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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.

Liz
May 25, 2018
Beware of a scammer who calls himself Frederick Washington,engineer who had to work in Maylasia,will ask for you to buy computers and send to him. Supposed to be working with son. When you can't send money ,all romance texts stop.
jackie1987
July 07, 2020

In reply to by Liz

I have had the experience with the same person but I cut him off very quickly
myria
May 25, 2018
Stay clear of Mark Griffin claims he has a son named Jack. He used fake pictures and beautiful words to try to scam me. I think the only thing that saved me was I was actually broke when he and I were talking. He said all the right things he claims he works in Greece on an oil rig. He took his time with me. We spent hours and hours talking. Very good English but he is from Nigeria. One of the scammers that was helping him actually got mad at him because he crossed him and text me and told me everything and said he was sorry lo. No honor among scammers. We talked for seven months and yes my heart is still broken Be careful on these web sites. My scammer found me on facebook.
waprincess_77
May 29, 2018
anyone know a demp_sweeny? Says he's from the east coast but in Kabul on a "peace keeping" mission.. aren't they all??
Frustrated...
May 26, 2018
This can happen to men too. I am a widower when I lost my wife to cancer just over 4 years ago. Every woman I have met online, either immediately or eventually asks for money. I am so frustrated. I have known a number of couples who have met o line and it works for them as they get married and live together here in the states. I am lost as how to find a good decent woman online. Any suggestions?
Dennis
May 31, 2018

In reply to by Frustrated...

I have the same experiences. It seems that all online dating services has been overwhelmed by international organized scammers. I have lost account of how many I have chatted with. 8 of 10 dating women and men profiles are used by scammers. Then it is another question if the 2 real women will bother to answer to our message. One way to go forward is to ask some of the real women commenting here, that have been scammed by fake men. At least you are a real man, and you know that the women is real, or you and she wouldn't be commenting here.

smalltownhick
June 12, 2018

In reply to by Frustrated...

keep the faith Frustrated.....a lot of us women are so wary of being scammed we try to "test" the person that we are chatting with first to find out what we are in store for if we continue chatting....I haven't bothered with dating sites, Facebook works just fine for finding friends and I have made some wonderful friends on there....the trick is sticking to it and just say no if she asks for money, if she is testing you she will stick around continue to chat, if not then she wasn't meant to be in the first place
lizzie
May 26, 2018
I come on here about every other week and still read post about others that have been scam like myself I was wondering have anyone came across this name Lenihan Donald Clark claims to be sergeant in the air force military His wife pass away a couple years ago ovarian cancer has two daughters name Sydney and Jane lives in California very attractive black man I have a lot of pictures and one picture of him and his wife and videos of him working out at the gym I truly believe that he's not who he say he is I believe these pictures where stolen from someone that has been in the air force and maybe there still in the military because this man is using someone identity Behind these pictures is a scammer and all he wanted was money and iTunes cards and to come home and get his box I can't help but wonder who is this man on theses pictures that I have because this man name Lenihan Donald Clark is on other sites like Instagram Hangouts Facebook and dating sites have these pictures on his page I just found out a couple weeks ago he has a Instagram page has nothing but women on his page please don't give him anything he's a liar and fake
Libra
May 26, 2018
I am talking to Alen Hunter with a baby. He claims to be in China needs money. We video chatted. I saw him and the baby. Now he claims to be a television host. He has videos of him and baby Mirko. He is all over the internet.said his credit cards are frozen. Send no money. If they are that wealthy then they have money at their disposal. He is still lying to me
DLasseter
May 27, 2018
Has anyone been chatting with Christopher Johnson Estes online
Missingsoulmate
May 27, 2018
Pls post the picture of all man or woman who make scam..let people knows who they are..
DupedBigTime
May 27, 2018
To all of you out there, i too am highy educated and successful and in my early 40’s. The red flags were screaming at me but I so wanted to have faith the there is a 1% chance, it could be the real deal and real love. WRONG! The story is bery similiiar, he connected through LinkedIn. Claimed he was and independent comtract working as a chemical engineer with dual American and European citizenship. He was leaving for a contract he won from Shell and showed me very convincing signed notarized contracts with Shell Petrolum on their worth millions. He also had set up a fake bank account with a password under Standard Bank and told me to go on tneir to secure his trust to see if I can transfer money to a business assoicate for chemical supp,ies for his contract in Turkey. Incredible the sophistication of stoires and scam accounts they set up and how they photoshop documetnd and passport photos with stolen identites. Then they will say their account is frozen so need money and to send it to different friends. Who are part of the ring. Also same story as i have read from others. Engineer who is a widow with a daughter college aged. Then daughter gets sick and since account is frozen to please help. Since i still believe there is more love in the world then hate, these predators unfortunafely prey on this and then peoples lives, hearts and bank accounts are destroyed. So lesson learned big time. The shame hurts more than the money but i believe in Karma and justice will somehow be served to these terrible scammers. But please dont buy any of there stories not even for a nano second. Block them asap and report them to whatever site you met on that they are a scammer and its fraud and save yourselves from heartache and any potential finacial loss. Only believe the one who will meet you in person or even on a video chat. Even then still be cautious. They know how to prey and typically operate within a ring of others. Hope my story can prevent others from falling to simillar scams.
NotGoingtobescammed
May 28, 2018
Has anyone heard of a Detlev Hartmann or Scott Caldwell I think these 2 are both scammers
T Davis
May 28, 2018
Anyone been romanced by Patrick Michael Laregy? Irish, lived in Houston, wife was killed in car wreck, has 17 yr old daughter in boarding school in Delaware where he moved 4 yrs ago. He says he makes solar generators & does outside advertising. All honey, darling, sweetheart,baby. Cell phone is from Florida.Left last week to install solar panels for a village. One piece of his equipment didnt make it. Needs money to rent one.
Frustrated with mom
May 28, 2018
I am so lived with my mother as my wife and I just found out my mother has been wiring money to someone over seas by the name of JIMMY PAUL on facebook. We have screenshot her convo with him and took note of the accounts she has transferred money to. We are worried as she has giving this person our address and don't know what to do next. Any help would be appreciated
FTC Staff
May 29, 2018

