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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
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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.

Swnotes
July 02, 2018
My uncle been talking to this girl she claims her father has work in Nigeria and was Murdered. Now She is waiting for ingredients money but needs to pay it off then her and my uncle will move to Florida and live happy ever after, well she send my uncle tons of money then my uncle has to send it to a wired account apparently she is in Nigeria but the money comes from other states she has never video called him never talk on the phone just showed my uncle pictures she goes by the name of grace downey frazer and even had a fake lawyer letter send to him that he will get all the inheritance money once the taxes are paid her number is 234 area code so it’s a Nigeria code but the money is coming from other states in us and they only talk on what’s app I think this is a scam that involves money being transferred to a account idk but her name is grace downey frazer from north Carolina in Nigeria claiming inheritance from her late father if anyone has heard a story like this reply
Cam1josh
July 02, 2018
Mark Donald Switzerland work shell North Sea he is engineer. Don in boarding school in New York. Asked for money for son than I tune cards than money to fly home. Told him I had none he had his friend wire me the money than I sent to airport in Ghana. Haven’t heart from him in 24 hours called me wife queen darlin said he loved me I question him about scammers asked if he was one showed h all his photos on line I believe him and I trusted him. He did gets I tune cards. I now feel like a fool really know what to believe
Clhelper7877
July 19, 2018

In reply to by Cam1josh

I'm talking to a guy with a very close name, goes by Mark Donald Brown on Hangouts. Says he has a son that a church lady takes care of a wants money for a birthday present. He uses these same words and also Cherish alot. Can you describe what he looks like? This one is Medium build, dresses in suit alot, some in different clothing very handsome blue eyes. Very beautiful smile and in his 40's he says.
Bossbaby
July 02, 2018

Ladies does anyone heard of BrianPeterGood he claims he’s in Syria I been talking to him since mother’s day. He said he went to a mission before getting retired but got hit by the bad guys he’s in the hospital and he send me a package with he’s retirement papers and some money but in order for me to get the package I have to pay 58000 now he’ told me he’s finally coming home to meet me and my kids along with he’s 12 year old daughter but he’s now asking me to pay for he’s fly ticket he needs 5800 to come to m. I’m confused.

FTC Staff
July 02, 2018

In reply to by Bossbaby

This sounds like a scam to get your money. Some scammers say they're sending packages full of money - but they say you have to pay taxes or fees to get the money. Some scammers say they will come to see you - but you must buy them a ticket. It's not a good idea to send money to someone you met online, or pay to receive this box of "retirement papers."

Peachy
July 02, 2018
I have been in touch with a good looking guy called a Robert ciro Green he wanted to talk on hangout. .said he was oil rig worker with a daughter called a lander he soon asked me for money ,he said he was Italian but when he spoke to me on hangout he sounded Nigerian iv since blocked him.
Suzehuze
June 10, 2020

In reply to by Peachy

My sister is falling for the same trick I think. Can you share his picture? I have this guys picture.
Smartened up
July 02, 2018
This just happened. He goes by Michael Andrew. User name Cardealer124. pretends to own car dealership. In Detroit. C & m auto sales. Pretends to have daughter 15 Ella in boarding school. Wife died 2 years ago. Wants to talk on what’s app. Now says going to China for Work. Lies about everything said he is 55. Said was born in Spain moved to Michigan st age 15. AccidentLly called me drunk left message for someone else. He is a big scammer. I did report him. His call number is computer of course 313. 326 2736. Good luck. I have reported him.
jimbo
July 02, 2018
Dealt with a women named Helen (very pretty picture). She said she was from Nice France and lived in Flint. One day after talking to me she went on vacation for several days. Guess what she needed to get back home? You guessed it chester. Money! I laughed and told her I need to talk to my Nigerian Prince to see if he has any cash laying around.
Snottlocker
July 02, 2018
Same idea wife died of cancer 6 yrs ago sons in boarding school 14 yrs old its his bday needs money for son cause hes on an oil Rig in Spain but lives in Texas. Going to take care of me wants me to talk to his son...This scammers name is Jimmy Justice
Slin57
July 02, 2018
Has anyone heard of a nicholas or Lucas Aubrey. Widowed. Young daughter. Needed money for oil rig tools. I called him on it when he asked for $2000. And of course I didnt send. Too suspicious.
penelope40
October 02, 2018

