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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.

Cazz
September 11, 2019
Hi does anyone know of a Ryan Anderson says he's in military posted in Nigeria?
Jeff
September 11, 2019
Looked up some info for a friend, scammers name is Diego Owalter. None of his info is legit. Has anyone else heard this name? I don't know too many details on his story, but will post as I get them.
Angie uk
September 11, 2019
Chatting to a Derek bellucci from San Jose originally Italy. Widow. 1 daughter and 2 grand kids 64 and pics very nice. Then been in Turkey working hardly any messages as before bombarded. Wanted me get iPhone X. Said get one himself as Need ave on his name.. Told him I think you are not who you say. Caught out. Lol. Back if my mind yup too good be true. Not scammed.
Steph
September 14, 2019

In reply to by Angie uk

A guy reached out to me on FB with friend request, started chatting to me but I knew he was a scammer. Reported him to Facebook, blocked him. He goes by Anthony James. Ladies the scammers are out there please please beware, they pray on those they think are lonely. I thank God everyday I am not desperate for love. I have pictures. He also on Instagram under name Cooper, Cooper fresh
Sucker at heart
September 12, 2019
I was contacted by a man claiming to be Sma Daniel Dailey who is well known in the army. Within two days he loves me separated from wife. But his story kept changing like the scammers were working in shifts. I knew when within three days after he asked for me to get him 3 phones but he would pay all he needed was my security questions. I knew it was a scam but I couldn't let go he was so sweet. Then iTunes card then another account contacted me saying his account was hacked by Taliban. Then asked me to receive a package of 1.5 million dollars. I gave him a fake address and blocked him DANIEL DAILEY OR GOES BY STEVE DAILEY DONT FALL FOR IT LUCKILY I DIDN'T. THANK GOD.
Nancy
September 13, 2019
Over the last 6 months I have been scammed out of $20,000.00 by a man who goes by the name of Mike Donovan. I originally started chatting with him on IG Direct after he had been sending me message requests for a year. I stupidly got very involved with him, even though I am a married woman. He was saying all the things my husband was not saying that I needed to hear. Even though I knew in my heart this was a scam, I truly wanted to believe I was talking to a decent human being who had gotten into trouble and needed my help. I am a gambler and wanted to finish playing my hand until I really knew the truth about this man. Every red flag this site warns of was there. This scammer is a real pro and can find an excuse for anything and everything that came up. He sent me a number of photos of him when I initially started chatting with him. Very attractive, said he was 48 but looks younger. Irish descent. Strawberry blonde hair and facial hair. Extremely well built, muscular, entire upper body from abdomen to shoulders and sleeves tattooed , no tattoos on neck or face. Ears pierced. Was supposedly living in Greenville SC when we started talking. A supposed business trip took him to Istanbul and Benin where he left his belongings including all his US contacts, banking info, credit cards and cash in a cab that took off when he got out. To make a long story short, I have been supporting him for months, paying for a new phone, food, lodging, plane ticket back home, you name it. Amazon cards, google play cards, iTunes and Bitcoin. When he had the airfare to come home and travel expenses, he knew he had to come up with something else. I truthfully had no plans of getting together with him if he had been who I thought he was in the beginning, but I also did not want to leave a US citizen stranded in Benin if by chance he was telling the truth. After he missed his flight due to false arrest at airport for drugs he came up with a New crises that he would go to jail if a 5 grand fine was not paid. I said no at this point and have been trying to find his real identity for months on various websites to no avail. Today, I finally had the courage to call the US State Dept and a woman put me in touch with the Benin Consular who told me he was a fraud and that no way would the US Embassy let an American citizen be stranded in Benin, they would fly him home and he would pay them back upon his return. I asked him weekly about this very thing and I gave him cab money (joke) to get to the Embassy from his hotel. He told me the same stuff repeatedly that they could not help him, as he had overstayed his Visa or one thing after another. Had I made this phone call months ago, I would not be trying to hide this 20,000.00 loss from my husband. I feel dirty and am embarrassed that I was scammed like this. I have learned a valuable and pricey lesson. If my misfortune can help someone else avoid this man or this scam, I will feel that all was not lost. Beware of Mike Donovan...goes by heart of golld on IG.
