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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.

Rosemarys Baby
December 29, 2021

In reply to by Furbaby

Where did you find the picture of scammer Alexander Freeman? He is trying to scam me now but I'm on to him. He has sent me several photos and I also found one by that same name on a scammers website. Now I can't find the one on the website. Can you share?
Popeyes Lady
June 28, 2018

In reply to by nicolyculkin88

How can I send a picture of the one I am talking to.It’s the same person
lydia0303
August 11, 2018

In reply to by nicolyculkin88

This sounds all too familiar. How can we exchange pictures?
Duped
March 02, 2018

In reply to by RhoAberFisher

613 area code is Canada’s not New York. I too met a scammer named Carl Breigner supposedly from the Netherlands with twin girls who’s wife had an affair with his best friend and left him and the girls who are in California living with his disabled sister while he is on a rig in the Gulf of Mexico. He has asked me for iTunes cards not sent and now he wants me to send d 1400 to an attorney so that his compensation from Nexen Petroleum can be released to a beneficiary so that whe his contract is up his money is waiting for him and we can go away on a long trip. He calls me his Queen and tells me that he loves me. Anyone come across this smooth talker.
Thomas
March 17, 2018

In reply to by Duped

My sister talking a guy that say he is a medical doctor in Iraq. As her to send iTunes card on only he wants picture of it. He also call her dear,honey an his queen. Now she asked me to lean her money to give to him so he can go on vacation an they can be together. It sound like the same guy. I have photo
Kim1230!!
March 23, 2018

In reply to by Thomas

Does anyone know Jack Knellinger?? Lives is West Yorkshire England? Calls you love, darling, my queen. Professes loving you immediately. I have pictures!
Gloveda
May 18, 2018

In reply to by Moondog016

I have pictures of two different guys I now believe they are both scammers we all need to get together An post all of their pictures on a page for people to go to and find out if they are scammers,
Mymouse25
June 26, 2018

In reply to by Gloveda

Please send a picture so I can be sure that it's the same guy that is talking to me please. Thank you
goodman 69
March 29, 2018

In reply to by Kim1230!!

i have been chatting to a guy who goes by the name of Christopher Morrison, says he is a geologist and lives in Reading. Also his fiance died , after a month of undying love he asks me for £3,000 quid to fix his machinary . I feel so stupid and used.
Rivalirita twe…
April 16, 2018

In reply to by Kim1230!!

Man by name of Michealjohn said he was a Sgt in Yemen not true
Pam
May 02, 2018

In reply to by Thomas

Hi I’m going through the same thing. Do you have a photos of him. The guy I’m talking to says he’s mane is Scott Wilson. He calls me he’s wife to be and that he wants me to be the mom for he’s 11 year old boy and that he needs me to accept a box full of money cause he’s I Iraq
Furbaby
June 22, 2018

In reply to by Pam

I'm being scammed I think by the same man.. Works on a rig has a 14 yr. old son in Houston being taken care of by caregivers.. Loves me wants to come soon and be in my hands. He is very handsome.. I have lots of pictures, I have a couple with him in a speedo.. I have been sending him Itunes and Amazon cards Goes by Anthony Scott or Adams.. I will send you some if you will send me some. My Email is

Would like to help...

Freebird
July 03, 2018

In reply to by Furbaby

I think I have same guy in green and red speedo. Beautiful blue eyes.
smh-sodumb
July 15, 2018

In reply to by Furbaby

My story sounds like the same guy! Sent iTunes cards to his 14 year old son who was with caregivers in Houston. Then Amazon cards so he could send food to him because they were treating him badly. Calls me his wife and says this is “our son” want to hurry home from Syria but keeps getting offered more construction contracts making millions of dollars, then can’t leave the country because he can’t get the money and gold out and back to the US. Needs someone to come pick up “the package” and bring it to me. Lol, when I told him I knew it was a scam he went crazy, said he was going to commit suicide. Then had a friend text me and tell me how sick he was because I didn’t trust him and called him a liar. I have tons of pictures. He’s extremely good looking. 7’5 college graduate he says, but terrible grammar. One picture he had a Texas A&M hat on at the beach. I said something about the Aggies and he had no idea what I was talking about. Now that I won’t send him money he only will text me about once a week and there will be 4 or 5 messages in a row real quick. I can respond, but he doesn’t. And he gets things mixed up so I know he is talking to other people and can’t tem who he has told what to. His number is a Houston prefix, and the first time he messaged me my phone said it was coming from Damascus???? Also, I’ve run his pictures, email, and number through google and the paid for searches and nothing comes up. Like this person doesn’t exist. Goes by Gavin Taylor.
Supreme
May 21, 2018

