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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
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military
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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.

Queen Bee
March 18, 2021
I have a guy on a oil rig in gulf of mexico. He does call me and video chats with me. He has sent about 5 pics of him . But I still think he may be a scammer will a scammer call and video chat ?
soaringhawk
April 04, 2021

In reply to by Queen Bee

I have a drill engineer, independent contractor leaving for an oil rig outside Brownsville, TX on Monday. Australian accent. I've facetimed... tells me he lives in OR, where I am. Used to live in WA. Wife passed away 9 years ago.
CA102962
March 20, 2021
So I got a random text one day from a women who said we met online and we said and sent pics too. She tells me she lied too her father about us getting married just for her to get his house. I said I wanted out couple of times and each time she guilt tripped me and threatened to report me. She said the only way was with gift cards and or bitcoin. He sends me a random green dot card and tells me to help her out by taking it too my banks atm and withdrawing the cash and then sending it too her. I accidentally destroyed it due too the fact they kept pressuring me with threats of arrest. He tells me I just made him lose $5,000. He didn’t know me and randomly sends me this. I was forced to buy him over $1,000 worth of bitcoin or be arrested. They kept harassing me with these threats to get what they wanted. Made me make a cashapp account for their own bitcoin thing. Had me sign up for different bank apps which failed and sent me couple of fake checks through my bank account after threatening me. Had to send her $700 worth 3 days ago or else I’d be arrested cus some guy had her pics? I blocked their numbers after reaching out too the community and am scarred for life. This has to be the scariest thing that’s ever happened too me. Is this a common scam?
Sflo21
March 20, 2021
Hi, I think I am being scammed too. I have been talking to this guy named Lucas from Norway but living I the US. We have been chatting for like 3 months now. He suddenly had to go to Cypru as contractor for 2 months. He sent me pictures at the airport, in the plane before takeoff, when he arrived at the hotel, dinner with his investors and everywhere he went on weekends to tour around. So supposedly during one if those trips he was hijacked at gun point and broke his foot trying to run, the tour guide supposedly got shot. He had to have leg surgery as an emergency. He sent me pictures of his leg and him in the hospital bed. He never asked me for money and we kept talking. A few days after his surgery he asked me to send him a new iPhone since his shattered when he ran and I bgg having a hard time seeing myvtexts or talking to me says he cant hear me. I stopped texting him or answering his calls after that but he kept sending me pictures of him and his leg stilling a cast and saying that he cant believe that I let his request for help ruin what we had. Like I said I think it's a scam had anyone else heard of this one yet. I have pictured, ton of them.
crazygirl84
April 26, 2021

In reply to by Sflo21

I was recently talking to someone that had to go on assignment for 10 weeks. All of a sudden he and his co-workers were held at gun point and he dropped his phone and wallet. All of a sudden his bank account is frozen lol. He never asked me for money until the other day he asked for 25 bucks on itunes gift card but then asked for 100 bucks to add to bitcoin. Definitely not a coincidence that our stories are similar. What a bunch of creeps.
scared
January 14, 2022

In reply to by Sflo21

I was talking to a Lucas as well who is from Germany. Some of the things are familiar like shattering his phone.
Bitcoin/steam …
March 20, 2021
Hi. Has anyone else talked to someone named Benson Grant? I met him on Words with Friends. Moved to Hangouts. Claims he's a Bitcoin trader in Michigan. One son. Divorced. I never gave him my full name, phone number. No bank info. Only email. Everything seemed fine. All of a sudden he starts saying his son needs steam cards. I said no. After asking for 3 days and my saying no he got downright mean. I stopped talking to him. Ladies, please be careful. I am glad I never believed him completely.
Ramona
March 20, 2021
Have you heard of a doctor by the name of Brian Scott in Syria He is voice does not match up with the picture
Elsa
March 21, 2021
How can i search for his photo? If he appears in other sites or if he is legit? Please help me.
Kmac
March 22, 2021
He said his name was Alex Giovanni from Bethpage NY. Said he was in Alaska on an oil rig. He uses fake pictures of himself. I found him on Hinge. He never asked for money because he never got that far. He claimed to be from Sweden but born in Italy. We had a Zoom call and that when I noticed something was not right. I used Google Reverse Images and found a picture he had sent me. The ones on the dating app did not come up. He had a NY phone number. He is very deceiving but knew how to answer my questions. Beware of him.
Baby69
March 22, 2021
Michael sherman is a scammer. He is man from Nigeria. Not from germany does not worrk on a oil rig in the gulf of mexico. Goes by victory max max on facebook then gives u an email for Michael sherman.. just block him..BLOCK HIM ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J
March 22, 2021
Has anyone ever experienced scammers sending you their own personal banking information to show how much money they have? One guy I have been talking To just recently sent that to me and I thought it was really weird. Has anyone experienced this? TIA
Anthony
April 06, 2021

