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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.

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

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.

Baby
June 03, 2019
Where anyone of you ever scammed by a Shane Bell claiming he is from Austin Texas?
Don't use your…
June 03, 2019
Hi I was a victim of a military romance scammer. Bit I have to admit that .from the scammer.i received the most beautiful messages ever. He was impersonating a military officer.Samuel Joseph. Too 0bad that it was just a Scam. In 2 months he never asked me for money or anything else.
michille
June 04, 2019
Hallo i want to just make sure i am not being scam...i am talking to this us army guy who seems so nice and understands me...i am starting to fall but i wander if does us army would have problem using their accounts to send their daughter to school.
LiskaJ
June 04, 2019
Met Marc Craig Benjamin on POF. He is a engineer on a Rig. He is from my state of TN and travels for months to his overseas jobs. We talked everyday 4,5,6 times and he told me he loves me and can't wait to get back home. I found his name and same story and if you look on FB and IG several accounts with pictures of a similar looking person - semi bald, gray hair, beard, glasses. Orphaned at a young age, married, daughter killed in car accident, wife left him, no ties or friends so his company sent him overseas. He asked for money to help get to other location since his check is deposited in his account and then asked me to set up another bank account for him. He seemed so nice and I gave him much info about me. Ladies don't be fooled by this scammer, he is really a person from Nigeria. Block and erase your info. Never again,I'll go to church or the grocery and meet a real person.
louise
June 04, 2019
Thank God I my gut was screaming scammer to me just had one from Instagram he dm me after a few days he told me his account got hacked by then we was talking on hangout his name Martin young properly not his real name anyway after about a month he said he was travelling to south Africa he told me he was a jounalist about a week into his business trip he said he spent his expenses and needed money for food I told him I had no money as I have 4 kids then after a few days he said he didn't need the money he want to transfer money from his western union account to my account again i was suspicious thank goodness I didn't agree from reading this sound like he wanted to use me to put his dodgy money in. I dont know how these people sleep at night
Nat74
June 04, 2019
I've been talking to a man called Kelvin Moore he is based on a oil rig in uae . He has a daughter called diana in a boarding school in Ireland. Has anyone heard of him . We have been talking for weeks but now his daughters phone is broke and he wants me to buy her a new one as he cant get access to his bank
Tran Vo
June 07, 2019

In reply to by Nat74

OMG I met the same guy named Francis Dinh with the same story. Based on oil rig in Scotland, daughter participating in music competition in Ghana. Her phone was broken at the airport and her birthday was coming. He asked me to send money/gift to Ghana as his bank didn't work on the sea! To all women out there, he was scammer and now disappeared after I asked him to send me his passport or any papers to prove his identity. Please don't send any money for any reason!
Cosmo
June 11, 2019

In reply to by Nat74

All acammers. Dont do it....i had aomeone i spoke with for 8 months. All of a sudden he said his son in boarding school lost all his money. He was starving they were gonna kick him out to streets....a 10 yr old they were gonna kick to curb. Right.....why would anyone let a 10 yr old have all that money lol......they are all liars scammers....DO NOT GIVE ANYONE MONEY
Sthepanie
June 05, 2019
Hi, has anyone had contact with a male Alek Jones Scheffler from Bronx New York his email :itsalekjones Saying he’s in Damascus needing money and google or ITunes cards? Have pictures to compare, very handsome guy Please let me know???
LR22
June 04, 2019
Hi I think I am being scammed as well and have been talking too this soldier so he says from Southern America he’s now asking for iTunes vouchers of £100 and declaring how much he loves me. I met him on Tinder and not sure if he’s just a genuine guy but been talking too him for a week now. I am hoping he is real.
Not Real
June 06, 2019

In reply to by LR22

Any man asking for money isn't a man. Drop it like a hot pocket.
Scammedbyryanf…
June 19, 2019

