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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.

Nomore
April 11, 2018

In reply to by Tired of trash

OMG, same guy. He even had names of people in our business creepy. Asked for money for his daughters birthday party. Not happening. Also, I contacted facebook and he was finally removed but he will come back as someone else. These guys are creeps!
laura
March 13, 2018

In reply to by Suzer

It sounds just like this guy I was chatting with on words with friends,things dident ad up said he was in the sea working on an oil rig,just give it time he will ask you for an iTunes card lol
Jackie55
May 28, 2018

In reply to by jochi0229

Same deal.talking to a man called himself tom raymond.says he's a engineer for oil rigs also.said his company was shutting down and begged me to have his box with 2.5 million in bit sent to my house.I only had to pay a small fee.wired of course.no way.not this girl.
HannahLeah
June 22, 2018

In reply to by Jackie55

Same in my situation... some federal agent calling $ emailing me claiming if I don’t pay more money I will be issued a warrant and go to prison.. i was scammed good
Edc
July 10, 2018

In reply to by Jackie55

Hi jackie! A STEVE Raymond, also an engineer in the oil sector, just tried to rip me off for a non existant condominium. All I had to do was send the first and last months rent to Cambodia, and he'd send me the keys! Same guy? Lol
Logo
November 29, 2018

In reply to by Jackie55

Same here. Person used name of Johnson Eric. Wants itunes card, money for books his son lost in boarding school ( or he would fail his exams), and wanted me to receive a box of gold for him. Guy was a contract marine engineer on an oil rig. Very seemingly loving person, turns out he grabbed a doctor in brazil s pictures and posed as him. I reversed picture looked him up and saw this. When a i confronted him, he denied it, but this was a famous very handsome doctor who is all over the internet.
Blondee
May 17, 2018

In reply to by Suzer

Yes I have exact same person and story only he goes by David Williams says he don't have a FB account and only talks through hangouts. Met him through Word with Friends. Says he has a 10 yr old son and things just don't add up. every time I confront him about the discrepancies he sends me love poems and tells me how much he loves me. He is on an oil rig now in the north sea. He is a scam. When he asked me for money I blocked him and he sent me an e-mail, and the same message from 2 different hangout accounts. Williams David and Eddy Poundz.
Hotsietotsie
June 14, 2018

In reply to by Blondee

Been talking to a widower, working on north sea, has two kids, I tunes first , now money gram to get crew member sent home, he's hurt, loves me and sends love poems all the time, needs money sent to a Ella fake , his last name is william, am I being scammed, have many pictures of him
BJT
July 03, 2018

In reply to by Hotsietotsie

I've been talking to Michael William. He is a Marine Engineer working in the Arabian Sea. He is a widower with 17 year old daughter. He says he has moved to the States from Sweden. We chatted in "Hangouts" for several months. He loved me the first day. He told me he had a briefcase he had to get to me holding $800,000 in it. The sea pirates were boarding ships and killing people. They had been hanging in his area for weeks. He sent briefcase to shire and an Agent accompanied to the States. Customs needed $500 to process it and he had no one who could do it. So I sent money gram and because Customs had to wait another$500 was assessed and in a couple weeks I sent that. Now customs wants $680 and promises to release briefcase. Well I am out $1,000 and I am not sending anymore. My daughter sent this to me to look into. She isn't aware of the money I spent but the money stops here.I wasn't to tell anybody about him until he arrives. I wasn't to discuss my hardship with anyone because he would take care of. He has promised me everything a woman could ever want. He is so romantic. Its all coming to an abrupt stop when he texts me tonight. I can't believe I've new so stupid!
jackie 55
July 09, 2018

In reply to by Blondee

Hi blondee do you have a photo? I think I am being scammed by this same man.
Wiser
July 18, 2018

In reply to by Suzer

Sounds like my experience. Met this man playing an on line game. After a few exchanges of niceties he urged me to go to google hangouts, which I did. He said he works as a contract supervisor in an oil rig for Shell on a three month contract in scotland. He said he originated from Rome, Italy, and migrated in the U.S. in 2001. He is divorced and has a 12 year old son who is being taken care of by his housekeeper in Brooklyn New York while he is away. What a smooth talker. In a matter of days, he tells me that he loves me and that he wants to marry me. His fake name is Eric Coss. He said he’s Italian but when I quote him some italian words, he does not respond. He asked for an itune card which I sent him a $15 one. He laughed at it, and told me I was so sweet. Then later on he wanted me to send his broker $2,000 so he can buy him an electric jacket. When I refused, and told him that he was camming me, he got mad and told me that I hurt him and that he will hurt me too by posting my Naughty pictures in the internet. So I said I will find money to send to him. All of a sudden he was loving again. I didn’t send him money, but I blocked him and cancelled all my social media and games. Changed my name and passwords. It’s been a month now. I cannot believe I was so stupid to fall for this.
danny
May 02, 2019

In reply to by Wiser

perhaps not the same guy your all talking about but these guys also pretend to be woman i have come across many on line now and what i have noticed is they actualy type in broken english lol
Susan
September 09, 2018

