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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.

Soopy
May 26, 2020
Wow just figured out what a scammer I have been talking to. Goes under several names James Greg Manny plus others. First met on FB. He said his account got hacked after he tried to get me to buy ITunes cards. I refused and he got mad so I said good bye. He wouldn’t give up called me on phone twice but had a UK accent. When texting his English was very poor. Said he lived in Germany, educated in US an engineer Going to Sudan for Solar Power Project.Had me track ups tracking for materials he ordered. This morning there was a fire and he lost 100,00us in material. I fell lock stock and barrel.feel so stupid. He wanted me to access his bank account and send money to France to pay for materials which he had to reorder. 115,000 Us. No other option. You are the only one I trust. I refused then he asked if I could lend him money. Then I clued in and lost it. Blocked him on hangout, deleted conversations. He actually tried to contact me on IG after this after giving me (k) when I wouldn’t agree. Ladies be aware it’s not just one person working scam . It’s a team . We have been talking almost 2 months oh the sweet words of love and endearments of very realistic and handsome pictures, Two kids 16 and 13 living with mom in California. Bad divorced. Watch for ITune cards first than major catastrophe where you are the only one who could help. Stay far far away. Bad scammer.
Chris
May 27, 2020
Does anybody know a certain Elizabeth Kerrie on POF claiming to be a nurse in Florida? She said she is 34 years old. She disappeared from that site as soon as she got my phone number and she kept texting me that she was in love with me. I live in Boston. In a couple of weeks or so after we first met online she requested me to send some money as a gift for her mother’s birthday next week. And she insisted on her request for money. I have never met this lady in person but she seems to be a real scammer. I haven’t sent her any money telling her that I have to meet her in person and see if she is real.
Mejia Cristi
May 27, 2020
Hello has anyone came across with some guy name randy Oliver with black and grey highlights. He added me on Ig . He is very sweet and works at a surgeon on United Nations but be careful his a total scam he told me his wife passed away and was taking care of his daughter who was six years old , he was looking to date someone because his daughter needed a mom figure .
Anna
May 27, 2020
Has anyone contacted by a guy in the US Army, stationed in Syria with a 6 year old son and widower, wife died in a car accident. Lives in Houston, mom’s in Germany with alzheimers. Said he’s 39 years old, with a dog and a cat at home.
Sean, a member…
May 27, 2020
Lately, a landslide of romance scammers have descended upon Autistic Dating, a service that caters to people living with conditions on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder scale. This is an example of how thieves will stoop so low to drain victims their hard-earned money, as well as causing potentially lifelong emotional damage. Please, be educated on this crime, and avoid being a victim. Thank you for your attention.
Trisha
May 27, 2020
Meet a soldier who said he is in the military he is in camp lemonnier and said he can't leave unless he pays off his taxes because he doesn't want to go on his next deployment he has to pay 3000 before he leave and come back to the states
Olivia DI
May 28, 2020
I was asked to be a friend to Austin Larry on MEWE.com October 1, 2019. I was familiar with his off sure oil rig platform work and he thought I understood him better than others. He had a fabulous photo. His work made it difficult to contact me often. He asked me to go to hang out with him. I gave him my phone number, email address and we became hang out lovers from pics. I was asked To send him iTunes cards but he was unable to obtain off shore. He had a favorite game he like to play and also needed to upgrade his PC. He wanted my help to obtain $10,000 to cover the cost for his team on the machine that broke down but he was responsible for. A worker had damaged it he said and was injured badly. I have no money for him but he begged me to try to find it. When I could not, later he said it was OK. He took rest vacation in mid April to Bristol, UK. Hey surprise me on hang out from there to claim his father‘s inheritance Indy amount of $2.8 million. He wanted me to be his wife. He love me very much. I loved him too! He signed papers in court on May 20 for $7000 and received his funds from the bank on May 25 which is the day he was going to send it directly to me through a courier company he trusted. I am in California. Somehow the luggage who is $2.7 million, jewelry and women’s clothing for me landed Up in transit to Istanbul Turkey customs. That is win GLOSTEP LOGISTICS emailed me to say I needed to pay $1838.70 for the package to be released.(it was a suitcase). They did not send me a tracking number. Austin Larry emailed them for a tracking number and sent it to me. I found out I did not have to pay by Western Union as they requested by email. You can pay directly to them on the website. Email was from a Mr. Adams, CSO. I kicked the problem back to Austin Larry. He must have the other 1 million in the bank in Bristol, UK that he could use to pay that $1838.70 Istanbul, Turkey customs fee. I’ve had many calls from Austin Larry so upset. I left him very confused. I said it is up to him to win or lose.
aoa
May 28, 2020
Did anyone heard from Jose Brian Anderson?. He is an independet practitioner "medical doctor" working for the US goverment in a two-week contract in the Gulf of Mexico. He asked for help making transfers from his bank account, then a TAC CODE is needed and he asked to write to the bank, the "bank" ask you some personal questions and you finally received an email asking for a $22.450 payment for the TAC CODE
Archer
May 28, 2020
Right now he is scamming on ScrabbleGo.
goawaycoronavirus
May 28, 2020
i am chatting with linda kassidy and shecis asjking me for money
PASSION
May 28, 2020
Ok I been talking to a guy named Richard Williams for 4 months now I'm scared if anyone has a picture to match up please let me know
Rhody
June 07, 2020