In reply to by LR22

He's a scammer..Don't fall for it..I was scammed too..but never send anything..he was asking for steam wallet. Lol..I searched about it and scammers used gift cards, iTunes so they can't be traced.
Different tact…
June 05, 2019
I received this on 4th June 2019 Please be aware... My Beloved Friend In The Lord. Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am Mrs. Deborah A. Johnson from Bahrain, a widow to late Dr. A. Johnson. l am 51 years old and a converted born again Christian, suffering from long time cancer of the breast, from all indication my condition is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that I might not live more than two (2) months, according to my doctor because the cancer has gotten to a very worst / dangerous stage. My late husband and my only child died last five years ago, his death was politically motivated. My late husband was a very rich and wealthy business man who was running his Gold/Diamond Business here in South Africa. After his death, I inherited all his business and wealth. My doctors has advised me that I may not live for more than two (2) months, so I now decided to divide the part of this wealth, to contribute to the development of the churches in Africa, America, Asia, and Europe. I collected your email address during my desperate search on the internet and I prayed over it and the spirit our Lord Jesus directed me to you as an honest person who can assist me to fulfill my wish here on earth. I decided to donate the sum of $5,600,000.00 USD (Five Million Six hundred thousand United States dollars) to the less privileged because I cannot take this money to the grave. Please I want you to note that this fund is lodged in a bank here in South Africa. Once I hear from you, I will forward to you all the information's you will use to get this fund released from the bank and to be transferred to your bank account. I honestly pray that this money when transferred to you will be used for the said purpose because l have come to find out that wealth acquisition without Christ is vanity. May the grace of our lord Jesus the love of God and the fellowship of God be with you and your family. Reply me on my private email address (deborah johnson 034@ Thanks and God bless you. Your beloved sister in Christ. Mrs. Deborah Anna Johnson
Bigboy
June 04, 2019
Need to let woman know about a man by the name of Alex McJones Bryant he is a Nigerian man don't fall for him he is a scammer
Asprey
June 04, 2019
I was also involved with a guy named Brian who claimed to be in the millitary. I am worried now because I gave him my email because he didnt want to chat on that site. He said he had a 14 year old daughter who would love me to act as her mom and the pulling me in with his love for me and cant wait to start a life with me. All seemed good until he asked me to get him a iPhone and send it to him so I would know he was real and reassured me he would pay me back as soon as he was done his retirement. Red flag right there. I told him no and he said i failed him
Scarlett
June 04, 2019
I have been scammed by a man claiming to be a US Army 4 star General. Over 250,000 dollars. We have been talking for 3 years. He keeps asking for more money. Says he ihas been kidnapped. Needs cards to sign on to his military signer. Anybody else heard from him. Goes by the name of General George Casey.
Cat
June 04, 2019
Watch out for a scammer with the name of Joe Steven joesteven740 on Instagram. His profile he is a good looking young man with lots of tattoos, rides a motor cycle and has a German Shepard dog. First thing he says he wants to take care of me. Wanted me to send him a code for Instagram. I have been burnt once trusting someone, not happening again. These scammers are like cockroaches, they keep multiplying. Thank you to this site, to read how others feel has helped me to see that I am not the only one to fall victim to a scammer and feel the shame and embarrassment. My friends tell me they can not believe this happened to me.
Kelly
June 05, 2019
Goodmorning my english is not so good but I wanna ask you something .... I’m talking with a man like 2 months he’s a man works in the army and want to go home for emergency leave and they ask me for to pay €34.000 .. everytime when he calls me sounds he is with alot of people and he send me alot of picture’s of him..... I don’t know what to do ?? I surch name’s on instagram and Facebook and there is alot of same accounts of him and differents name’s
Jcm
June 10, 2019