In reply to by J

YES, and it was from a “doctor working in Syria for 2 weeks”...which is now going on 4wks. She asked that I sign into her bank to wire money for medical supplies....and the bank site was completely fake with basic functions that a high school kid can make. It showed a couple deposits from UN for $2.2Mil, which I admit I was pretty impressed. The suspicious website wasn’t fooling me though, and neither was the fake shipping website that suddenly alerted me that her package was stuck in Turkish Customs due to an unpaid fee for $15,000 Euro. Incredible amount of detail with her scam...
Kris1tine
July 11, 2021

In reply to by J

Yes , I believe in the beginning but I realize it’s a scam , he even sent me a firm fir me to fill it up and asking the bank account number and my password I did not give him any information. God is so good to me to think ahead thst I been scam.
onto-you
March 23, 2021
My stepmother is being scammed as I write but in a different way this time around. We lost my dad a decade ago and she signed up for a dating site about a year and a half ago. She gave some men of the men her phone number and they have been texting back and forth. Most of the guys claim to be American citizens working overseas and they ALWAYS have some serious dilemma in which they cannot retrieve money from their own account and their family members are sick or they will be losing a business opp. They sure get creative. I believe she has given men money but she won't admit it. I catch her in lies. She states they ask for phones, phone cards, money, computers and more and I think she caught on to them. You'd think after catching on she would be a little more cautious and able to see the same patterns, but no. She is now swept away with very attractive man who has a daughter, of course, and he is a widow, of course. He is working in London now and he forgot to notify his bank that he was leaving out of the country so he could not get access to his banking info. He sent my stepmother pictures of his bank account(s), his ID, and he asked her to transfer money to one account to another so I'm pretty darn sure she is complicit in some money laundering scam. His name is Wayne. He is working in London and he has a home in Pittsburgh and a nanny is caring for his daughter. This is a new surely a new scam. She made it clear she would not be sending money in the beginning so I guess he is using her as a money mule. Ladies, Wake up!!!! especially if you have yet to video chat.
Kate A
March 24, 2021
My mom recently met someone on zoosk. Seemed legit. Has a LinkedIn profile, has a fb profile. Said he’s a managing director for an oil drilling company. Says he currently lives in Alexandria Virginia and the phone number is a Virginia number however bandwidth is the provider. There weren’t any red flags as he was calling frequently and had FaceTimed once. Then he said he was in Alaska on business and his accounts got frozen and he needs help getting home. When my mom said it was a red flag he got mad and said she was mean and money hungry. He claims to be very wealthy. He began proclaiming his love for her after about a month. Goes by Walter agosti. Says he’s originally from Italy but moved here 10 years ago. He’s bald, light eyes and a goatee
Martin W
March 24, 2021
Her Name is Sophie Bryant (Her parents past a way) she has an inhardece but the lawyer is in charge of it and she went to Istanbul Turkeys to buy some items for her store in December for three weeks and ln three day she told me that she had lost her wallet with all her money and credit card for I ask her if she went to the us embassy to get help, She sead that thay would not help her as so no she also bought only a one way plain ticket well this has been going on for over three month she told me that she was going to be there for one more month
petra s
March 24, 2021
i would like to know if anyone knows the name Marco Queens engineer says he works for amazon in syria . He has 2 sons tells me he lives in california andhe is italian/amercan speaks with an italian accent .
aze
March 24, 2021
Anyone contacted by Dr Harry B Brown an engineer from New Orleans?
Would never ha…
March 24, 2021
Is there somewhere we can post pictures of theses monsters?
Would never ha…
March 24, 2021
What about scammer that don’t pose as being in the military, just everyday regular people... Peter Burke or Henrik Burke, wife cheated on him with his beat friend, has two kids sees only on the weekends boy Jamie girl Samantha both in the teens , he’s Bitcoin scammer, anyone heard of him, doesn’t ask for money just after time like months , he’ll say he wants to teach you how to invest with Bitcoin and then that’s when he scams ya. Good looking guy , says he’s from Florida but doesn’t have a Florida accent Sweet talker babe baby love my love , all those sweet things
Jacki
March 25, 2021
Anyone know of Matt or Christopher Angello? Says is geo tech engineer from Belarus grew up in Atlanta. Pretty sure hes scamming.
Won't get fool…
July 08, 2021

In reply to by Jacki

Same guy coming on strong to me. Can we chat?
I am not a pushover
September 04, 2021

In reply to by Won't get fool…

I was chatting with Christopher for a few weeks. He is a charmer. Google Sam Ricci believe it’s the same guy. Some of the pics he sent me were him. Pay the money on social catfish.com and do the reverse photo search. We Skyped several times. Whoever he is is VERY good looking.
Jacki
March 25, 2021
Anyone know of Matt or Christopher Angello? Says is geo tech engineer from Belarus grew up in Atlanta. Pretty sure hes scamming.
Don't use your…
September 04, 2021

