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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.

Search Terms
bank account
fraud
military
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online dating
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Topics
Shopping and Donating
Scams
Romance Scams

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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.

Mia
June 16, 2018
Hi i have 32 pictures of the same man. Is that usuall? But his storie is so much alike all I'll had read here. I would like to see if there is a place we can compear picturs. Make a site with names and pictures. How can we contact each other we are on this site? Anybody?
Mrs. Emmanuel
June 25, 2018

In reply to by Mia

Yes i am hoping too what we can share the pictures and check. I have like 20 or more of his pictures, when he was a baby till his current ones.
Dee
June 18, 2018
I got one on the hook. giovanni martins, martins johnson email martins johnson 724@ gmail.com from houston oil rig engineer 2 boys widow loves me wants to marry me... been messaging for month and not askingvfor money but i have heard of this and been asked before. He founf me on instagram his name there is jmartins4real
lab123
June 16, 2018
Anyone chatting with a David Hemsworth, Houston, Tx?
Puddin1950
June 17, 2018
Has anyone been contacted on Instagram by a guy named Bill Colford wife died 7 years ago named Kathy from ovarian cancer, has adopted daughter named Mitchell with nanny, an engineer on oil platform, says he can't chat on Facebook but he can Instagram, does not make sense to me, looks like if you can Facebook you can chat on Facebook, has not asked for anything, has anyone been contacted by him? All his friends on Facebook are Nigerians, ladies this has been a sure TIPOFFin the past.
simone
June 26, 2018

In reply to by Puddin1950

Very similar Has daughter named Kathy, wife died 7 years ago, goes by Murphy Miller, has thick Latin accent. No fb or linked in, his hangout name is Praise God. He claims to be an engineer met on instagram. Trying to con the conner, would love to share info to take him down!
sucker2018
June 17, 2018
I have a similar guy by the name of daniel scott he has salt and pepper with shades and his daughter is in a boarding school and his wife died five years ago he has a package that needs to be picked up in the Uk.
simone
June 23, 2018

In reply to by sucker2018

Very similar situation here, he seems to good to be true, has daughter Kathy, goes by Murphy Miller and had a wife that passed away from bone cancer and now needs security boxes from UK but I'm the only one he trusts to do it. Could this be the same guy?
Pink
June 03, 2020

In reply to by sucker2018

Anyone chatting with Daniel Kevin. He has a daughter in boarding school. He claims his wife died.
Sky
June 17, 2018
I am chatting with Clark Wilson Doctor in syria Somebody knows him?
Fooledtoo
June 17, 2018
These guys sound so similar Randon Ford from instagram just likes to say sweet nice gestures not asked for anything yet! Don’t believe him after From Syria -Wife had Breast Cancer and Died- Son is in Military school- His Birthday is soon and also coming home in 2 months- From Texas Blah Blah Blah. Blocked immediately! Thank Goodness for these brave women who tell their stories
Fooledtoo
June 17, 2018
Can someone answer why these guys want to chat on Hangout? Can’t figure out why??
smalltownhick
June 21, 2018

In reply to by Fooledtoo

they ask to move to hangouts so that when they get kicked off Facebook ("I don't understand why someone would try to hack my account but now I have to verify it is mine") or whichever site they contacted you on that they can continue with their agenda uninterrupted
Kate
August 15, 2018

In reply to by Fooledtoo

A person needs only an e-mail address to create an account on hangouts. Scammers can make lots of fake e-mails easily. Lots of other apps require to use mobile phone numbers. I'll never use hangouts again!
Lynn
June 18, 2018

I was scammed by a man using name Philip Rodgers claiming to be a doctor without borders. Needed money for an emergency leave back to states. Never made it. Has three accounts on Twitter and follows only women. Has two email addresses. After getting money he blocked me. Claimed he couldn't take a selfie.

seeking answers
June 18, 2018
anybody had a story, talking to a Randy Allen, apparently a U.S. Army, that was in belgium and been asking for itunes, and asking to wire him money?
AnimalFarm
October 26, 2019