In reply to by PASSION

The guys change their pictures and their background story and their names. you have to see the common thread there in a predicament and they need money and you cuz you care about them might give it to them so they ask
jennifer
May 29, 2020
Thankyou Aditi Jhaveri, for sharing this great article about the scammers , i agree with your topic that you discussed about the how scammers doing fraud.and i had Noted the warning signs these all are true. Great Article.
TF1269
May 29, 2020
I have been talking with a Frank Morgan. He states he is a surgeon who is currently in Yemen from the UN. Confessed his love to me immediately. Is sending pictures of himself and the hospital. Tells me his wife died after giving birth to their child.
Daniel
May 29, 2020
I have been chatting with this individual for 6 months and it seemed legitimate, it still does, we used to do video chats on facebook and WhatsApp for hours a day and they are the person who is in their profile, and their images are not fake because I searched on multiple websites about them. Today they asked money for fixing their phone that they broke and i have seen pictures, the phone is broken, I was joking and saying they were a scammer and they got angry and defensive and havent responded for a couple hours so now I am wondering if they actually are. Please get back, thank you very much
Worried Daughter
June 09, 2020

In reply to by Daniel

Don't send anything. It's a scam. Someone took money from my mother. She has sent hom over 30,000.00. He tells her how much he loves her and was supposed to fly to see her but something came up. He was supposed to be her Monday on a flight but couldn't get off the rig. Wish I could get my hands on him. My mother is 80 and he is 65 and he tells her he is so I love with her. We have tried so hard to convince her it's her money he wants.
68skylark
May 29, 2020
I find the scammers,(and most are) never answer specifics, never ask get to know you questions, usually have bad Grammer or spelling errors(phrases are generally not quite right) and will never send a picture when asked to customize it with a personal touch. (Such as a paper with your name written on it.) That's the easiest way to test for a scammer.
Lynn
June 04, 2020

In reply to by 68skylark

The scammer I encountered actually did ask get to know you questions, and answered them. Grammar and spelling was spot on. The only thing he couldn’t do was send me a personalized picture due to the type of phone he had for work. He did send me a lot of photos and videos.
Ladyj
June 15, 2020