In reply to by Jacki

Just dealt with Christopher. Same story. Said he was born in Atlanta moved back to bealrus when he was 7 when his dad died. And back to states when he was 24 to Tampa. Was married got divorced 3 years ago. He even sent me a pic of his passport. His match profile said he lives in Melbourne. He Skyped me and called me. Not sure what the hell is real and what is fake. But I was not scammed out of money. He did want to send me money to buy meds for his mom. I said no get someone else to do it.
K P
March 25, 2021
Beware of a sweet talker, Jason Williams. Claims to be in Thailand selling his late father's property. Said he's in love with me after like 2 days of talking. I thought it was weird because he kept just talking about romance and trust and not real, normal conversation. I goggled some of the texts... it's all scams. Typical, I guess. Glad I didn't get invested. He hasn't asked for money, but I'm sure it would've just been a matter of time. If he seems too good to be true, he most likely is!
Chelsea girl
March 25, 2021
A Hangout scam is using the name Dean Peterson using (probably an innocent ) good looking man .This starts on Instagram .,moving to Hangout . Beware !
Just Me, Crazee
March 25, 2021
I just blocked a guy by the name of "Tommy Anderson" on FB, supposedly working on an "oil rig" in the North Norwegian Sea. Really odd conversations with him...no curiosity as to my age, by family background, my work history, etc., etc., etc. I can't say for sure he's a scammer, but like I said, the conversations were just not normal for someone supposedly interested in me. He also would ignore my questions of him. Wife died in a car accident, of course. Son back home in college, of course. Wanted pictures of me, which I sent but none of just me. That wasn't good enough...wanted a "clear" picture of just myself. Glad to be done with him.
reborntime
March 26, 2021
I think I am being scammed. This guy I met in tinder, he is Chinese raised in UK. We communicate everyday and soon he say love me so much every day. I cannot believe he is scammer. He said he worked contract in KCA Deutag in Saudi Arabia, so that he cannot use his phone at the premise. We never make video call. He ask me to contact his company to take leave and come to me. Then his company send me document ask me pay to take leave and then his bank send me document to let me get access to his bank account and all I paid. We used normal bank transfer. I did not feel any problem in it. He said he is coming, while he carried a large amount of cash to German and be detained, ask me money to pay for release. All I believed. I am so stupid, right? all the document are so real with chop and signature in letterhead. I still want to talk to him, I gave out my true heart. We talked over one year. He still asking me to pay. I just blocked him this morning, but I still want to talk to him. What should I do?
2GOOD2BTRU
April 10, 2021

In reply to by reborntime

Did he say his name is Danny Zheng? Chinese, and with a daughter Sara, who's supposed to be 16. Didn't ask me for $ yet...because I turned the tables on him. I know it was coming though...he was on his way to Turkey on a construction project. It's a scam. Block on all sites, change banking passwords, keep a file and report to agencies. No contact.
Concerned daughter
March 26, 2021
My 80 year old father believes some woman in America wants to marry him - he just has to have some properties put in his name. He is even planning an engagement party! Any advice greatly appreciated.
Baby69
March 26, 2021
Anyone hear of a guy called robert Goldfield???
Beware of Trig…
March 26, 2021
I met a guy on Tinder. His profile name was Trig. He said that was his nickname & his actual name was Scott Bars & he was originally from Switzerland, but came to the US for better opportunities when he was in his 20s. He said he was an Architectural engineer on a 6 month project in West Benin, Africa. He was married for 11 years to a woman who cheated on him with his best friend. He was very “disappointed “ by this. He moved to Naperville, IL to start a new life. He has a terrier dog named Bobby. He is very sweet & good looking. Amazing body. Everything seemed to be going ok. - I had some red flags that I was ignoring until 2 days before the end of the project he said his driver who was delivering the glass for the building he was working on had an accident & the glass was all shattered & his work deadline was the next day & after borrowing $ from friend & sister he was $2500 short & could I lend him the $. That was it! I was seeing red! I wish I can post his pic on here. Beware! The 2 phone numbers he used are: +1 (619) 860-3019 & +229 51502064
Chris56
July 26, 2021

In reply to by Beware of Trig…

Hi, can you share pic’s with me? Does he’s mother call you?
john28
March 26, 2021
i have this guy saying he will give allowance in change of my photos now he said he cant transfer the money i need to activate the steam wallet he ask me to pay online
Littlemas94
March 26, 2021
Has anyone talked to a man from California by the name Patrick Wong?
wesley
March 27, 2021
I think that someone who claims to be in the army is doing a romance scam on me. I met him on Match, and he says that he's in Syria, and only has access to a satellite phone that he uses to text me. I"ve been asking so to call me so that I can hear that he is really an American. I did a search for his name in the army, and did come across his photo doing mail delivery. I also found his Facebook page. again, the same person. I am wondering if whoever might be scamming me is just using this guys identity. I don't know how to find out?!!! Also, he has asked me to send him some things, not very much, but he says that it can't go directly to him in Syria, that a nurse or somebody has to bring it. how can I find out more about the where abouts of this person?
Anthony
April 05, 2021

