoa beans for his client in America. Two days before he was planning to leave Kenia he was robbed . He had to be admitted in the hospital and was waiting for a blood transfusion after he said that he was stabbed during the robbery. He asked me if I could sent him money to pay for his blood transfusion . I said that as a single mum of 5 kids I could not do that . He gave me the name of the doctor of the hospital and even managed to get a laptop so we could Skype so I could see that he was in a hospital and was injured . We skyped , saw his face that was identical to the pictures he had send me . He claims his wife died and that he lives now in Belgium but was born in boydton, Virginia. I image searched all the pictures I had and nothing came out . There is also nothing to be found on the internet that links to him he goes by the name of samuel donald benson. After 3 weeks of online chatting he claims he is very much in love with me and even speaks very respectfully about my children. I refused to send him the money because I have doubts about the whole story . He was very mad and gave me a feeling of guilth. But now he doesn't ask about the money any more. But my feeling says that there is something not right.
Gorgeus Flower1961
April 15, 2018
Has anyone been chatting to a doc Kevin wilison who reckons he has been in Syria 4 years and wants early retirement from being a medical doctor for the us United Nations. He wanted me to send him money so he can arrange flight from Dubai as army would fly him there and could travel business class return t uk from Dubai as he has diplomatic passport. He had me hooked into to being in love for 8 weeks and even did a webcam call. Watch out ladies as this guy steals your heart
I Italiangirl
May 21, 2018

In reply to by Gorgeus Flower1961

I had been talking to a Kevin Williams he said he was a Trauma Surgeon. He was such a sweet talker and was madly in love with me after of few days and God brought him to me..........
Feel so used a…
April 15, 2018
I was also scammed by someone name Brown claimed he worked with the U.N. he said he had to make a personal trip to Malaysia to receive money owed by the govt to his deceased dad. I was so stupid I sent money to him since he claimed he had pay money to avoid tax evasion there and he wanted to go home but didn't have enough since all his money was used up paying the govt there. After sending him money on 3 occasion totalling to 2000 USD he said he was able to return to the states. After he returned our interactions became less and less until it stopped. Now I can't get in contact with him since the number is no longer in service and his address I'm not even sure if he ever lived in New Jersey. But he will pay God don't like dishonest people
Yepmetoo
April 16, 2018
If they ask for money that's a dead give away. I think I've talked with every one of these guys on Twitter. One guy was deployed in Kubal can't remember his name. He kept calling me dear on DM. He asked to go on Hangouts I said no, I wasn't comfortable we could talk on Twitter DM. That lasted a few days then he said, "I told you to give me your email address". I was like, "You told me? No one tells me to do anything." I blocked him. Another guy, goes by Mr. Fred, mother is South African, father is from Louisiana. He had a bunch of pictures, we were texting on Twitter DM. Same as everyone else. Asked me for an ITunes card to pay for updates on his IPhone. Knowing you don't have to pay for these I said, no and that you're a smart man, you can figure this out. He laughed and said he loved me. We continued to talk for a couple of weeks, money didn't come up, he wanted to move here, marry me, even sent me a picture of a ring he bought me. I did the reverse picture on Google. I found him on YouTube named under Daniel Boland, check it out, he is really hot. I confronted him, and he said he was going to surprise me, that he did sing professionally. Then a few days later the big one came. He needed a lot of money whatever I could put up. He wanted to send all this equipment for his new business to me. He had paid 14K already but needed another 1200. to pay for shipping. Not a lot of money except for me, I don't send money to people I don't know. I blocked him. We had talked on hangouts, we even talked on the phone on hangouts. He seemed all in for a relationship, help me raise my kids, etc. Even when I said I lost a pair of earrings he said he wanted to send me money to buy a new pair. One thing I noticed in his profile; everyone he was following were female. One thing I wish we had a list here of all the names that everyone has spoken with. They will still change them after they are blocked, more will pop up. This is a job for these guys/girls. One time I really thought I was talking to a girl! We all just need to be careful. They are everywhere1
isheacatfisher10
April 16, 2018
Have any of you gone to Nigeria to meet your man? My friend has been talking with an "american military man" stationed in Nigeria. He has invited her to visit and her daughter is very worried she is never going to see her mother again, if she goes. Friend is 50 years of age and should know better. I am just surprised that he is inviting her to visit. Any help would be so appreciated.
FTC Staff
April 16, 2018

In reply to by isheacatfisher10

You could share information from the US Department of State  about scams - including romance scams -  that target American citizens. The US Department of State also has Country Information about the current travel, health and advisory conditions in a particular country. The US Embassy in Nigeria also lists signs of a scam that cause people to send money.