In reply to by Slin57

Hi, Yes, he is in connection with me 2 and a half month now. Did not ask any money yet, but i am willing to get all his details for a money transfer and after report him :)
Helen
February 17, 2021

In reply to by Slin57

The same name, lucas aubrey, he pretends to be a soldier in south sudan now, needs an attorney to retire. Dont waste your time
ARbeard
July 02, 2018
I have several I believe are scammers. Donald Burk Prince faza Frank Williams And Steven Jones. Anyone else heard of these guys?
Roos7
June 05, 2020

In reply to by ARbeard

Yes Frank Williams.He has two e-mails.Frankhernandez0093 and Franklinhernandez4081 .He is calling himself sergeant,unit E 7,serving in Burbank,California .Computerengineer.
suspectfule
July 02, 2018
says his name is colonel ryan williams, wife died 5 years ago in a car accident and his two sons are in a boarding school in san antonio tx. used a fake number from free text to see if he would actually contact me, and yes he did. also gave him an email address that is being closed down to see if he would write me and of course he has. has not asked for money but the hard sell for a relationship and for me to delete my dating app account was asked right off the bat. and yes i have receive a load of pictures already, and something clicked. i have seen these pictures some else i just can't figure it out yet. so needless to say everything is being deleted so he can not contact me.
Renegade49
July 03, 2018
Looking for a possible scammer who goes by the Name Mary Luceros.
Jenny from Toronto
July 03, 2018
I found this website and would like to make the long story short...he found me from FB we messenging each other for few weeks then he travelled to Malaysia for mining gold sh sh.. (he told me to keep this a secret because it will involve millions). His plan was to move to Toronto with me and will buy a big house for us. While he was in Malaysia he needs $5000 to pay for the mining company to get his raw gold back to US to sell to the gold company to get appx 1 million profit. He told me that his first wife died bc of cancer. His second wife cheated on him to get lots of money from his big account blah blah. First I believed what he said and was tempted to help him however I remembered reading something about scammer asking for money then I said NO to him. Thanks all the people that share their experiences on media so that save me $5,000 this time.
Casey
July 03, 2018
My guys name is Raymond Mario George 54 working on an oil rig as well. Asked for itunes cards immediately and then was so madly in love with me he had to see asap. Wanted me to email a friend to take his place on the oil rig just so he could spend a 2 week vacation with me. He told me to email his friend Luke Green to make arrangements to replace him so we could be together. But here's the catch, now Luke has a child that just got of the hospital and he cannot take Raymonds place until I send 1450.00 to Luke Green. Raymond even gave Lucks email address. Kind of funny! The other catch was Raymonds daughter who just turned 15 had a birthday coming, wanted me to send money, a iphone, or a new laptop. Oh and the gave me Mandy's email address. So hilarious! Don't do it ladies!!! I do have Raymonds pictures, but what's really funny is when he sent the last picture, his oil rig hard hat had a name on it. It wasn't Raymond either. I have also done background checks and reverse images on goggle images.
Abby
July 03, 2018
Similar story: Chris Nicholas from Miami Florida. Says he’s in design & construction. All photos are of a tall blonde man with graying beard & bright blue eyes. Claims to be German also. 3 days of texting & he gets a contact in Turkey & asks for $200 in Amazon gift cards so he can download videos & music for his work presentation. I called him out on being a scammer and he got really irate. Then he offered to buy me a new iPhone & a car to makeup for getting upset. I did do a reverse photo search and didn’t come up with anything. I did a reverse phone number lookup & is came from a Melissa Na from palm Beach, Florida (the other side of the state). So I blocked him and reported to the website that we met.
Jurassic
July 03, 2018
Someone can help me if there is possible to track down someone where is really located (well this person claim was in Russia), I have pictures. I felt in love deeply, he contacted me through IG, is there a way through pictures to find out who he really is, and run a background check on him, I think when I could not lersued anymore his financial requirements, He said he was in a hospital due to an accident, and the doctor took over his Chat on IG saying that he passed away. I already sent him within 6 weeks iTunes cards, amazon cards, and btc’s. He also got my access to online account and was able to deposit through his friends supposdly checks that when I got a copy from the bank looks very fake, my heart is broken I still love him deeply, but would like to find out who he really is, he respond under the name of Carlos Bush from Russia. Any feedback will be very appreciated.
FTC Staff
July 05, 2018

In reply to by Jurassic

If you give someone your bank account number, they can deposit checks and transfer money through your account. They might be transfering stolen money.