In reply to by Thomas

I'm getting messages from this one too! Terrible English for a 'Texan' with degrees supposedly earned 15 years apart, and if you do the Maths he's doing very well for his age fighting ISIS in Syria. 100% fraud. 'Dear' was a give away - not very American
Thomas/January…
January 25, 2020

In reply to by Thomas

I guess I am talking to the same person who told me he is a pilot and from Moscow Russia as seen on his profile in Tagged. He is calling me : dear, honey, my queen, my beloved wife. Though he is asking money but I was surprised when he said he would give his bank login info to me so that I can transfer money to my bank account, which i found so weird. So I stopped talking to him.
Almost scammed
April 20, 2018

In reply to by Duped

Have you posted on here about him before? I started talking to him on March 2 as well. He told me the exact same thing but has not asked me for anything yet. I got suspicious and had my cousin do some checking and he led me to this site. This is the third post I’ve seen about him. I confronted him about being a scammer and he said I should have told him about it right away because we should have trust in our relationship. I’ve asked him for a picture of him taken with his daughters and to video chat with me. He said his phone was dropped I. The water and he will do that as soon as he gets off the rig and gets his new phone.
abcscam
May 12, 2018

In reply to by Almost scammed

Hi, I got the same, guy name called Daniel, pretending he is Norvegian, but had strong Nigerian accent, never wanted to be on video chat, and say same thing phone was dropped in water. he took him 2 weeks to start to ask me money, as he is in Dubai on a rig, and need money to ship books other way he can not work. he has a women of name Carol to call me to try to convince me to send her the money. he say after 6 weeks he will come and see me, and would never leave me
StungbyABee
May 11, 2018

In reply to by Duped

Sounds familiar. Humble dating site. Connected offline right away. He was a King looking for his Queen. Lots of love letters very over whelming, love songs and live poems. Baby, honey, and then some. Pictures seemed authentic, but nothing about this guy is authentic. When he asked for an iTunes card, 1at day of getting to the rig offshore in Canada i knew something was rotten in the beehive. He has an accent, went to Poland at age 3, parents in Tx. Went to Us A&M,, wife cheated with best friend, he caught them in bed, 2 kids in boarding school. Now starting as an independent contractor. Just got a contract and had to fly to Canada. Asked me to wait for him.... We had only been talking 3 weeks. Never met. Has sweet voice and laugh but just talks lovey dovey and avoids questions! Red flags all over. Never sent him a penny. LOSER!
wife scammed
May 16, 2018

In reply to by Duped

altho this may not be the same one.. my wife sent nudes to the person and a vidoe .. he was a smooth talker and wore her down.. she is a older person as well. I am beyound sick. a scammer from nigeria. HE said his wife left him as well and he has a daughter his grandmother is taking care of... anyway now her dignity is gone.. Peace to you.
patty
February 18, 2020

In reply to by Duped

I think I have also spoken to this man, but he used the name Emerald James. It was refreshing to speak to an intelligent and eloquent man. Charmed 15K out of me. Please,please DO NOT fall for any of this. I learned my lesson
kennedy
March 10, 2018

In reply to by RhoAberFisher

I think I have the same problem. Fernando Luiz supposed to be a neurosurgeon from Seattle working on contract in Afganistan. Says he’s coming home in two months and wants to settle down with a lady and raise his 14 year old daughter who is in a boarding school in the states. He also says he was in Africa working for U.N. and has money there but can’t get it because he’s not in the states. He hasn’t asked me for anything yet. I keep accusing him of scamming me and he is still trying to convince me he isn’t bad. Uses the words I’m not bad, dear,honey. He seems so legit but I know it’s some kind of scam just waiting to see what he wants.
Opal
April 08, 2018

In reply to by kennedy

The “surgeon” scamming me said he was from Beverly Hills, CA and used the name Dr. John Anderson. He said he was in Afghanistan working for United Nations Care and had been for 28 years. He told me he was divorced and that his wife cheated on him and was into drugs. He told me his 12 year old son had died but never told me how he died. He hardly answered any of the questions I ask. He all of a sudden said that he was going to be sent to the Field and he was scared for his life! He dsid that he sent an email to the UN and they finally got back with him and they can get him out of there but it is going to cost him almost $4,000! He said he had no cash there with him and he didn’t have any way to get the money but me! He begged me for the money! I smelled a rat and said no way. Then I googled the UN and fraud and found this site!! I am done with Instagram! What a jerk to lead me on and who knows how many more!
Cassie1
May 02, 2018

In reply to by Opal

I have a friend that may be communicating with same man. He has not asked for money, Yet. He says he loves her and wants to visit her before returning home to Beverly Hills to sell his house. He says he is Russian and has posted pictures. He is in his early 60's and she said he is very good looking. Do you have pictures and is there any way I could share them with her. All of the information you posted is almost exact. Thank you.
ProVida
June 13, 2018