Todd The Great
April 16, 2018
A crazy woman was asking me to send her $50 dollars to help her and her son and may I add that we had never met.The moment that she immediately ask for cash through Western Union or Moneygram,I blocked her.
Almost scammed…
April 17, 2018

Just got a message from Paul Schmidt who contacted me on my yahoo email saying he found me on Linkedin (while searching for an old colleague). Anyway, I did some digging and, sure enough, I found the exact same paragraph from his email doing a google search. In that letter he used the name Daniel. I caught him out on two lies so far... and I'm so tempted to keep stringing him on and toy with him. Would serve him right! Waste HIS time on me!

pikl
March 01, 2020

In reply to by Almost scammed…

Paul Scmidt emailed today - Ranfom - I’m not looking for love so watch out for this character. Here’s the email, left my name out but it was a form letter style insert with my name so he’s sending out lots! Sure, you are having the best of the day. Hope this message meets your approval, and my apology if you find this awkward as I never meant to bother you neither invade your privacy nor LinkedIn privacy policy itself. I know this platform wasn't created for this but I know the precious are found in the least places. I stumbled on your profile which I find fascinating and inviting, hence, this wasn't planned for but I had to be courageous and write to you and let you know how I've perceived you. I wish to get acquainted with you, hope this isn't being too forward? I hope you welcome my candor and courage taken in writing you this texts. I shall be waiting patiently for your reply. Warm Regards, Paul
Ann
March 14, 2020

In reply to by pikl

How old was this guy and were did he say he was from. I met someone by the same name says he sells building material. If I am not mistaken he is 56....
Nada69
April 09, 2020

In reply to by Ann

Anyone came across a Paul, claiming to be a trauma surgeon on contract for the UN in Afghanistan.
Plop
June 09, 2020

In reply to by pikl

I received a similar email as follows: Sure, you are having the best of the day. Hope this message meets your approval, and my apology if you find this awkward as I never meant to bother you neither invade your privacy nor LinkedIn privacy policy itself. I know this platform wasn't created for this but I know the precious are found in the least places. I stumbled on your profile which I find fascinating and inviting, hence, this wasn't planned for but I had to be courageous and write to you and let you know how I've perceived you. I wish to get acquainted with you, hope this isn't being too forward? I hope you welcome my candor and courage taken in writing you this text. I shall be waiting patiently for your reply. Warmth Regards, Ben
Jessica J
April 17, 2018
Anyone know of Travis or Mathew Taylor. Handsome personal trainer with one daughter Isabella. He stated he is a widow. Wife died from cancer. He lives in Las Vegas. 38 yrs old. Originally from Spain. Has an accent.
Keepdreaming666
April 18, 2018

In reply to by Jessica J

Hi Jessica J Can you describe what he looks like and also do you know his old his daughter is too?

Quizzer
April 17, 2018
Has anyone had contact from this guy who says HIS NAME IS HARRIS FLOYDIE RAY ON INSTAGRAM? A WIDOWED OIL RIGGER OFFSHORE IN QUEBEC, HAS A DAUGHTER .
Hen1990
April 17, 2018
Has anyone been contacted by a Mark James ? First on instagram and then asked to go to hangouts
bobby.seeta
April 20, 2018

In reply to by Hen1990

Thats Jacob Adams on face book with black and touch of a gray beard dark blue half slive puffy jacket and dark blue tshirt...... And the other pic he is the gut in left with light blue shirt

Keepdreaming666
April 17, 2018
Hi everyone, Have been talking to this guy for about 2 months now. Everything was going well with him until he took a contract job in Lagos, Nigeria and now he regrets going as he has to pay for his supplies to be released from customs and they are charging him $30,000 dollars. He wanted me to take out a loan as they screwed him over on the contract stating he had to pay for his own shipping supplies. Now he is stuck there and can’t get his agent to pay for his supplies or the owner of the building where he is supposed to do the job to get his supplies. He is requesting that I get a loan in the amount of $60,000 to cover the supplies a to cover his hotel expenses. I don’t understand how you don’t read the contract word for word of gave an attorney review the contract. Now he has to see how he will be getting his supplies as I told him I couldn’t help him out which he got upset about. Very good looking guy based on the pictures he sent me.
Ace
April 18, 2018
OMG..I have a similar question. Did anyone ever speak with a man who said his name was erickson robert stephen? He's an enginering.. lives in houston with his mom and 9 years old daugther named Lisa..
D Gallant
April 18, 2018
Does anyone know a Michael Nelson claims to be a widow with 6 yr old daughter. Works on a cruise ship yet has no money or credit cards. Now he has been attacked by pirates and is dying needs 10.000 dollars to get to hospital
Keepdreaming666
April 19, 2018

In reply to by D Gallant

Hello D Gallant, Is his daughter on the cruise ship with him? Also what happened to the rest of the people who were on the cruise ship. He needs to come up with a better story. Also how does he plan to get off this cruise ship to get medical attention and needs $10,000 dollars. The stories these scammers tell are so funny sometimes.

plz1961
April 19, 2018

has anyone heard the name adrian Peter schleminoff...