In reply to by Frustrated with mom

If your mother thinks she was scammed, she could report the person to the money transfer company. She can call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492 or the MoneyGram Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400. 

She can report also the person to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. The information she gives will go into a secure database that law enforcement uses for investigations. 

If she gave a scammer personal information like copies of her license, Social Security number, bank or credit account numbers, he can use that for identity theft. He can open new accounts or take money from her accounts . If she gave that information, she can go to this page on IdentityTheft.gov.  It tells what to do if your license, Social Security number, etc. were lost or stolen.

NJR design
May 28, 2018
I have a Dr. John F. Anderson scamming me. He says he's from Beverly Hills, but is an Orthopedic Surgeon in Afghanistan working for UN Cares which he says he has worked for for 28 years.
SanAntonio1
January 11, 2020

In reply to by Whatthejaymeo

I’ve had the same Dr John A Anderson orthopedics surgeon from Beverly Hills who has scammed me. Started with Instagram & moved to WhatsApp chats & emails. Why can’t hey be caught vis tracing email IP addresses or tracing cell phone providers?
European girl
May 29, 2018

I met a guy in line and says he is in the military. His wife passwd away and has a son. His texts are incredibly sweet and he wants to come see me in july. He asked me to open a bank account so he can put money in there to pay for a hotel room when he comes to see me? Any suggestions?

FTC Staff
May 29, 2018

In reply to by European girl

Some scammers use people to help them transfer stolen money. They meet people online and create a relationship, then ask their new sweetheart to use her bank account receive money and transfer it out.

 

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, and you could get into legal trouble.

Whatever
May 29, 2018

Anyone scammed by Hen Antonio ? He says he’s from Brazil originally but lives in Sugarland Texas He did a multi million dollar job in Alaska and now he has to pay the money back or go to jail. He needs $4850 to pay lawyer Oh and he has a 10-year-old son

moonlight
May 29, 2018
I have met a guy called Benjamin Max. Claims to be a businessman in UK. He want to Turkey now Want money.
Sunshine
June 28, 2020

In reply to by moonlight

I have this too, similar name, i am.not sure..anything more u can tell about him?
Nicole
May 29, 2018
I got cought by guy named Henry, 41, TINDER very cute and sweet. his wife form germany died of cancer and his son was staying with his dad. I realized it was a scam after few days and it broke my heart i really need to know who is the person in the pictures...
PureJewel
June 04, 2018

In reply to by Nicole

I know we all have our stories but like you I really want to know who the guy in the photos is. They are so innocent and some of them probably don’t even know what’s going on. I was devastated when I found out. I got chatting to the guy on the dating site Badoo near the beginning of last September until end of last November.
Rebe
May 29, 2018
I was messaged by a Anthony Mark, asking how the weather was in my area. He asks again in Romanian. He says he is from Silsbee Texas working with the UN peace mission keeping as a military medical surgeon doctor in Iraq. Then he asks about the economic growth here. (this is where I was beginning to feel skeptical, if he was from Texas then he should know what’s going on in the USA) then he asked if I am married with kids. I say yes and ask him the same question in which he replies “yes I am married with one son, my wife died years ago giving birth to his second son. Then he sends a picture of his son and says his name is Kelvin, he is 14 yrs old and is going to boarding school in the UK. Then he sent me his email and asked for my email address, which I did not give. He wanted he to contact him on the hangout app. Then he says “there is a saying that it is difficult to find a prominent personnel of high principles which are responsible online regards to friendship and business productivity, tell me what is your opinion over this?”- this is where I started to get suspicious. Also, he started messaging me on Memorial Day, and being a “military medical surgeon” you would think he would know our military holidays! Then he says he will teach me how to use google hangout tomorrow. Then he sends me these pictures of flowers and things. I just got through telling him I was married! Then I sent him a message this morning saying my uncle is in Iraq with the UN. He works with emergency response. He does not know you. there is no person Anthony Mark in Silsbee Texas. Then I blocked him
NJR design
May 29, 2018
I have a Dr. John Anderson scamming me. Says he's an Orthopedic Surgeon works for UN Cares for 28 years from Beverly Hills but is in Afghanistan now. Has he tried to scam anyone else. I would like to know.
Keepcalm72
December 28, 2019