In reply to by seeking answers

Yes, i have come across a Randy Allen on a game chat for Words With Friends 2 in the last few days (October 2019) . He befriended me and bombarded me with messages littered with grammatical and spelling errors and asking for personal information. He claimed he was a soldieron a secret mission in Kabul, Afghanistan and because the game chat wasn't private he was asking me to use Hangouts or Email. I have done neither of these and because the messages looked suspicious i did some digging and came across this thread here. I have since broken off all contact on the gamechat and informed the game developers and blocked him from contacting me.
Annecrymblee
June 18, 2018
How do u do a picture search
Philoke1961
June 18, 2018
Why cant these card numbers be traced, this is stupid. I have just split from my wife after 33yrs marriage. Feeling desperate and alone, already suffering with depression. I was scammed this morning by a woman I have known now for over a month. she had two £15. cards from me and wanted more. It's then that I thought something funny is going on. Now desperately trying not to think about suicide.
FTC Staff
June 18, 2018

In reply to by Philoke1961

When you give someone a gift card, or the numbers from the back of the card, they immediately take control of the card. You could report the person to your local consumer protection agency. If you met them her online, you could report her to the online group.

 

hollylbc
June 18, 2018
Has anyone been contacted via tinder by an Italian man named Shawn Robinson? Says he has his own oil rig equipment business? He is a scammer uses hangouts too. I want to post a picture of him.
Deborah68
June 18, 2018
I have been talking to Bernard Lowery and he is under contract with Shell Oil on a rig in Gulf of Mexico. A few weeks ago he was flown to a hospital in Mexico for surgery. His company will only pay for half of his expenses. He had received word that an investment he had made to Homeland Security was shutting down and he needed me to contact them to receive his money and paperwork. At first I told him no, but when he ended up in the hospital I felt bad for him. I sent an email and they sent me a code and needed a total of $1020.00 for delivery and security clearanc to deliver a briefcase case containing paperwork and $20,000. I was supposed to keep this safe until he could come home. When I told Bernard he then asked me about my bank's name and I refused. The last couple of days he has wanted me to give him access to my credit card so he could pay it off and then I would take out an advance against my card to pay to have briefcase delivered. We went round and round about this and I kept refusing him. He is supposed to be from Ecuador. He called this morning and sounded like a young black man. There was a lot of noise in background. He is supposed to be 72 yrs old. He called back with no noise and I really listened and he still did not sound Latin American. When I mentioned it to him he called back and tried to sound like he was from.Ecuador. I have blocked him but I feel emotionally and physically drained. I also feel very sad because I realky liked him and we have been talking for awhile. Does anyone else find it hard to cut off talking to a scammer? I am an intelligent woman and cannot believe how I caught up in his spell of love.
Fooledtoo
June 18, 2018

In reply to by Deborah68

Hi Debra68 Please don’t fall for it! Unfortunately they know how to say the Best things to make us Melt. Yes, it hard to let go but you have to stay strong, they are all cowards. Don’t let them fool you!
Deborah68
June 19, 2018

In reply to by Fooledtoo

Thank you for your words of support. This blog and people like you provide a lot of support to all of us that have been scammed.
Lee471
June 18, 2018
Robert Thompson, 61 yo, oil rig engineer in the Gulf of Mexico. Said his father was from Malta and mum from Edinburgh. Said he grew up in Sydney and graduated from University of Sydney. His father died soon thereafter. Said he worked for BP for 34 years. Wife, Olivia, died 5 years ago during childbirth. I watch Catfish on MTV and never thought I'd fall for it! He started chatting me on a game site. This is very new so he hasn't asked for money. Professed his love very quickly, wanting to meet right away. He has called twice. His accent is definitely not Australian and he sounds young. Something he wrote didn't sit right so I Googled it. The same exact verse can up under a scammer site! Did an image search of the 3 pictures I have. One has his face overlaid over someone else's. I found the original on Google. Unbelievable.
lynnWil36626597
June 19, 2018

I was scammed by a man calling himself Philip Rodgers. Claimed he was a dr. With doctor without borders. Wanted money to go home from Syria. Dead wife and a 5 year old son. Needed him. Detained in Turkey for carrying contraband. Needed money for lawyers. Wanted iTunes cards. Another calling self Donald Micheals with dead wife was robbed of money in Nairobi. Wanted money. Supposedly from CA. English almost unintelligible.