In reply to by Opal

Was he blonde and a hip dresser? Getting ready to report the same guy. Works for UN. Yeah, right.
Been there too
April 14, 2018

In reply to by kennedy

RUN!!!!! Very similar situation. Claims he’s a surgeon Just told me how he purchased medical equipment for his hospital and needs my help to send payments.
Neb45
June 12, 2018

In reply to by Been there too

I’ve had two. I blocked one, both from Instagram. One I’m still talking to. Oliver and I can’t remember the others name. Asking for the same things, iTunes cards and I keep telling them no. Widower, looking for a soul mate, in Afghanistan. No kids. Says he’s 46, but won’t use a picture.
Jeanbellucc
May 15, 2018

In reply to by RhoAberFisher

I have two guys that triyed getting money from me this year one oliver Jean from Malaysia he sent me photos of him and his daughter on WhatsApp then L.G Ron Deweese (chris)from Afghanistan Hangouts he also sent me photo of him and his daughter and him in his army uniform on Afghanistan soyol (ya ok) can you please send me your photos to see if it matches with mine thankyou i didnt give eather one of them my hard earned money please ladys dont you my daddy always said a great man will never ask his lady for money!!!!

Kraft kate
May 17, 2018

In reply to by Jeanbellucc

Frank Deweese playing words with friends. Picture of him in uniform, claims he is a widow with 12 yr old daughter"......he is a scammer
WHYMeeee
May 20, 2018

In reply to by Jeanbellucc

Wowww!!! I wonder if we all are chatting with this same man? Similar stories
Mlc
June 10, 2018

In reply to by Jeanbellucc

This sounds like a guy I'm talking to. He goes by the name "Nelson Deweese". He is supposed to be in Afghanistan in military. Has a teenage daughter, 16, in boarding school. Wife died giving birth.
Igotconned
April 03, 2019

In reply to by Jeanbellucc

I think my friend got conned by this same guy! Can anyone reach out to us or send a picture?!
Me too never again
June 12, 2018

In reply to by RhoAberFisher

It isn't so important what they supposedly look like. They steal photos off FB etc. Nor is the supposed name they use. Unless of course if you are reporting them to the police. Which is what I did. If you know a detective, (I do) ask him/her to look into the situation, when they have some time. They have connections to help them make a case. Save all the evidence that has been sent to you by your scammers. Conversations (texts), receipts, names of people on the receiving end of the transactions, pictures of receipts they sent to you, phone numbers of everyone involved,etc. Yes, every single one of them is working to control and scam every one they communicate with!!! That IS their REAL JOB. They are all LIARS. THIEVES. UNSCRUPULOUS. I saved all such evidence while I kept "James Barton" on my hook for more than a month. I told a dear friend about him after the first money transfer and she sent this site to me. She told me need to open a about the iTunes card scam and how they ask for money and your bank account numbers and/or how you need to open an account so I can cash the donations sent by check and then send. the cash to whoever he tells to send it to. The next receipt he forwarded to me was a German bank. I was not the intended receiver so it didn't work. It was over a thousand dollars and he blew it off like it was no problem. That's when I realized that the money transfers were likely stolen or hijacked somehow. He was so angry about not getting even a fifty dollars iTunes card. Oh the guilt trips he tried. Nope. In the meantime, I was copying and texting the detective. The English was atrocious. Phone number search shows he is using a number registered in the UK. similar sob stories. Similar love stories. All B*** S***. Every one should tell their friends. They will look out for you. Not the jerk trying to rob you blind. The warning on the handle of the Money Gram machine in a local drug store has a large warning sticker saying "Never send money to anyone that you don't REALLY know). If it feels off, it is. Protect yourself first. Always.

caught on
July 15, 2018

In reply to by RhoAberFisher

Mark Kingsly claims he an American from Boston who is in Afghanastan as a military medic. I chatted one hour with him and caught on he is a scammer. They call you Dear and so, weirdos!!! Be careful people! I blocked him and deleted my gmail account cause right away he asked to switch to hangouts!
brody
May 23, 2018