In reply to by 68skylark

"Eric Capps" is who tried to scam me. I'm still talking to him because it's fun. I know hes a scam, never fell for his "I love you babe" early on. Supposedly a military man with 2 young sons with nanny. Wife died... He asked me for $1500 for his sons surgery but I know that US Army takes care of medical for soldiers and their families anywhere in the world. I called him a scam on 3 separate occasions when I finally said "send me a picture with my name" A week later he sent a photo of him holding a white board saying "you mean a lot to me (my name) and the date. It looks photoshopped not as though someone wrote with marker on a board but rather pencil on paper and blown up the size of white board. Interestingly enough for this scammer that he was able to find a photo of him holding a white board!! Anyway, if it sounds too good, it most likely is. No one asks for money of people they dont know. Military people have access to their bank accounts, they can receive mail, their email accounts will not be private like gmail etc but rather .mil or something more identifying for military. I'm not out anything from this guy but still talk to him as I want to see what he comes up with next! I have reported all info he gave to CID and FTC with routing number etc. Whether he is found or not, these forums are great for educating.
sonny
May 29, 2020
Monica Andersen or Monica Anderson- Romance scammer
t.pac
May 29, 2020
Not sure if I was scammed, but probably. Started about 1 month ago, sounded so sincere and romantic then was asked to help get his portfolio back to the states with his diplomatic, only needed $97.00 to release it, well that turned out to be more since it was stopped at the boarder in Syria. Asked for $5,000.00. Now apparently it is stuck in customs in NY, asking for $30,000 (which I don't have).
kc78
May 29, 2020
I have had a whole ring of scammers from Plenty of Fish dating site. They all claim to be in the military, are deployed, ask me to go on WhatsApp and Hangouts app. One has asked me for bit coins to buy "service." Another asked for $500 to get a plane ticket to come visit. Another said he needed $232 for paperwork to ask his commander for him to go on leave to come see me. They are well known scammers whose pictures I have found all over the internet. One claims to be Brian Logan, Marine from Nevada. Another says he is "Thomas" a military police stationed in Hawaii. The other is "James"-a civil engineer who is in Gambia. They have since changed their profiles on POF claiming to be different men, from different cities, different ages.
Tired of the l…
May 29, 2020
My boyfriend is talking to several different ones on Hangouts. He doesn't know yet that I am aware of it! As of today, I am officially worried because one of them (supposedly a wrestler for the WWE) asked him for a photo of his driver's license to prove he is a real person so she doesn't lose her job. I didn't think he was dumb enough to fall for it....BUT, he sent her a very clear pic of his ID without a hesitation!! I figured he would step back, because so far, he hasn't fallen into the trap of the begging for money and Steam or Amazon gift card requests from "Miranda Lambert" and "Rachel Steele". He keeps putting them off, telling them he 'doesn't have the extra money this week because of bills'. Why can't these people be stopped?????
Hannah westrich
May 30, 2020
I have been talking to a guy named Chris he said he is a military man in the army and sended me some picks I kind of fell in love with him and he gave me a number where I could call him but the area code is from California! He sended me his voice on instagram and he sounds like he is from Africa or something I think he could be a scammer but am not sure because he never asked for money yet I don’t know if he ever will but how do I really know if he is the real deal or not
SusieQ
May 30, 2020
Has anyone come in contact with a man named Tom Mihail? Met on IG and headed over to Hangouts to talk. He says he’s a Doctor. Originally from England, raised in California and now in Syria as a Doctor. Wife died from cancer 6 years ago, daughter Sara lives with his mother in law in Russia where his wife was from. His pictures on IG look authentic. He has asked me about my likes and dislikes and things about myself. I did the same. Very good looking. Says he’s 49. Green eyes, dark brown hair and mustache and beard but looks like unshaven more than anything. Has not asked me for money and I’ve made it very clear that I don’t have any, will never have any and if that’s what he’s up to go away. I also called him out on a few grammatical errors. He was surprised but not irritated. I told him I want to video chat and see the face in the photos before I answer another question. I’m very hesitant for I married my last online person and he took everything and made my life hell but it’s been 17 years ago. I was scarred from that disaster. But he’s going to fast for me. I’m guarded. You just don’t fall in love with someone after a few days of conversation. Has anyone out there heard of this guy? If so I want to bring him to his knees.
Scammer
May 31, 2020
Ladies, for your awareness: There is a guy in the Linkedin with a profile name, Alvaro B Garcia. He has a thick accent and he is going to retire sometime in August 2020. He said he owns a company name: Gold Ridge – Architect and Civil Engineering. he has a project to build a hospital in Turkey... don't believe anything he says.
RUTH
May 31, 2020
I was playing a Josh Hawthorne on a Scoply Scrabble game, I never chat but I look to see what they write. This one said he was from Calgary, Alberta, Canada a surgeon on contract with the military hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. He tried everything. His wife had died in a car accident three years ago and he was lonely. I chatted for bit that one time. He wanted to know all about me and my single friends. Since I told him I was happliy married 40 years and I had one single friend and she wasn't interested in men. This scammer disappeared. He is on facebook and using a profile picture that looks familiar, like on american politician. I just can't figure it out.
gina888
May 31, 2020
I have someone now I chat. He is trying to believe me that he works on oil rig. He said that he is a Chinese-American, owned a condo in US and now assigned in Norway. He asked me to pay for his itune card. I didn't fall for him. And I have a 100% instinct that he is a scammer. Therefore, as I read different stories here. They are so rampant now. Beware.
Sad lady
May 31, 2020
Met a Casey Cornell on Coffee meets bagel, was talking for about 3 months, he was on business trips and with Covid pandemic we never ended up meeting. His accounts got frozen while aboard and wanted me to send money to help him out and get back to the states. He sent many pictures. Last picture I got was a selfie at the Airport. Never heard from him again. Anyone with a similar story???
Rhody
June 07, 2020