Kelly1952
June 18, 2018
I was scammed by a man named Philip Rodgers. Claimed to be a doctor with Doctor Without Borders in Syria. Dead wife and had a 5 year old son in TX. Needed money to get home. Had no access to fu dis there. Wanted iTunes cards. Got detained I Turkey for smuggling 5 million in gold bars, supposedly. Needed money for lawyers. Would pay when he got back to Tx. Only love of his life. Yet had 3 Twitter a cuts trolling women.
Possible Scam
June 18, 2018
Has anyone been chatting with Clark Hartmann, typical story met on line, exchanged numbers and days before meeting he got a contract in foreign country. blah, blah blah...
Might_be_a_scam
June 22, 2018

In reply to by Possible Scam

Hi - Yes, I have been chatting and same deal about a contract in a foreign country. I can't find a thing about him anywhere online.
Might_be_a_scam
June 22, 2018

In reply to by Possible Scam

I have been chatting with Clark Hartmann and have heard the same info about a contract in a foreign country. I can't find a thing about him anywhere online.
Scammed
July 18, 2018

In reply to by Possible Scam

Yes, I have been talking to Clark Hartmann for a month and a half now. met online and won a contract in a foreign country. He got in trouble with his contract and unfortunately, I sent him money. I am a stupid woman! He has a German accent and told a sob story about his wife dying from cancer and then his mother died. OMG what a web of lies, all the while telling me how he cant live without me, we are going to get married, blah blah blah. I cannot believe I fell for this crap!
Almost scammed…
November 21, 2020

In reply to by Scammed

Yes, Clark Hartmann reached out to be via Zoosk and we started chatting then talking. This went on about 2 weeks and he could never meet for coffee, even though he stated he lived in the same city. Was waiting to get a contract and I had a friend who met someone on Match with the same story: engineer, awaiting a contract, would have to go to the Philippines, etc. He got there and asked for money, so she reported him. I confronted my my guy, Clark Hartmann because he basically did not exist anywhere and had the same story. He became angry and was insulted. That we the end of it for me. Nice looking photo he sent though....scum bag.
Lizzy h
June 18, 2018
I have been talking to a man named Frank Cind who has a 16yr old daughter he says he is in the navy and has been shot in the leg and he asked to write to the navalcommanding officer to get him sent home so i did and they want 500 dollars to send in a replacement naval man has anyone else had this happen?
FTC Staff
June 21, 2018

In reply to by Lizzy h

That is a scam. That person is impersonating a US service member. The US Army lists warning signs of some scams.

People in the real Navy do not need you to write letters to commanding officers. The real Navy does not charge money for medical treatment, or for leave papers, or for replacement officers. That is all fake.

Dorothy
June 19, 2018

He goes by wisdom Patrick on Facebook and on hangout tomorrow Patrick we been talking since April 30 2018 it was fine the he want me to send money so he can geta machine fix in in South Africa nigeria it as 1000.00 then drop to 700.00 then 500.00 then he told me took some bad medi and he was died the two day ago he had a friend send me a message saying he in hospital need 600.00 before doctor would see him and then it was 400.00 as of today 6.19.2018 he tell me this again then in a hour r so he text me and tell me Patrick is died

Frisbee
June 19, 2018
It seems like all have a dead wife, and kids have nannies. They want your love and are so full of it. I almost fell for it, and I am married. Met on a game site. Wanted Amazon cards and Itunes. Closed him down. Please do not fall for these people. They are horrible human beings. They work in groups and might even have their own websites.
Nancy Carol
March 29, 2019