In reply to by Kelly

Just don't do it - these scammers have silver tongues but are creeps, to put it mildly
DongotTired14'…
June 05, 2019
Any one.had an experience with a Paul Wilson, Turkish citizen in the military stationed in Iraq under the United Nations???
JepBii
June 05, 2019
Anyone been talking to someone called Harry Brown on istagram.
SouthernNaNa
June 05, 2019
Has anyone heard or talked to a Michael Green on IG?
GMiss
June 05, 2019
Trisha from Kentucky. Any information?. Met her on Twoo. Lot of scamming bait at first- deleted Twoo profile right after meeting me. Led me to hangouts. Asked for Google Play card. Says she is U of Kentucky student. Works at the gym. So. I gave her a $25 card and asked her to post a pic holding a ‘thank you ‘ note. Seemed to annoy her but she obliged.
Jmtref
June 06, 2019
Has anyone had a doctor ask for a pc? Also he said send it fed ex to Turkey
PattyDuke
June 06, 2019
Has anybody had any dealings with a doctor zeldin? He would be someone who saying he's in the military ... I believe Navy. Last situation he was doing a surgical missions trip and he claimed he didn't have access to his finances oh, and he was running out of food and was starving. Then when he said he would be flying back to the States they became an issue of he thought that his ticket was already paid for but it wasn't he had to come up with the money himself and now he needed help with that in order to get home.. even if you haven't had Direct dealings with this individual named Dr zeldin.. Can anybody please just let me know if you've been involved with a similar situation
Doesn't add up
June 06, 2019
Has anybody had experience with women from the Dominican that are feeding you a bunch of lines that you want to hear and soon tell you they're in love with you that they pulled their family about you and yet their Facebook page doesn't mention you and still says you're searching for somebody cuz it's in Spanish and not English just curious?
Mr Lee
June 06, 2019
Has anyone been contacted by Esther Thiessen, if so it is a Natalie Sparks romance scam.
Vishal_Chauhan
June 07, 2019
Hahaha I am really surprised how can people play like this.. I am continue to chat a women name - Skylar Anderson, she predent to be a Seargent in US army and she is involved into a mission in Syria... We met on a dating site and she is using the email mode of coomunication.. Now lemme copy and paste her email below - MY DEAREST HOW ARE YOU TODAY Wow I'm so much happy to know more about you, honestly speaking i must tell you that you melt my heart with all you have said, it's my pleasure to have a sweetheart like you. Quickly i will like you to please pay attention to what I'm about to say, i need your urgent response. We were told on the presence of a sudden some Shia militant camp on the outskirts of town not too far from our camp here in Syria, resulting in a gun battle with them, two of six people were killed and three were seriously injured, the remaining militants fled. Unfortunately, I lost two people in my unit. In the process of interrogating the rebels were wounded, they claimed to be a rebel to Muqtada in the process they took us to a cave where we recovered 20 foot containers of ammunition and cash in United States Currency, We are ten remaining soldiers who made the attack, my own share of the money is ($2,000,000 million dollars) here in Syria, we only send the money through the diplomat,I say this because I believe in you and you are a real person i can trust, my family members very evil that wants to kill me if I send this money to them, so i am afraid to send this large amount of money for them to save for me, I will give you 40% on the money, if you helping me and save the remaining money for me. As a military officer, I can not show off with such amount of cash. i need to get honest person who will receive the funds on my behalf, our assignment in Syria will be concluded in the next six months. here in our camp we could only communicate through our military communication facilities and all calls are monitored it will be the best way to communicate though E-mail., It is very important that you keep the details to yourself. The maximum secrecy is what I need from you to successfully complete the delivery found to your destination thanks i wait to hear from you again. please reply back to me if you are willing to work with me so that i can send you more information where the money is been keep by the Red Cross Agent. Your urgent reply is highly needed BIG HUGS!!! Hahahaha She doesn't know that I am already aware about his scam... What shall I do next ? Shall I continue talking to her and have some fun or I shall do what
susan123
June 07, 2019
I was talking to a man i met on dating site then he asked me to go onto hangouts to talk to him. We were talking for nearly 3 weeks. He was sending me messages every day. After only 1 week he was talking about marriage which was a red flag. He told me he is a doctor in iraq. I thought he was weird he couldnt remember his own birthday which was odd. He told me to keep our relationship. When i told him i told my son. He didnt seem very happy which i thought was strange He didnt ask me for any money. But i knew something wasnt quite right. He was very manipulicative and his profile was fake. I think he was working on me hoping i would marry him so he could come into this country. I have blocked him and reported him to the dating site i met him on. I have learnt from this experience go by your gut feeling. My advice would be if you want to meet someone meet someone in the UK. you will find if there are from another they are a scammer.
dee76
June 07, 2019
I been trying since April 2017 to get help after I discover my ex was controlling my phone calls.that was the beginning of my new life in hell. He aproached me with an agenda covered with love and all the right things.since then I get hacked no matter what company of cell provider.my emails anything I do to reach for help never leaves my phone I’m not sure if this is even real . But if anything happens to my kids or me it’s because I figured out what my Japanese boyfriend was after now he is like my shadow I lost my job my home .never in my life have I been in this predicament. Unfortunately when you ask for help people look at you like your crazy .no wonder why there is so much suicide. Please help me
Ruby
June 08, 2019
I needs to know is Actor Dr.Mike is real or scams thanks regard .
Brenda
June 08, 2019
I meet this guy on Eharmony name Kerry Micallef who went to work in Turkey on a building project. He Asked for google play cards. He said he was mugged and couldn’t finish paying for his supplies. When he was supposed to come back he said he was held up by customs and now had to pay a fee to come back. He gave me information for his checking account to transfer money but was unable to due to a hold on his account. After about $1000 in google cards he asked me the wire him $500 which I did. Haven’t heard anything back from him yet. Not sure if I will.
Janet
May 07, 2020