In reply to by FTC Staff

I'm in a serious relationship with a guy I'm pretty sure is a scammer. Trouble is after all this time I am in love with him. He's in Yemen, working for the UN buying medical supplies. Calls me all the time, texts a lot, pictures he send probably are not even him. Wife died in childbirth, 2 kids in US boarding school. I've already bought him iTune cards, sent him a $1000 gold chain, $1250 for his son't registration to soccer tournament, but won't send him the iPhone he's asking for. Now he wants to send me the $10 million he got as a reward for conquering an ISIS stronghold filled with US money they thought were guns. Now he wants $7500 money to give to the diplomat (who wrote to me) to deport the box to me. He's Romeo, Husband, honey, etc. and I'm his queen, wife, Julliet. Same story as all the rest, but name is Steve Author, I've never seen that one on these blogs yet. Have you? He's seen me in video, and naked also. I'm afraid he'll blackmail me with them. I'm 69 years old, respected community leader, manager of an important business. Said he was born in TX but mom and dad died when he was young, raised by an uncle in Alaska. School in Italy and Military school. Has a home in San Francisco. He talks like he is very educated. But he's slipped up on some things and has excuse for everything I ask him. I've tried to end the relationship 3 times, but when I talk to him he sweet-talks me back. Does anyone recognize him? Please?
fooled man
August 12, 2018

In reply to by brody

Is he a very muscular man. Very handsome ? Sends you videos of him weightlifting ? Goes by the name Clark Bowen ?
Ards woman
June 10, 2018

In reply to by FTC Staff

We can't post pictures but we can share info ABOUT the picture. I notice that lots of these posts share similar info (like Syria, oil rig, loss of wallet and/or phone, request for gift cards, nationality, the country where 'working', monies (taxes) needed to be paid before getting contract pay, use of hangouts, etc. It would be nice to be able to access some sort of 'chart' or database whereby we can list these characteristics that we can all compare. So many readers replied by saying " That sounds like my guy".
FTC Staff
June 11, 2018

In reply to by Ards woman

Yes, many people have told us about the stories the scammers tell. Here are some claims that come up again and again:  

  • they work outside the US, or away from your home country
  • they say they are successful engineers, or experts working on oil rig, or leading a medical or large international project
  • their parents are dead, and their wives died in a tragic way
  • they have a child who doesn't live with them, and is in boarding school or cared for by a nanny
  • after you "meet," they have repeated work and personal emergencies, and need thousands of dollars. They claim you are the only person who they trust to help.
  • They claim their personal bank and credit cards, and business bank, credit cards and line of credit won't solve the problem, or can't reach them fast enough.
  • They insist that you wire them money, or receive money from a friend / colleague, and send them a money transfer.
tired of scammers
February 13, 2018

In reply to by Seagal

These scammers will still pictures from all over the Internet and use them as their own photos, including the photos that you sent them. Saving them for another day or pass them around to other scammers. It's not hard at all, they just drag your picture into a file. And if you have 10 pictures they have a whole profile on you. These people are very good at what they do, they sweet-talk you and convince you that they are genuine. Saying...Oh, tell me what you'er going to do to me baby, blah blah blah, we have all heard it before until things get hot and we get carried away. And when they think they got you hooked, that's when they pop the question for money, or a calling card or even a bank account number. You slowly falling in love with these jurks over time. And hoping we can belive them. I have often wondered if I was even talking to some radical religion fanatic at times. Or even worse, maybe even Isis terrorist groups. I have often wonder where Isis gets all their money. I know fore a fact that when these scammers are talking to me thier also talking to someone else because of the delay between our conversations. But they always have some damn excuse as to what there doing. Trying to explain, ho baby, I'm doing bookwork or I'm talking to my daughter. Yeah right, I guess they're doing bookwork each and every time there texting or chatting with you. So if these scammers are talking to five different victims during the day, just think of the money they could be bringing in. I have heard and read some disastrous amounts of money that people have given up, sometimes even their whole bank account. Just in the hopes of love. When you start pouring your heart out to some of these jerks, is when they start tugging at your heart strings. Also saying... I would never treat you like your ex treated you, or I will buy you this and that, or send you money. I will make you so very happy, blah blah blah blah. Never fall for their crap. We have to be smarter and stronger then they are. These people are the scum of this earth. As a woman who has lost two husbands to death, who has survived cancer now for 16 years. And just ended a 10 your relationship. I have learned so much in life. Most importantly I have be come stronger, and now hoping to make a difference to someone els out there. To all of you looking for love, be safe, empower you selves and learn all you can on NOT being scammed again. This forum is a good place to start. Be strong and never let them bring us down. But also never stop looking for that true love. There is always someone out there for each one of us.
Genesis77
March 09, 2018

In reply to by tired of scammers

I've texting with a man he even video cammed with me we have also talked on the phone, he seems to be very caring, so he is sending me a gift by ups, but I have my doubts cuz now he's asking me to send him $400 cuz he says he works at a oil rig in Alaska and that is very cold and that he needs a really good coat to work over there at the oil rig so I'm having my doubts now, at the beginning I was like okay maybe he is legitimate but now I'm kind of thinking that twice what do you think?