In reply to by Frisbee

Dead wives and great jobs. Some even have excellent language skills. Know how to say all the right things to lonely women or women who have a heart. Kid always in boarding school. Phone numbers bought. I'm married too, but my husband's disabled & I've been wed in name only 40+ years. Age & looks & marital status don't matter. They prey on Christians and lonely women. After saying I didn't have that kind of money, I'd mail his son a birthday card to his boarding school, he said son can't receive anything from strangers. I said put my name on a safe list then. Then he said I had trust issues when I couldn't find his name or fake wife's obit in city he said he was from. Saw where you could do a reverse search & he was using fake photo. He's on Twitter using a new fake photo after I reported him. Handle is Dave@tlkkitty36
Concerned
June 19, 2018
I have been talking to a guy I MET ON Match.Com We have been talking for about two week When we decided to meet he got called out of town Quickly. He claims he is a Petroleum Engineer. And recently had to go work in Turkey he claims his name is Dave Roberts from Halifax NS he goes by Allied 098 on Match I went back into check his profile and it is no longer there. he is 55 years of age Does this name Ring A Bell to anyone He ha asked me for money but did not send If anyone heard of this guy please let me know
NancyCarol
April 13, 2019

In reply to by Concerned

Dave ( no doubt fake name) has many fake last names and photos. The story and type of jobs too, but from Dallas or Syria or other countries. May be jenkins allyn or allyn jenkins or this Phillip guy. Gave me last name of Jordan, then said Whitfeld.
coranne57
June 19, 2018
The man I am talking to has the name of Ben Louis. Wife passed away 4 years ago. His 12 year old daughter needs $300 for school. Want all info from bank acct. Does he sound like someone you know.Was in Washington DC now Africa an Syria. Help me please
FTC Staff
June 21, 2018

In reply to by coranne57

If you tell him your bank account information, he can take your money.

 

Also, some scammers use people to help them transfer stolen money. They meet someone online, pretend to start a relationship, and ask the person use her bank account to receive  - and then 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, and you could get into legal trouble.

Dobbs67
June 20, 2018
Beware of a 23 yr old named chris johnsen he is a conartist using ever trick in the book he has left a wake of victims. I was taken for 50,000
Smile
June 20, 2018
Hi, beware of Jason Brown Simon, Dr. in military base i jord/syria, he says that he have a dougther at 16 lives at boarding school in TX, he is af widower, han comes from ireland and came to US to studie too a doctor.Beware of him. He work for UN, similar storie like you have uploaded.
Mmz
June 20, 2018
Has anyone been contacted by a Scott Franklin through words with friends? I knew right away it was a scam because all the signs were there, he even went as far as sending me a pic of this beautiful little girl supposedly one of his daughters. He is from the Uk but moved to tx and works at an oil rig of some sort, his wife died in a car crash five years ago, he is currently in turkey on a contract? So yesterday I’m wondering ok when is he going to tell me that he got kidnapped and needs money or that he is in some sort of jam and lo and behold today he asked me to get him iTunes cards. He is still waiting for those cards as we speak of course I have no intention of sending him anything but I’m torn between letting him know that I’m onto him and his scam or just blocking him, also how do I let everyone else there know that he is a scammer?
terry
May 14, 2020

In reply to by Mmz

I also had someone on words with friends called George immediately press to go on hangout app. Said he was a widower with teenage daughter and claimed to be engineer in middle or ocean on an oil rig in Canada. The whats app push sounded fishy so I ignored. Wonder if it’s same guy using different name. The engineer, widower status and daughter overlap sound like it. He pushed that hanging out app time at least three times. Won’t be playing any more word games with this one.
seeking answers
June 21, 2018
anybody heard this name or talking to a Randy Allen, apparently a U.S. Army, that was in belgium and been asking for itune cards, and asking to wire him money?
Tonicabrera56
June 21, 2018
Has any one heard of Scott Allen...marine engineer...had daughter and wife died of cancer 3 years ago. Sent a box to me to hold on. Customs kept box and want almost $5800 for non customs sticker.Couldn't send it off oil rig in syria and wants me to pay for it and hell reimburse me whenbhe comes and get box. I couldnt do it and got upset and haven't spoken to me since.
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