conundrum91
September 13, 2019
I received an invitation on an Indian matchmaking service, shaadi.com. As it was a paid account, the profile initially appeared legit but the details were fishy and contradicting. Eventually, I decided to accept it. Then everything is the same story as usual. The response email I received claimed she works at USAID and is stationed in Turkey. The language in the email was broken with the same things repeated. Quite generic with no salutation or calling my name. Well, she extracted my contact number from the signature. After chatting on WhatsApp using the number +1 (469) 730-6197 for a couple of days, fraudster came straight to the point of asking $100 steam card from Walmart. To prove her point she also shared the US passport image, which a toddler can spot to be fake. I reverse-engineered the photographs she shared on google image and found the same had been used in Europe as well. As a precautionary measure, I have also reported this profile to the dating website as well. Final words: Just be cautious, they do anything to take your money - every penny counts. Make sure not to give away your hard-earned to anyone before meeting them in person. If sense anything inappropriate, start calling them fraud/scammer and they'll start showing their actual face. A person with dignity will never accept such humiliation and will respond in a different way.
Fedupwithscammers
September 14, 2019
I have been reading all the comments on here. I have beenScammed twice. Once by a Frank Jurgen and once by a Travis Skinner. Frank was very well built dark hair, blue eyes. On a ship supposedly. Travis is pretending to be military deployed in Turkey. Pictures are dark blonde, blue eyes very well built. Both are very handsome in the pictures. Frank had two daughters. Travis has a son. All the information they gave is bogus. Don't not friends them. If you have something similar. Get out now. Block them now!
S vale
September 14, 2019
Any one heard of James Wilson Hunter from New Orleans?
kayla
September 15, 2019
I had a guy approach me on my instagram account recently in my inbox at first I had ignored him but then he continued I finally responded Being polite and then he started to tell me he wanted to get to know me better. We started talking and chatting on WhatsApp and he will video chat but the connection wouldn’t be the best. It looked just like the guy in the pics he sent but he was indeed a fraud a few days in starting to ask for iTunes gift cards getting upset and frustrated when I told him I wasn’t doing that. I told him I work part time with the police he freaked out started to say you are lying to me and you don’t trust me ... etc. it worked because indeed he was a fraud. He claims to have a son name Richard and he lost his wife in a car crash a few years ago. He lives in California but had to travel to JA South Africa for business - Be Aware
Elizabeth Hughes
September 16, 2019
I think I’m dealing with a scammer he’s got 3 Instagram accounts same photos 3 different names. David Moese, Simon Cowell and Moses Ferguson. Anyone else been dealing with this man?
Syed
September 16, 2019
Is there any female scammers by the name helen paul?
Uni
September 17, 2019
Hi their is a man called Richard osteen he tell that he is military software even he has fooled me, who live in Denver ,even he send me the gift then he told me to pay for the parcel I paid them still they wanted more money I spend 45000 ksh then he told me he came and take me to his home just help him with 200$ even I paid that money then I realised he was conning me when he told me he structed in Rwanda I have to help him to pay him other 200$ but I will get money that I have lost them.
Sky
September 17, 2019
Hi! Has anyone here know an Oscar Woods? Claims to be from UK and a widower and has a foster kid in Germany?
Pipit
March 05, 2020

In reply to by Sky

Hi,the guy send me email last night.he said the same thing to me.i met him on a site international cupid
Ten4786
August 23, 2021

In reply to by Sky

Yeah! Sent me a message twice with photos. I don't want to think that it's a scam but it's too good to be true. I'll wait how he's going to pull things off because I'm not buying it.
shy
September 01, 2021

In reply to by Ten4786

Is it the same oscar woods, claiming he's a project manager in a construction company in manchester, a widower but have a foster son in an orphanage in germany and he's late father is a philanthropist and mom lives in london.
Mani
January 16, 2022