In reply to by Sad lady

Almost all of these stories have the same basic theme. I'm having a crisis, CAN T ACCESS MY OWN MONEY AND NEED HELP. All are supposed live interests that are groomed. Another similarly is manipulating you into hang outs. Almost every woman is
Think Smart
August 03, 2020

In reply to by Sad lady

Hi Sad Lady, Yes I came across the same name here. Do you have any way that I could reach you to exchange some information?
Caseybear
August 12, 2020

In reply to by Think Smart

Hi Think Smart and Sad Lady..could we exchange information? Looks like we all knew Mr Cornell.
Caseybear
August 11, 2020

In reply to by Sad lady

Yes, met on OKC early June, went to Oman for his Finance Analyst job - he won the contract but oops did not pay tax in Oman as the Omani counterparts paid his commission into his account without deducting tax...got arrested at the airport - only account that could be used is his bitcoin account - started with 15K USD I think then it was 5K USD as he was selling everything he owned- his car, his late mother (who died of cancer) and was raised in an Orphanage - thus no living relatives, asked for verification, sent a fake Florida drivers license and his Omani US consulate lawyer's details - and his hotel details - checked all three....as fake as a cubic zirconia posing as a diamond....not staying at that named hotel, no such lawyer at the consulate. When I asked him about all these, he got mad ,poof the magic dragon, disappeared. He is on LinkedIn as a Financial Analyst for Goldman Sachs but he is not on their Company profile. Blocked me on LinkedIn. Disconnected his phone and disconnected from Viber. Says he was raised in South Africa thus the accent but came back to US when he was 17. C'est la vie. Have pics too. 2 months investment of time and energy and poor sleep patterns due to cross continent communications.
Think Smart
August 19, 2020

In reply to by Caseybear

Yes, exactly the same one I met from the dating app Happen!! African accent got my alert!!! He said got passport seized by Oman police, cant get out from the country just after he said flying to me on the next Money! I came across so many scammers online, same plot! ...at last I pushed him to show the true color and he blocked my whatsaap! these are two US number he is using +1 (754)6009964 and +1(417)6950843...be aware of this guy, he is fake!
Think Smart
August 20, 2020

In reply to by Caseybear

Hi Caseybear, how I can reach you? Let's exchange some information.
Lanery
May 31, 2020
Be aware ! Frank Williams - Dr in Syria (Cardiologist) 37years old with 1 son, who is on boarding school...wife passed away 3 years ago in cancer. American guy from New York... Tells pretty nice things and fells in love after 5 mins talk. Didnt ask money yet but when I mentioned he blocked me on whatsapp so our love is over! Hahahaha +15202536637 his number he contacted me. Mark Anderson - Military guy in Afghanistan at the moment. Asks Hangout app to chat.He has 1 son, wife passed away after birth. Son is 10 years old. He says he lives in Washington DC. America.
Annie 19
May 31, 2020
Danilo Bog. Engineer, stuck in China due to a partbthat broke on a rig he was on. Ok here comes stupid. Retirement..stocks..sale of house. $ 175.000.00 Not only did I lose my life money, I lost my family. 7 years have passed. Every now and then I get a hey baby."tell him where to park it. Watch out, very handsome but fake picture.
Jellybean
May 31, 2020
I recently was scammed by a man named Tommy James claims he's from California has no family and grew up in an orphanage, claims he is a pedestrian who works overseas in Syria ,meet him on a word cross game then asked me to go to hangouts we talked for a month and then he said for Amazon cards for his internet i was stupid enough to do so ,he then strated telling me he wanted to meet me and that he loved me wanted to marry me and spend the rest of his life with me he even had me looking for house's to buy when he got to the state's claims he works for the United nations and has no access to his money in Syria, then the United nations emails me and ask for money for his travel documents that he supposedly let expired i was stupid enough to wire the money for his travel documents then two weeks later the United nations emails again says they need money for his military penison card that he can't find i told him i wasn't sending the money, he kept texting me and 2 weeks later once again the United nations emails me and says they need money for his plane ticket, i have since uninstalled hangouts off my phone and im no longer talking to him . I did not give him any bank or credit card information, he does have my phone number, and my gmail address he has never called me on my phone only on hangouts, im hoping he doesn't do anything since he does have my phone number and gmail address
Don't use flow…
June 01, 2020
Can many people post pics of their scammer guys so I can see if pics match who I talk to now
Rhody
June 07, 2020