In reply to by wesley

He must be working at the same “Al Tanf” military base right next to the female doctor that’s trying to scam me...with only her satellite phone able to send messages via Google hangouts
Beans75
December 04, 2021

In reply to by wesley

I've been contacted by someone claiming to be in the U.S. Military stationed in Syria on the Al Tanf base as well. He claims to be a single father of a 9-year old boy who's in boarding school. He said he's from Portland, Oregon. He mentioned his ex-wife died in an an oil explosion. He keeps pestering me about moving from MeWe to Hangouts. I keep refusing, as I've already dealt with several other scammers contacting me on MeWe wanting to move to Hangouts. I refused them as well. The "soldier" hasn't mentioned a Sat Phone, but he has mentioned that his MeWe app is acting up so he needs to chat with me on Hangouts. I never use Hangouts and I refuse to use a separate chat for someone I literally just met. Can you share the name of the person who you think scammed you? Thanks!
Scamornot
March 27, 2021
Has anyone talked to someone by the name of hames damik??ive been talking to him for about a week.says he is a marine and being deployed syria but is currently in cali.has said he loves me and is so very sweet....my feelings are caught up in this badly...he has not asked for money or anything yet...says he was hacked a few yrs ago and picture stolen also says he is not allowed to take pictures and cannot call or videochat...i just dont know what to do..is he a scamer????
QueenB42
March 28, 2021
Anyone talking to a Nigerian man from Lagos named Adebowale Maxwell Ogunsanya??
Seriousru8
March 28, 2021
I saved myself by a scammer just now when he begins to ask to help him to get food because he is in the military in Togo Africa and tired of MRE.I was almost fell for it and was sending money because he really had a sad story about his family and other things. He is using the name 'Serge Jaffery..Don't send any money and do your research.I found him from sexual hookup site.
Kat
March 29, 2021
I think I am being scammed also... the guy goes by Mark Williams, says he has a daughter names Amanda... 16 years turning 17 in April, very attractive beard mustache, just asked me for $500 to finish his paperwork on an offshore drilling rig in Canada.. talked on phone, it shows call from Prince Edward Island/Nova Scotia. Calls me the same names, only been talking on phone and on hangouts for 3weeks and asks for $500... days he had a Rottweiler, also emailed his daughter and she called me aunt
Betrayed
April 02, 2021

In reply to by Kat

He goes by Marcus William also. He has said all those beautiful lies to me as well. He's asked for money and bitcoin. Calls me queen. Wanted to marry me day 3. He's good and always says the right thing. Wrote me poetry. Scammer!!!!
Dlmp
March 29, 2021
I think I have found a scammer but there are some peculiarities. We met on Match.com (a pay site) and chatted casually for 1.5 months. We moved off site to the what’s app since getting into Match requires extra steps. I’ve video chatted once but the signal was poor. We tried again, it was him, but still poor signal. He owns a small shipping company. He gave me his company website and his charity that he supports. Later he gave me a picture of his passport. He told me he was working on one last contract with a specific car company then wants to retire. He has sent me every letter and then pictures of the certificate and front page of this huge contract. He has been in Germany for 3 weeks. He had a real estate deal finally pay out and he asked if he could send me a cashiers check to hold. Not deposit and asked me to put it in a safe deposit box until he returns. We’ve now been talking since the beginning of December. Last week while picking up the licenses in South Africa his hotel was robbed. He sent me a copy of the police report. He needed 8000 sent to a company Fast Track Global to reissue the documents that were stolen. I did. Then he asked if I could help with the money he needs to pick up the licenses. I said no. I did offer to co-sign a loan with him but he said no. He continues to tell me he loves me, can’t wait to be with me and is figuring it out. Not to worry. He’s coming back soon and wants to meet my family. He’s always wanted a big family but was not given the opportunity. I’m so confused, and scared. Luckily the money I gave him was my tax return not my income but I just feel sick to my stomach, and I don’t know what to do.
Tangelo123
April 08, 2021

In reply to by Dlmp

I think I was talking to the same guy is he white with blonde hair.
Dlmp
March 29, 2021
My scammer goes by Michael Honah Jurjen, he’s 55. I did a reverse image search only his Facebook and shipping company came up. Nothing else.
Dlmp
March 29, 2021
Another difference is I have received 4 different bouquets of roses with chocolates, candles, teddy bears, etc. I’m so confused...
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