In reply to by Suzer

Was his surname morales from San Antonio in Texas ? Ex. Wife died last year in August. His patents both died when he was 10. Brought up by his uncle. Grew up in Oklahoma. Son aged 10 daughter aged 8. Jeffrey and Jessica.
Sunshine 33on'…
August 02, 2018

In reply to by PamC

I have been speaking with someone from nigeria! He goes by the name Alex Phillip. He said that he was from Italy and has a 7 year old son! He told me that that he was an engineer and he was working in Africa and then he got robbed and shot and they took his passport and his visa and I am I did send the money for his passport and visa and now he saying that all this time he ran out of the hotel that you had paid for and said that it was basically living in the hallways eating only water and biscuits I’ve been chatting with this man for just about a year and I don’t know what to believe is anybody help there have the same person chatting with Them as well please let me know I did fall in love with this man
Salvado
February 07, 2018

In reply to by Jessica

yes my dear, am the one dear,,, we have no job in Nigeria. We suffers a lot dear please help me
Warmsandsman
August 02, 2018

In reply to by Jessica

I know this doesn't fit in with your comment but I couldn't see where to start a new thread by asking a question. I have known a wonderful man who is 30 years my junior. We have been chatting and Skyping almost every day for 7 or 8 years. He lives in Pakistan. We have been talking about the possibility of marriage so that I can get him to the United States. The problem is we have never met face-to-face and that is a condition of getting a K-1 Visa. To me, if the Red Flags would have gone up, they would have gone up by now and they haven't. But before I spend the money to travel to Bangkok to meet him I would like to know if there is a way for me to check him out on the internet.
Shelliteebrook
August 07, 2018

In reply to by Jessica

Dont be fooled he is playing you these giys realise we are waking up to their scam and are now trying new tactics
Moma2tired
February 28, 2018

In reply to by Acooper

I have the exact situation!!! Would love to chat with you!!
Concerned
March 07, 2018

In reply to by Moma2tired

Has anybody ever been scammed by a guy going by the name of either Bryan Mars or Chris Mark? My Mom was just recently BADLY scammed by the one going by Chris Mark. Now were trying to get her out of the financial mess.
Scorned woman
April 01, 2018

In reply to by Concerned

Can you share a bit more info on this guy..??? I think I may know something about this man
very disappointed
April 04, 2018

In reply to by Concerned

Hi! I was also scammed by a man claiming to be in the US military. He was stationed in Germany, but recently moved back to the states, Maryland. He asked for Itune cards and asked for money for his daughter. He claimed that he is a widower, he said that his wife died in a car accident 2 years ago in a car that he had bought for her on her birthday. He speaks with an accent, stating that his mother is South African and his father is German. We became friends on Facebook and I want to report this so bad, but I don't know how?
FTC Staff
April 06, 2018

In reply to by very disappointed

You can report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations. You can report the account to Facebook, and if you sent money by wire transfer you can report that to the wire transfer company. Call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492 or the MoneyGram Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400.

Mary
June 01, 2018

In reply to by very disappointed

I am just having a similar situation right now. The story is very similar
Experienced
July 06, 2018

In reply to by very disappointed

I had been talking to a John Bruce williams on Facebook, hangouts, and KIK stating he was stationed in Nigeria training the Nigerian Army. He had a daughter, Michelle, age 10 at the time back in 2015, that lives with a grandmother. His wife Melissa died in a car accident. His parents Minnie and Patrick were also killed in a car accident. He said part of his childhood was in in Germany where his mother was a paralegal and father was a construction type worker. His home state was Dallas North Carolina. Embarrassingly, I sent money, but later, through scammdigger, google search I found the real name of the person in the pictures that were sent to me by the scammer. He uses the number 978-965-2294 which is a Non VOip nontraceable number and email williamsjohn 1155@ yahoo.com. NEVER send any money to someone you've never met in person and do not know it will always be a scam.
Fed Up
May 23, 2018

In reply to by Concerned

I met a guy on Match, said he is France on a construction job. Yes he is an engineer. Need money to pay his employees, hotel and now food. He states he is from Peru.
Lachucadebrake
June 09, 2018

In reply to by Fed Up

Are his pics of an older Latino man with salt and pepper hair mustache and voter? Very handsome?
kara
January 29, 2019

In reply to by Lachucadebrake

was his name jamie Scott had on a black shirt with a i voted sticker?
Fire
June 27, 2020

In reply to by Lachucadebrake

Someone named John Williams. With salt and pepper hair sent me a friend request a few hours ago. I accepted thinking he may be a friend of the family. He started to get all chatty asking me if I was married and if I had children. I said yes and yes. He didn't get the hint. Told me he lost his wife to a brain cancer. He was from Los California and was working in the Norwegian sea. He had a son in boarding school in Canada. The wrong thing to say. I already knew he was a scammer as soon as he got chatty. I checked his profile. It was a new profile. He is not a friend of any of my friends. I let him chat for a bit to see how far he would go with this charade. His misspellings while trying to chat gave it away more. I told him farewell and blocked him. Women and Men online need to be careful and stay safe. Do not give these losers details. When they ask how many kids do u have say too many. Be polite and just block them and report them.
Anna Murray
June 22, 2018