In reply to by shy

My sister with chatting thru email name oscar woods with son orphanage in germany and mother leave in london and the wife is perish and leave uk Manchester he is a manager an construction worker he was tell my sister no social media thats why i wonder search for the google about the imformation him, but have many names but not same profile that picture he send in my sister.
Wise
September 26, 2021

In reply to by shy

Hi, I got the same Oscar Woods too from UK, a project manager, dead wife, foster son in Germany, a philantrophist father. Its only days ago. Can you please tell me his style? Its a good thing I googled him, and I didn't find who he claims to be. I had a bad feeling about him from the start and so I started "investigating" is it possible we can compare photos? thanks
shy
October 14, 2021

In reply to by Wise

he's going to malaysia to claim the payment for his late father project then ask you to help him to pay the taxes he need to settle.
IamMia
November 30, 2021

In reply to by shy

Hi. I chatted a guy also named Oscar Woods. Same situation. Now when he's in Malaysia. He encountered problem about the charge. And he also sent me a document a sign of "proof" about his charge. Now it's feels me like really a scam coz he ask me for help. So I tried to search here.
Lovely04
December 06, 2021

In reply to by IamMia

He is a scammer, same story and info with me
What a sucker
September 17, 2019
I have been chatting on HangOuts with Frederick Marcus. Originally from the Netherlands now living in NY with his 16 year old son. For the past year he has been serving in the Dutch army in Samolia, he still has 3 years to go. He has someone looking after his son in NY. He had asked for some card so he could get rid of a virus on his phone. Card cost 200.00 plus he wanted to get some things for his phone. Next it was he had a box in Canada with some important paper in it along with gold, jewelery, and some loose gem stones. Where his box , they are closing and they need for him to get it. He only needs $18,500. Yes right. The company said if he could come up with half they would sent it then he could pay the rest..duhhhhh. I noticed he never calls me by my name it is always honey,babe sweetheart even calls me his wife. He must repost he chat to other women so that is why he never calls me by my name. Oh yes he says as soon as he gets out he will marry me. I suppose in my desperate need to find a man who loves me, I fell for it but never ever sent 1 red cent. Of course he says he will call me soon ??? Just beware ladies they are out there looking for their next mark. I know he doesn't care that my heart is shaddered into a million pieces.
Frustrated28
September 17, 2019
I'm pretty sure my aunt is being scammed. She's been allegedly talking to [texting mostly] country music star Tracy Lawrence, for around 6 months or more. Despite the fact that he's married with kids, my aunt thinks he is going to be picking her up in his tour bus [or sending someone for her] to move her to his new home in Nashville, TN. She's sent him Steam gift cards in small increments, and now she's sending him $1650 at a time through the post office. We can't figure out how to convince her he isn't real, despite that fact that she's getting evicted from her apartment [not paying rent] and about to lose her cat because the one place she has to go won't allow her cat in the house. She's used programs like Vimeo and Paypal to send money too. Even as she's losing everything, she clutches her phone, waiting for him to come and get her, when we know he isn't. I don't know what else to do, or how to convince her it's a scam. He has her convinced that the reason he needs all her money is to 1. Keep her money safe until he comes to get her. 2. Help him, because his "management company" doesn't allow him to spend his money without watching him and since he's technically cheating on his wife, they won't allow him to spend money on her, etc. I don't know what else he says to her, because when we told her we thought it was a scam, she started lying about everything. How can I prove to her it's fake? Help please!
FTC Staff
September 19, 2019

In reply to by Frustrated28

Have you found anything online when you search for that person's name and the word "scam"? Other people might have written about this too, or the person might have something on his real website about mis-use of his name.

You might want to talk with the adult protective services staff in your aunt's city or county and explain her finanical loss. Look up her agency at this federal government website: www.eldercare.acl.gov, or call   1-800-677-1116. Your aunt could contact the companies she's using to send money, tell them the transactions were fraudulent, and ask if they can reverse the the payments, if that's possible. 