In reply to by NJR design

I have had this too - very similar name / situation
Cindy3030
May 29, 2018
Has anyone heard of a Nicolas Muller..also goes by Paul...said he had to go on a business trip to South Africa and the he hit a child and his work won't fly him home..he says he is living in a park and hungry...tells u how much he loves u...accuces me of not caring and makes me feel bad...I lost $900 threw money gram says he will sit at a internet cafe just to talk to me...someone help me please...
cynthiaalo21
May 29, 2018
I just wanted to say they are scammers than marry you to come here and yes they ask for money I'm going through it now they have otherwise in children also never believe them special they come from Nigeria
Sisters worried
May 29, 2018
Dig anyone come across a man Emmauel Lonzo he also says he real he on rig in the Mexican Seaßs he is a rig engineer got two children in United Kingdom at collage asked for I phone card not his daughters was on a mission trip in Begin oldest got a accident still unconscious in Hosp there they need money before do surgery any body out there can help me my sister just knows he real
Karen
May 30, 2018
Watch out for all of the Prince "Fazza" Hamdan Rashid scammers. There are hundreds or more of them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, snapchat, Tumblr. Never never ever give them any money regardless of what they say. They want you to donate to charities, want Itunes cards, and try to tell you they are sending you thousands of dollars and jewelry and want your personal infomation. These people are identity thieves and scammers!!!!
Dina
May 30, 2018
Hello everyone Im a victim of love scamm I met this guy from meetme online dating site in march 2018...his name is Andre Rodriguez..after 2 months and 1 week he asked me $500 for his sick dog after asking me to buy his apple itune card before...he s an artifact buyer..he s on his trip to japan to buy artifact...he called me almost everyday....he has 2 children and his wife left him fror cheating on him...he got help from a nanny to take care of his children....his other job is a gym instructor from rbc fitness centre LA He asked me this $500 for upfront payment for his dog surgery treatment before he fly back to States..he is now in Japan for his business...he said he couldnt use his credit card or bank payment due to hacker wired his credit card so could only used in states Do u guys think its normal or scamm?
Holly
May 30, 2018
All of these stories ring true to what has happened to my sister. She is in love and goes to great lengths to send money. We have gotten several wire attempts blocked but we don't know where she is going next to try. She trusts him, not us. And absolutely does not believe it's scam and sees nothing wrong with wiring money to Nigeria, and money to other contacts and sending hundreds of dollars worth of iTunes cards-along with 4 iPhone X's. He goes by Teddy Sean. This breaks my heart for my sister.
Ptakdiva01
May 30, 2018
Has anyone heard of a man who goes by Wilson Hunter?
Manuela
April 25, 2019