In reply to by Don't use flow…

They change their name and profile pictures and back ground story. I talked to my guy for over 8 months and can see many similarities in almost all the stories. Almost as if it's the same guy giving a different line of bull to every woman.
Lumper
June 13, 2020

In reply to by Don't use flow…

I was scammed but I knew the jig b for they got a penny I did what you said I put it up as you said the pictures she was using was of a online gamer/ actress / CEO worth millions and she wanted me to give her money she asked for a steam wallet card $150 I was ok so I went to Google as I had know idea what it was took a screen shot of one that had been scratched of and sent it to her she got upset as I didn't have the receipt I said or I binned that I never keep them then I was go get me a Google card but keep the receipt I said why is it that a millionaire needs me to send her money she was so I no your like me I said you live in the other side of the world why does it matter
ABCDEFG
June 01, 2020
Anyone heard of a Bickel Paden? Aka...David Bickel?
Happiestgirl101
June 03, 2020
I’m talking with a guy who says he lives in NY but is working oversees for a few months in Tehran, Iran as a reservoir engineer. He said he is 45 and his wife died 5 years ago from cancer and he has a 6 yo daughter back in NY with her nanny while he’s working oversees. Seems like most of these scammers have 3 names, which is strange. We’ve been talking for a month now, and he was quick to get me to leave wwf and open an acct on hangouts. He said he loved me within 2 days.. calls me his queen and his wife. It is fun to talk but I know it’s all BS! The first week he asked me to send a steam card for the database guy so he can call me on hangouts. He says he can’t video chat but he calls me and we talk for hours. He has a foreign accent and says he’s originally from Slovakia. When he asked for the steam card I called him out and called him a scammer and of course he denied it. I blocked him on hangouts for two days and he emailed me twice begging me to talk to him and saying he loves me and can’t live without me. It’s pathetic!
Tara M
June 03, 2020
Anyone else run into a Norman Bodaway through fit bit.
Betty't use yo…
June 03, 2020
I'm talking to someone who asked me for child care money. Christopher Jensen is his name. Has anyone else been talking to this person?
Unitedwestand6790
June 03, 2020
I went to a website two or three to be exact bigo live hinge and local dating I met a few ladies I was conversing with each of them ok one told me her story that her father whould give her money if she got married and wanted me to Open a checking account so she could share the money with Me she gives me the bank email address one claimed to be in Texas her father and brother were passed away her phone was broke and wanted me to send her money to fix her phone she whould send pics of a gorgeous woman but I know wasn’t her I have tons and tons of stories
DISGUSTED
June 03, 2020
A guy by the name of Jeffrey Harvey started talking to my mom through a Facebook group. He immediately asked her to communicate with him through Google Hangout. He started telling her that he was widowed, had a daughter in boarding school overseas, was from Belgium but worked in the US on oil rigs as an engineer. I did an image search and found the real owner of the pics he posted. My mom confronted the guy and he started threatening her.
Barbarad7
June 04, 2020
Anybody heard of Bobby Tucker on instagram.? Still on there. 2 days he was in love with me, has a son, who got hurt needed a I tune card, says to get in touch with him. I kept questioning him about the stupid stories he would say and he would get so angry. Won't talk to me for a day then text and asked if I would help him. Never give out any info, phone numbers, email, bank. He has over 3000 women he's following and he has 100 following him back.
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