If you help a scammer, your name is on the bank account and is connected to the money transfers. You could lose money and personal information, and you could get into legal trouble.

 

MKGWeisz
January 20, 2019

In reply to by FTC Staff

What if you have them your account information is there anyway to fix it?
I've Lost Everything
July 05, 2018

Hello All, including Bidget Small from FTC, I have lost over 200 000 dollars by beeing scammed. I did lodge a complaint (I have the number) to FTC in January 2018 and no one contacted me. So.. Sorry: Bridget Small right spelling

FTC Staff
July 05, 2018

In reply to by I've Lost Everything

Thank you for reporting your experience to the FTC. The information you provided was added to a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations.

If you gave your email address when you made your report, you should have received an automatic email response to say we received your report. FTC staff don't make personal phone calls to tell people that we received their reports. If the FTC staff need to talk to you, an investigator might contact you.

Brenda
July 10, 2018
A friend of mine has been on & off chatting to a man that says his name is Abraham Ab. He is supposed to be from Oslo, she has already sent him money ( a supposed loan) but has not paid her anything back. I believe he is a scammer. His photo, I feel, does not fit his voice. I am worried for my friend as she is very vulnerable. She's loaned him thousands of pounds. His stories are ridiculous but she thinks he is genuine. What can we do for her?
FTC Staff
July 10, 2018

In reply to by Brenda

You could show her the information in this blog and the comments other people have submitted about their experiences.

Read more about warning signs online dating scams.

lily J
January 02, 2021

In reply to by Brenda

I have recently been catfished by a guy who said he was from Oslo - but voice sounded Middle Eastern/Nigerian. Claimed to be a petroleum geologist who was about to take a contract in Dubai and currently lived in New Zealand. Said wife died 5 years ago and had one daughter in the UK. I found him suspicious really on and realised his photos were of a Norwegian celebrity. I believe he would have asked for money at some stage and worry about other people he may con. He used the name Harry Larsen
Niborg
July 04, 2018
Scott Randy, met on Tinder, Italian American global contractor working in Turkey. I was the love of his life and he was coming home in less than two weeks. Then there was a construction accident...worker killed. Exhausted all his money paying taxes and funeral expenses. Wanted me to send 1500 to help pay the workers or his passport home would be seized. Were texting via hangouts. Blocked him and deleted conversations.
Shegirl38
July 04, 2018
Met someone on Tinder named Richard Williams.He was really sweet told me his parents died in a car accident and knew a lot about Houston. He said he was an independent contractor that had to go to Dubai to do work. I believed him. A couple weeks later he said someone robbed him and took all of his money could I send him 350. I told him that I never met him and didnt feel comfortable doing that.He got mad and told me he doesnt need to scam me, he give 350 to charities. We may be talking about the same guy, he's just changing up his professions and locations.He seemed so real though.
ED
July 04, 2018
I believe I'm being scammed by someone named Kelvin Blas... I can't find him when I do image search, but stories are a bit similar.
VanessaM
July 11, 2018

In reply to by ED

Can you give details of this Kelvin’s story? A friend is also talking to a Kelvin and we believe she is being scammed.
Foolish
July 26, 2018

In reply to by ED

I also have been in contact with someone names Kelvin I believe is scamming me. Do you have any more information?
Shia
July 05, 2018
Anyone has a Christian Madin supposed to live by himself, sick aunt, work in oil in Kuwait. Has not asked for any money or nothing. But acts in love. Sent me fake pictures of his supposed house. Asked me to chat on hangout immediately because he is in a ship in Kuwait and signal it’s bad.
Justmejewels
July 05, 2018
Has anyone heard of a guy named Evans Larson Johnson goes by evansjohnson123 says he is A Sergeant in the Marines stationed in African Country. Has asked me several times for $50 to $100 in I-Tunes cards. Has professed his love immediately and wants me to divorce my husband for him. He sends me pictures all the time and seems like they are really, he says he is 37 almost 38 this July but seriously looks 20?
Annoyed
July 16, 2018

In reply to by Justmejewels

This maybe the guy I was in contact with. He was going by David Johnson johnsond5681 on instagram. His facebook states his name is Evan. States he is a single dad of a 5yo son and is in the airforce. Stationed in CA but has duties in Texas. Does this sound like your guy justmejewels?
Noscams
July 06, 2018
Does anyone know a Bryan Banks. He claims to deposit government payroll Funds into your account and you send him half. He needs banking info and.yourname to do a test deposit. He too is all over Facebook
FTC Staff
July 06, 2018

In reply to by Noscams

If you tell someone your bank account number, they can take your money. They might say they will deposit money, but that doesn't mean they really will.