In reply to by Betty

Me too! Is he from North Carolina? Has he got a son named David?
three kittens
May 31, 2018
Does anyone know a Jerome Weiss? His story is that he lost a wife and a daughter in a car accident and was left with a daughter Janice. He had gone to Egypt to do one more job before retiring. Now needs money to replace stolen tools. Maybe claiming to be in Greece.
Summer 2018
May 31, 2018
I just got a phone call this morning from someone saying that I owe the IRS so much money and I have 24 hours to respond back if not then my name will be sent to the police department so I called the IRS Myself this morning because I don't work at all I'm a stay at home mom/ wife and the IRS TOLD me that I had been scamed to not worried about it and she gave me a number to call to report the scame and so I did .and I was all worried and I'm 24 years old and I knew I didn't owe the IRSanything and the woman I talked to this morning also said that the IRS only sends out letters and they don't call you and they don't send out no cop to your house or do a warrant out on anybody so I felt better after that .because I have never been in trouble in my life so please be careful about that as well.
He loves me an…
May 31, 2018
I got someone who started off on fb msger and then delete his profile ask me to use hangout. His name is Michael Birkloff. First he said his mom was mexican and father german after 1 week he went M.I.A now his mom is from spain amd his father cambodian.His wife died 3 years ago from polycystic kidney disease. He first said ge had a daughter but now he only has a 13 y/o son who is being taking care by a nanny and a his personal driver in Midtown NY. He is now is a boat to Mid Asia the trip will take 1 month to get him there. He claims to have a business company and being a multi millionaire. He claims tp be a Federal Govt contractor offshore as a production/chemical engineer who works with a British petroleum company at the Atlantis Deepwater Oil and gas platform in Gulf Mexico. After 3 days he already was in love w me.lol He says his son already calls me mom. I don't even know this ppl..HAHA He also send me to search for a half million dollar house that he is going to "buy" for me to live in. He always gets mad when i tell him i think he's a scammer and that when I laigh at him when he gets mad hurts his feelings because he loves me. Btw his middle east accent couldn't be any havier and his english couldn't be any more broken specially for someone who was raised in NY and japan.
Furbaby
May 31, 2018
I think I'm being scammed... We have been talking since October.. He goes by the name Anthony Scott or Anthony Adams.. He says he is on a rig out of Alabama.... And has a son named Melvin that is staying with caregiver in Dallas Texas.. I have been sending him iTunes and Amazon cards.. I have fallen in love with him.. He says he is 70 yrs old and this is his last job.. Then he is coming to be with me.. Please has anybodyheard of him.. I have lots of pictures. .
worried about MOM
May 31, 2018
Anyone heard of Alexander James Miller with a 14 year old son... the father is allegedly an oil rig worker and is somewhere near Libya.. any help here would be appreciated.. my mom is talking with this guy.. wish I could show his picture here...
Confused in love
June 01, 2018
I'm talking to a guy in Nigeria for awhile i met and talk to his whole family ever day even the baby niece. I know Nigeria is very poor and it's hard for him to get data to talk to me so he asked for iTunes so he can change it for the money to get data. He said 100 will be good for whole month.i told him I could only do 50 he said that's fine. And as for the marriage proposal but he never asked me right away for any romance. But I think they all ask because they are desperate to get out of Nigeria.he has had his Facebook page for long time and his family and friends are on there so i reserached everyone on there and it is legit. Anyways he has 2 exes as he calls them that one used to send him boxes with items. But he said they both have passed away due to sickness in past 3 years or so. I talk to his family everyday along with him altogether with them. They ALL are Christians and I have even spoke with pastor. But i been reading these stories and i want to know Is not possible that they all could be in on a scam or something?
imcsimao11
June 01, 2018

I was contact by Jose Rui Figueiredo on facebook in April....he want to know me better,we start talking....he is very charming and always sending me love letters we talk about trivial things and he always have a perfect answer for everything very quickly while we are talking.He told he was having a critical problem,and from then i paid already few thousands to help him as he is stuck in the shipin Idian Ocean...all wasgoing well until igot a new email,asking to pay an huge amount of money to pay to Italian ministry of internal Affairs to get abox with his belongigs as he had to sent it over in a rescue operation....he have no one else to send it only me in less then a month his life resume to only me and my support!!He have a daughter and is widowed only friends he have are with him on the ship,lost his parents long time ago no siblings very solitary man...sent e many picturez with him and his kid...she even send me msm as he told her about me..they are convincing but i track their emails and find many leaks on their conversation...

jean46cz
June 01, 2018
The first scammer is a medical doctor from US, now in Afganistan, he uses the Name Nathan Fish. He sent passport and honorable discharge (but fake - I asked the US embasy), want to come - sent a flying ticket. Long story about luggage, what he sent about one friend by Red Cross to me, but the friend can not arrive and luggage stay on Philippines, difficulties with cash in the luggage, need help for civil penalty, taxes and worries with court in Philippines, a hotel bill etc. The next scammer is from NY, uses name Geak Jorge, work as a marine engineer, now in Atlantic sea, need necessarily iTunes gift card for his iPhone upgrade and update (min. 200 dollars). He sends picture with his daughter Peace (his Princess) too, but never one picture has history, when it was taken and he wants not sent a proof or takes not selfie now. He use only whatsapp +13473410692 (in blue jacket in the car). He calls only honey, queen, dearie, sweetheart. When I wanted a proof, becouse he sent a picture from iTunes card from Australia, he was very angry. He is not on Whatsapp now, but I sent SMS and he recieved it. He never responded to questions about his or her work, just the general information he had written earlier. Both mans contacted women on a dating site in Europe (they canceled or do not use profile a few months). The next name is Benjamin Ollsen, the same picture as Mr. Fish - one selfie. They use E-Mails accounts by Google. I gave all to the police. Please, be carefull! Send never money or other things. Why they think, that women are desparate. Try but verify!
why arent you …
June 01, 2018
I have left two comments between the 29th of May and now Jun 1st, why arent you posting mine ???