Curious
September 17, 2019
Anyone heard of Johnson Dumelo? He has an IG profile and he says he is a movie director who is stuck in Africa and trying to get back to the US. He said he has a young daughter named Jenny and he is a widower.
May
September 18, 2019
Anyone know Ivan L. Daiz? he claimed that he is US citizen stay at California, right now has a mall construction project at Thailand (Chiang Mai)?
Southernlife_55
September 18, 2019
I myself have talked to a few guys on line ,and 2guys using celebrity names.the celebrity names have not ask for any money,or donations yet. I've had a few guys claiming to love me right off the bat ,and then ask me to open up a bank account,or send I tune cards.i never would I told them they were scammers and misrepresenting themselves using others photos.when they begin asking for financial aid, I know it's a scam they all get blocked.its like cry wolf.you dont know who to believe anymore but I'm not falling for scammers to take what little doe I've got...sorry
Stressed
September 18, 2019
I've been a sucker for love. I'm dating this guy for two years online and each time i had to fork out somehow or the other for money. I'm really lost all my hard earn money but he keeps on and on for more. He wants me to come to him but i just pay some of the money towards documentations from homeland security in order for me to come to him . Not sure if this man is using me or draining me for more money which i don't have
WWF
September 18, 2019
kenneth wilhelm, Words with Friends, dr in Syria with UN. wife dead, 2 small kids.... block him
wordswithfrien…
October 03, 2019

In reply to by WWF

I had a doc in Syria too lol. That wasn't his name and I cannot remember it. Didn't take note. Said he was from Miami and sent this amazing bio of "Himself" and the bio was in perfect English, something he had no command of.
Anick
September 19, 2019
Anyone been talking to George Strait? Wanting help to get a box or phone claims he loves me and wants to live together. Yeah right
Shawn
September 19, 2019
I get the guys that are always in the military in Afganistan or Iraq and "coming home in a few months". They immediately ask to go to another mode of communication. They always ask if you've ever dated a guy in the army (they're always in the army, btw. Never any other branch). They never get ranks right, even after telling them that I was in the military. I had one who was supposedly 32 tell me that he was retiring in a few months. I asked him if he enlisted at 12. They also can never explain why they're looking for love in my tiny little town on the other side of the country.
Clinton fire
September 19, 2019
I meet a guy online talking to him o never thought he was like that he claim to be in china war zone and need money to live and supplies do i send money and he said he would pay when he got home now he is home and i have never heard from him
Stop_Scammerz
September 19, 2019
I met a guy on a dating site and later on figured out he was a scammer. I searched the photos he sent me. They were all stolen photos. It sounded like he was working with at least another person. I didn't send him the money he'd asked for and discontinued my conversation with him, but he has my pictures. I am so terrified that they might use my pictures to make fake profiles. Is there a way to inform the dating sites/platforms to prevent that?
FTC Staff
September 20, 2019

In reply to by Stop_Scammerz

If someone misuses your pictures or personal information you can report that to a website.

Donald
September 20, 2019
I was got up in a onlinr scammer he said he was in china war zone under cover he said he need money for supplies and living he said he would pay me back when he got home he is home now and i have never heard from him since he is home
I am in trouble!
September 21, 2019
I have been talking to Ian Allen Johnson, engineer, oil rig, from Houston, twins, big contact, etc. This has been going on over a year and he is still on the rig. He has displayed a checklist of the usual scam alerts. I am in love with a ghost. He still refuses to tell me his address. I know I need to get away from him. He owes me a lot of money, which he promises to pay back. I know all of this, but am completely unable to let this go. I want to see what happens. Any women out there talking to him or have talked to him. I need help!! He has ruined so much of my life. Thanks!
poppet
September 21, 2019
I’ve been talking with a man I met on Bumble His name Jackson Forsberg and he’s said he’s a Swedish civil engineer from Ottawa Ontario He told me many things Has anyone dealt with this name?
svancliff
September 28, 2020

In reply to by poppet

Hi My friend has a guy who has been trying to scam her in the UK the name he has given is Jason Eriksson Forsberg, he said he was a civil engineer in the UK, did he send you a picture at all?
Hedgehog
December 01, 2020