Also, some scammers use people to help them transfer stolen money. They don't tell you the money is stolen - they tell a story to hide the purpose for the transaction. They meet people online, create a relationship, and ask you to receive 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, and you could get into legal trouble.

Smarty
July 07, 2018
I have one too. He claims to be American but does not know what thanksgiving is or Independence Day. His wife died in a car crash 3 years ago, has a daughter who is 4. Hasn’t been able to find love since she died but was seeing someone and he caught her cheating with a fellow service man. He’s currently serving in Afghanistan.
raymondonald82
July 07, 2018
I think he is a scammer
Heartbroken
July 07, 2018
A guy by the name of west mane is i believe scamming my sister.he loves her wants to marry her in the military a cop he says he is all this..now in australia coming home july no show.went to canada in hospital with malaria???. She met him on hangouts! Wants more money she sent i tune cards more excuses why hes not coming home. His bank account hacked no paychecks? Seriously? I want to help my sis reveal this guy is a scammer!!! Any suggestions. He is in a hospital in canada but they have no phone number?hmmmm.shows her pics of himself military vest really. Probably photoshopped. I told my sis ill eat my words if this guy is real....
Taken
July 07, 2018
I forgot to mention he will reach out under a bogus name like Benjamin Cochran. This identity is a middle aged, 50, man who is a construction architect basically. He is orphaned never married and no kids based in LA and visits Switzerland his homeland. This identity is a handsome middle aged Jamaican man with a baldin head and grey goatee.
Bella
July 07, 2018
Tyler Scott.. a.beautiful guy, lost her wige on a car accident, has 2 children... He is on Instagram and I think is a bad man, a lyer..
Kel
July 08, 2018
Met a guy on tinder - Mark Simon. Says he's security working a contract in Lebanon. Quotes the bible...gave me the name of a church in Beirut that he attends. Way to fast on the falling in love. Asked me for an itunes card. Very handsome. Sent me a few pictures. Said he was in the army for 10 years - got out - and went on contract. Divorced with an 8 year old girl living in California with his sister. I of course - am very suspicious...and am not buying the card. I asked him if $25 was enough...and he said yes. It's for his birthday 8/12. He has a gmail account. Has called "from a secure room". he said he has dual US/Greece citizenship. Anyone come across someone like this?
Lyz 44 Germany
July 08, 2018
Hello to all this victims! The same happened to me , too. On October 2017, a man Holmes Lamb- Financial consultant and oil business from Texas wrote to me one email. I was so happy to find out a love email in my post.So I started to chat with this person, that pretended to be from Houston. He was the perfect person for me, I have ever met in my life. He has an answer at all my questions and he played so well, cause I fall immediately in love with him. After two months, in January 2018 he asked for money for his flight ticket, pretending to come to visit me in Germany. We shared pictures, addresses and he knew all about me, but I nothing about him.On givens day he said to me to buy him an apple card for 100 Euro, and to send him the code. I have sent him the money and never seen him. In all the time he found one excuse and after all this he asked for more money. Now I am threatened with the missing from my son. All his pictures were fake, profile from Facebook doesn’t exist, his number is not available, and his last words to me:you will end up crying!Now I have lost my money and I should protect me and my son! And this story has no end , but I want to prevent the other women, never sending money to a stranger!
erinm421
July 25, 2019

In reply to by Lyz 44 Germany

yes ive had a scammer who stoled a drs pictures and Dr Mike) wanted me to send him a 500.00 iTunes GH and my response oh really? your a dr YOU buy me one. he didn't like this I knew he was a scammer. Anytime ANYONE you never met want you to send money or open a checking account. One guy name Paul on twitter was pretending to be from Michigan and he wanted my acct number so his fake general could dep his vacation check into MY account. he sent me photos of him and his daughter which im sure were stolen from someone else profile. he said he was in the middle east and as a diver and that 4 of his men were killed and he was injured and sent me pictures of him in the hospital and asked me to buy him a amazon or iTunes gc so he could talk to his daughter and I told him no I suspected he is a scammer he got mad at me and I reported them both to twitter and blocked them
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