In reply to by Brenda

I was approached by Kerry on eharmony also. Same story... working in turkey and was mugged. Needed money. As soon as I said “you have lost your mind... I am not sending money overseas “ he got very rude and defensive. I deleted everything including the app. Haven’t heard. From him since. BEWARE!!!!!!
Teresa
May 18, 2020

In reply to by Janet

I was almost scammed by Kerry Micallef. I started to chat with him about 2 weeks ago (from Eharmony). Told me me that he's due to go to Dubai on a building project soon. But after a few days I realised he's a scam and I decided to test him. I asked him to send me a selfie with a special message for me. He obviously couldn't and tried to send me a photoshopped image LOL! I blocked him and deleted everything.
kpnuts
June 08, 2019
I’ve been talking to this guy from the military goes by the name of Wayne Nicholas or the other way round.. asked for money I said no, said he loves me blah blah... anyone heard of him??
Concerned
July 16, 2020

In reply to by kpnuts

Hi, I was wondering if you had any of his information still. I believe that he is still using this name to defraud women. Thank you,
GaGirl
June 08, 2019
Not sure it is a scam meet someone thru a game .Says he is military and has military pictures .He has not ask me for anything .We have been talking on Hangouts .He says he is in Afganastan .Says when he comes home would like me to meet his plane as he has no one to welcome him home stateside .He has offered to even offered pay my expenses and says to bring anyone along if it makes me feel safe .But on the other hand something's don't add up .Again he has not ask me for anything. Wish I knew how to find out if he is really in the military.
Mcben
June 08, 2019
May God help us .
candles13601
June 08, 2019
I’ve been chatting with a guy by the name of Micheal Jason Collins. 45 yrs old, widowed, gas three kids, 1,11, and 16. Nice guy fell for him, asked me for money to finish his job out in Dubai, out of Miami, Fl. BEWARE
Karma is coming
June 08, 2019
People who are honest and trusting, my scammer's name is Daniel Robert Pham. That is the name they us on social media. Dont be duped!!! They are a con artist and thief. While I got away pretty much unscathed, the banking institution is on alert to the fraudulent activities. He poses as a widower with 2 sons. He claims to work for the UN as staff and is frequently out of the USA on "official duty" or "war tours". Ladies this guy is a sweet talker and will not ask for money out right, but will ask you to move money through your accounts. Dont be fooled!! Dont let him into your hearts, wallets, accounts or lives. Run!!! Run!!! Run!!! From this guy!! Daniel Robert Pham or rob_cpher on instagram!
dawnrays
June 08, 2019
In addition, I have plenty of screenshots and photos of our exchanges. If the FTC needs any documentation of this sort, I’ve got it! I hope you catch this syndicate, possibly from Nigeria.
Yellowrosebud01
June 08, 2019
Yes I’ve been talking to this guy since 2018 and he’s in the military he’s in the Air Force he’s over in Turkey he would send me pictures of his cell and I would tell him to take a picture of his self holding a sign saying he love me and he did so I kind of figured he was legit and then he started asking $50 here hundred dollars here in iTunes cards or Amazon cards or whatever and we made plans for the future then recently he asked me for $2000 I was in a car accident and he knew it and I told him I’m on a limited income I didn’t have it then he just change that I didn’t love him and he went on anon it wore me down I almost gave in but then he wanted my information to my phone account and I wouldn’t give it to him because of the fact that he had me open up a bank account online and said his lawyer was going to put in $3000 for me to get it out and send it to his grandma and son who needed it well I got a text from the bank saying there was a fraud So I called the bank and come to find out somebody tried to deposit $15,500 I wasn’t none too happy they close the account which I told him I appreciated it and I was glad that they didn’t cash it and then I let this guy know oh he said he was fired his lawyer and all their well I met him on a dating site his name is Adams Smith and if you or anybody else gets in touch with an Adam Smith who’s in the US Air Force I think he is in cahoots with another person or either he doesn’t know this other person is that’s why he’s morning to take pictures I don’t know what’s going on but anyway I cut all ties please ladies be where they want you to open a bank If they want you to send them cards don’t know if they want any of your information bank account your phone account anything like that don’t just please beware of Adam Smith
Ladyjane
June 08, 2019
All of these ladies requesting a picture of this same scam artist where he apparently lives on a oil rig and is a single dad and needs money for his daughter . Oh yes and the daughter has messaged you saying that she is happy that you make her dad happy....did you ever get pictures ???? He has been scamming my mom for months and she just won't get it ...that he is fake and a criminal. Please send your pictures so we can try to get thru to her. Signed a very fed up daughter. Thank you
Iris
June 11, 2019