In reply to by svancliff

Please tell me more - I have been in contact with someone with the exact same name - 13 year old son, civil engineer in UK - moved from Sweden last year after death of wife in road crash. I’ve been a bit suspicious.
Naive
January 24, 2021

In reply to by Hedgehog

Your talking to the same man as me. Exact story. Been talking to him since October. Right up until Friday night.
Naive
February 02, 2021

In reply to by Hedgehog

Hedgehog Jason Eriksson Forsberg is a scammer. Wife died in car crash 3 yrs ago in Sweden (but she was from Hong Kong) , son Kelly, 13 at private school in Durham UK. Nanny called Eva looks after him. He called me every day since October to January 2021 , he's supposed to be in Malaysia on a big contract I've even had photos of the 'site' he's working on. Lots of problems, needs to borrow money to sort out, (but money has to go to a Turkish bank account) now a loan shark has his passport so he's stuck. I have 'photos' of him and his child. God knows who the photos belong to. Scammer !! Keep away, we met via dating app match.com. I've reported him to them, and the police .
gabriella
September 21, 2019
I fear I am a victim. The name is Anders Santiago Ogboo. In the military, widowed with 3 kids in the states. From Winston Salem.
Black Widow
September 21, 2019
I met this man end of July on POF. He said he is a cardiologist working in Ohio but acquired a contract for a hospital in Kuwait where he supposedly is now for 10 months. Since chatting on TalkU he's professed his love (within a week), asked me for Google play cards snd ITunes. Asked for my bank info, asked to borrow $1100 and just recently asked me to deposit a $16,000 eCheck into my bank account. I did send 3 cards but firmly denied doing the rest. I have an account I rarely use and gave him that info. Per my bank I told him to use Zelle wire transfer into that account and he refuses to do so. He goes by the name of Mike Redmond, user name Igrimco on POF. He is a very good looking man (works out) ladies so if you run into him steer clear. There again after refusing the financial stuff he no longer has musch to say. Also on TalkU the number assigned to him is 3722.
HiggydogDon't …
September 22, 2019
My man found me on Fitbit website as they all do I saw transparency in them all apart from one who stole my heart he says he’s a peacekeeper in Afghanistan and wants to be with me because he’s so in love with me for him to get leave the UN needs certain information but they also need 1500 dollars from you I have been in touch with the UN who are now looking in to the matter they charm the pants right off you I actually fell for it but not enough to give my money away
I am a sucker
September 22, 2019
So I was messaged by a Chris Etter on mingle 2 from Toronto. He had been living for many years in australia working for a company. Moved back to the US where his wife was killed in a hit and run accident a year ago. He had sold their house and vehicles and moved to toronto for chance still working for the same Australian company. After talking for a couple weeks said he loved me and wanted me to tell him that I loved him. Talked about buying a house together. A very sweet talker. Red flags started going off when I was told to watch these sites for guys asking for money. Even sent the website who he worked for. He travelled to Victoria BC to check out solar panels for a company. Came back to toronto where he gas an office. Then travels to Istanbul Turkey to buy parts for BC project to have them shipped to Canada. Calls me to ask me to transfer money with his log in info to a bank in Istanbul for him. Or lend him the money to pay for the supplies. Said his feelings were hurt that I wouldn't help him. When texting his English was perfect at times then other times it made no sense. His picture on mingle 2 was him standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. He sent other pics of himself after because I could not see what he looked like. On mingle he said he was 62. When he sent a picture of his I'd because of all the scams he said he was 55 and a different height. He calls from a Georgian number but the driver's license is from Virginia. Texts and calls from 478-298-6154. His voice has an accent that kind of reminds me of British. I can not identify it. As all the other women said he is good looking but probably not even him
cw523
March 22, 2020

In reply to by I am a sucker

This guy tried the same thing with my mother CHRITOPHER ETTER 478-298-6154 same bs story saying he’s in the solar business and so forth . Thanks for your post it saved her from probably losing money bc she has a big heart