In reply to by Fed Up

Sounds familiar. Mine he told me hes 49-50, beard and moustache. Works as an engineer, needed money to employ 10 more people, to pay for his accomodationa and foods. His business was in a battel as a result of crisis with his partner. He got his fb. Maybe we can share his fb accounts and pictures to check if hes genuine or not.
me
May 24, 2018

In reply to by Concerned

Yes Chris Mark tried to scam me but when I told him I was dying (it’s the truth) he left so fast I didn’t realize he was gone until he didn’t speak for 3 days
Polly
March 27, 2018

In reply to by Acooper

This sounds just like what happened to me with a Nigerian man he came clean about everything and I fell even harder for him. But it all came to a head because whatever amounts of money I did send was never enough although I kept telling him I didn't have much money at all, he wanted me to get a loan if I loved him. It just became all we did was argue and of course everything was always my fault. The guy I was dealing with was not even 30 yrs old I am 60 and he had never loved anyone as much as he did for me. I kept questioning him about that. His name is Collins Ejakpovi and certainly had me convinced talk about feeling like a fool.please keep your eyes open and take care of your heart.
Jerry
April 18, 2018

In reply to by Acooper

Hello I found your story and it matches mine even more so I got lots of whatsapp time with him video chatting ,recently he said he needs money to get his passport back which he used to get money to move . I hope to connect with you to talk on here mine is in accra please let me know jerry
HannahLeah
June 22, 2018

In reply to by Jerry

Mine is also in Accra Ghana... I’m going through calls from (federal agents) claiming if I don’t pay I will get warrant... I see it’s scam now
Meinn
May 15, 2018

In reply to by Acooper

Well I am seeing somebody I met on social media he came clean we talk face-to-face a very sweet guy but I am having doubts I've been having a good feeling about him and he wanted me to come there where he was and he also wanted to come here we speak on messenger Hangouts all the time just wondering if we're seeing the same person sounds almost exactly the same but his name now is Val and used to be Dennism which was the fake profile
Meinn
May 15, 2018

In reply to by Acooper

Mine's the same way valerian I see him I talk to him on cam sometimes I don't know what to believe
Mind over matter
May 16, 2018

In reply to by Acooper

Exact same here. As matter of fact I'm planning on visiting him. I have now been talking with him for almost one year. I am totally in love with this man.
Richard
May 17, 2018

In reply to by Acooper

To me such person sound real because he came out with a light. Their still some real people who want beloved by other partner but some bad people has already damage real people life because we all believe is hard to trust now a days.
Wendy
May 24, 2018

In reply to by Richard

Has anyone been contacted by Bobby Coleman recently via Instagram? He says he is a Petrochemical Engineer working overseas in Hong Kong (South China Sea). Please let me know. Thanks!
BEN SCAMMED
August 20, 2018

In reply to by Wendy

Has anyone here ever ran into a man who always ends every message he sends with “Kiss Kiss”? Plus he sends very eloquent messages of Love and Romance that admits after a while that they came from a romantic quotes site. Every single time we talk he ends EVERYTHING WITH “Kiss Kiss”? He also has a big off shore bank account in The Dominican Republic. He even gave me his password and # to view his account for myself.... had me send money to open an account for me & proceeded to transfer $1,000,000. Into the account of mine... but it’s an account that’s actually “under his account”. He wanted me to transfer money from “my” Dominican Republic account to my account in the U.S. but it wouldn’t transfer because I don’t have a tax certificate...... which he’ll get for me later... OF COURSE...
Concerned Daughter
January 22, 2019

In reply to by Wendy

Hi Wendy. I have not but my recently widowed mother has been contacted by 'Robert Coleman ' on Instagram. He says he sells bitcoin and is apparently in China on business. Do you have a photo of 'Bobby'? Something is not sitting right about this situation my mom is in and I'm very worried.
MrsQ
June 11, 2020

In reply to by Concerned Daughter

Eric Coleman has anyone heard of him .i have pictures but only phone calls and text no video chat ever
Lynn
February 27, 2019

In reply to by Wendy

Hi Wendy, I have. Can you tell me if he asked you for money to leave the rig?
Mrs. Blue Skies
May 28, 2018

In reply to by Acooper

I’ve been talking to someone under these same exact circumstances. Does he live at his uncle’s compound? I’d sure like to know because he supposedly wants to come to the U.S. and live with me. Please respond, thank you
Mia
June 16, 2018

In reply to by Acooper

Hi i have almost the same story. Do you have picturs i would love to see this man.. He is really loving and caring.
Perle49
January 02, 2019

In reply to by Acooper

Hallo Acooper, do you have a foto of the person? I have got exactly the same situation at the same time. Thank you
Austin
March 30, 2019

In reply to by Acooper

Was just curious to know how everything turmed out. I am currently in the same boat. I'm the one who immediately fell in love and professed it first. He admitted to what he does and he'll even conduct business calls put them on speaker so i can hear while we are skyping.
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