In reply to by Ladyjane

Well, you can do a reverse image search to see if there's a different information if the same guy but it doesn't work all the time. Ask them for money, tell your mom if he is so legit he will send your money back. Ask for an ID, they should send an US ID, not any other crazy thing, catch English mistakes, they don't speak English well.
wellsy31
June 09, 2019
I have been talking to a guy on hangouts. He goes by the name Richy stone, age 44 and working as a doctor in Syria. Apparently from Florida. He declared live for me not long after talking and asked me how I feel about him. He then said that he asked his captain to buy some wedding rings for us and sent me a picture. He wears a ring in his picture and said he is widowed. Has no family, mum n dad died. I had one phone call with him and his accent was like ghana African not American. he also said he sent a deposit box to England and I need to pay 5000 dollars to clear it. He asked me for money and an iPhone to and other stuff. he said to send the stuff to a work colleague who will bring him the stuff to Syria as he not allowed to recieve mail where he is working. I told him no way ! and he got angry, said I am his wife and I should do as he tells me. now he won't talk to me. He has sent me pics n vids
Pol
June 15, 2019

In reply to by wellsy31

Sounds just like my guy......same scenario...and the phone call....did the guy in photos and vids have grey hair and beard but his moustache was black?
Smw98645
June 09, 2019
Hello world,can anyone tell me if you can across this name as a scammer. Janet michael
countrynyte1981
June 09, 2019
Well I didn't realize there were so many of us women that got scammed, I was scammed twice this year the first one had me hooked the second one didn't have a chance the first one's name is Steve's Christopher Miller ladies beware of him. The things that he said the way he made me feel I fell in love with who he pretended to be luckily he only got $500 out of me. This man contacts you he is a scammer he will make you feel like you've never felt before as a woman I meet him on a Christian website, and the second guy his name is Isaiah Evelio I met him on plenty of fish after I told him about being scammed as fool turns around and ask me for money it's like these guys are so stupid. Anyways it's not fair what we went through we're the ones that got hurt I'm just glad it says in the Bible that vengeance is mine saith the Lord cuz I know I've done plenty wrong but I hate to be standing in somebody shoes that they wanted God's children wrong I'm glad I found this website and I'm so sorry you ladies went through this you're not alone. You know I want these guys to pay more than anything I don't have any anger form I pray for their souls to be saved I hope that don't make you ladies mad but if it does all of us deserve to be prayed for scammers no worse than a murderer sin is sin we all deserve prayer just now at least we know what to watch for I've been single 9 years single ain't so bad anyways I love you ladies and I hope you find a romance in the right man you deserve God bless and thank you for sharing your story