Sam
April 19, 2018
My friend is getting scammed by someone pretending to be Aaron Goodwin on twitter asking her for money. She won’t listen at all that this is a scam
Keepdreaming666
April 19, 2018
Have any of the guys you ladies are talking too done and oath to you and they promise to always treat you right?
Deborah68
April 25, 2018

In reply to by Keepdreaming666

Yes he said the same thing to me. He promised to always be there to protect me which I found odd since we live across country from each other.
Keepdreaming666
April 25, 2018

In reply to by Deborah68

Hi Deborah68, Yes this guy gave me a marriage contract basically telling me he will always be there. I found it to be very odd also because we never met and he was already doing a marriage contract.
Deborah68
May 07, 2018

In reply to by Keepdreaming666

I know I have had two guys talk marriage and call me their wife. They say things to women that our husbands or significant others do not say. Thst is how they charm us.
Lolita
April 19, 2018
What about a guy name Andrew from tinder , he supposed to be a social worker for UNICEF he live in New York
Bearbear
April 19, 2018
Does anyone know someone named NELSON ANTHONY? Drilling engineer in Canada?
Newscammed
May 21, 2020

In reply to by Bearbear

Had a guy saying he was Anthony Morton from Texas / Miami, a petroleum engineer, lost his wife to cancer and has 2 kids
Trisha
November 26, 2020

In reply to by Bearbear

Yes l know nelson Anthony he on Facebook. You got a pic of him pls. He says his wife died and he has a daughter . And on oil rig in Canada
wonderwoman4545
January 13, 2021

In reply to by Trisha

this guys is talking to my sister and she sent him money for phone card
adnan
April 20, 2018
paxtradings. com scam, stoled my gift card he from Bangladesh, FBI should judge this scammer, i also sent his photo and phone number to FBI im sure they will judge this scammer
Edna Lee
April 20, 2018
Has anyone been approached by a man called Newton Coal. I am pretty sure he is a scammer
Ella
April 21, 2018
His says his name is Elliot Morton says he’s Australian and German but he talks with an African accent. Says he has a daughter 7 and an ex-wife who he doesn’t know where she is. The daughter lives in London with his mother. Says he had a global real estate company in Los Angeles he inherited from his late father. We met on Match.com and shortly after he said he deleted his profile and I should do the same. Never asked for money or iTunes cards but after about a month of talking when we were to meet he made excuses...goingbout of town for contract bidding etc. Then he says he landed big contract in Ghana to build hospital sent me pictures and everything. When I would ask when are you coming back to LA he would say I’m not finished with project because my bank has put a hold on my account while they are investigating someone stealing $40,000 from me and I’m asking my friends and business partners to hold me down until I get back home. He’s been gone since June 2017. So he would have his friends deposit thousands of dollars into my bank account and I would send it either money gram or wire transfer to him in Ghana but never to his name but to a Prince Acquah! I stopped that quick! He said he needed the money to finish the project but the project was already finished. Red flags started appearing when we would talk via Hangouts video chat but he would never show his face. The pictures he sent could be of someone else as is the name also. He would say something is wrong with it or the service is bad in Ghana. For the past month red flags started appearing and I’m very intuitive. So I googled the hospital name from the bogus contract he sent me and Bang! Pictures he sent me matched the pictures of the Ghana University teaching hospital that was under construction at the same stage of his photos!! That hospital has been completed for a very long time!! I called him out on all his lies...but of course he’s not responding! There’s more that I’m finding out about this scammer in that he’s I guess a scammer in the sense of bank fraud stealing money...If anyone have come in contact with this man please put it out there. Google him he’s on LinkedIn only have a profile on fb very limited...
Keepdreaming666
April 24, 2018

In reply to by Ella

Hi Ella, So you have picture do you have pictures or can you describe what he looks like. I am talking to a guy who also took a contract job but in Lagos, Nigeria. He also has a daughter who is 7 wife left him also but he told me that both of his parents passed away. I also met him on a dating site. He didn’t ask me for anything. Just recently when he left for Nigeria he needs money to take out all his supplies that customs is holding.
Pg13!
September 13, 2019

In reply to by Keepdreaming666

Hello ladies I know your post are from last year but Do either of you by any chance still have photos of this Elliot Morton character? I think he may have struck again.