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Looking to start a new relationship? For some, that may mean meeting a new love interest online. Word to the wise: sometimes it’s best to lead with your head and not your heart.

Millions of Americans use dating sites, social networking sites, and chat rooms to meet people. And many forge successful relationships. But scammers also use these sites to meet potential victims. They create fake profiles to build online relationships, and eventually convince people to send money in the name of love.

The Federal Trade Commission receives thousands of reports each year about romance scammers who create fake online relationships only to steal their victims’ money.

Unfortunately, an online love interest who asks for money is almost certainly a scam artist.

The FTC’s new infographic, developed with the American Bankers Association Foundation, lists common signs of online dating scams and what to do if someone you meet online asks you for money.

Below are some tips to identify a real romance versus a scammer cruising for a target.

Online Dating Scams. Has an online love interest asked you for money? That's a scam. Scammers know millions of people use online dating sites. They are there, too, hiding behind fake profiles. Signs of a scam: Professes love quickly. Claims to be from the U.S., but is overseas for business or military service. Asks for money, and lures you off the dating site. Claims to need money — for emergencies, hospital bills, or travel. Plans to visit, but can’t because of an emergency. $220 million lost in 2016. $56 million lost in 2012. Reports to the FBI tripled over 5 years (4,476 reports in 2012; 14,546 reports in 2016) What to do: Slow down — and talk to someone you trust. Don’t let a scammer rush you. Never wire money, put money on a gift or cash reload card, or send cash to an online love interest. You won’t get it back. Contact your bank right away if you think you’ve sent money to a scammer. Report your experience to: • The online dating site • Federal Trade Commission: ftc.gov/complaint • Federal Bureau of Investigation: ic3.gov. Learn more at ftc.gov/imposters and aba.com/engagement

Please share this information with others. Victims may be embarrassed to talk about their experiences, but you can help. A simple phone call, email or text, saying “Look what I just found” and sharing this information may make a difference in someone else’s life.

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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.

Scammed by Jor…
November 28, 2018

In reply to by lemonlime

I am talking with a guy supposed name is Jordan in Cyprus in Mediterranean Sea contract driller been living in States for 3 years originally from Liverpool UK. Lost wife has one child and his mum only. Gets angry and blames me because of his financial troubles. I feel stupid because I sent him money by WesternUnion to a different person than him because he was on rig and couldn’t leave it so his boss would pick it up and bring to him because he needed to pay his workers Then it was several situations he would try to get me to send to him. Finally he realized I wasn’t and said he wasn’t going to speak to me anymore. I have reported him to the proper authorities found out his photos he was sending me wasn’t even him totally stolen photos he was using.
Feel hook line…
December 13, 2018

In reply to by lemonlime

Same thing . For me , what’s name mine is stuck in airport security . Still being stupid . Yes chatted on Facebook convinced to move to hangouts . People told me scam but it’s hard . But this one has team of players as well . Web sites for banker and transferring money from dormant account to account in my name . Huge scam . Supposed to be American but has Mexican accent. Smooth talker and yes nice pics but can’t read logos . Feel extremely dumb
MsCoolNotaFool
March 30, 2019

In reply to by Feel hook line…

Thanks for sharing. I know its horrible but we are here for support. I have a scammer I met online recently, Cupid. I communicate with him through WhatsApp. Hes pulling a similar scam. I dont trust him. He send me pictures but I don't trust him. I think hes a scammer. He has an accent also, sounds like African. But he says he have money. Hes a Fireman and photographer. But...Dah.dah Dah he needs a card. I'm not buying it. I never met him. He loves me so much. He wants to keep me near his heart. Nothing will happen to me. Wow...wow I'm being loved by an actual guy I never met. Smooth taller, nice pictures also. He wants to make me his wife. I'm Not a fool
Maria
September 12, 2019

In reply to by lemonlime

It sounds like my rigman too... He found me on Instagram, wife died giving birth to his 13 year old daughter called Alana... She is in boarding school... He got me chat on hangouts.. I was a blessing, the greatest love if his life, the om to his daughter.. His dream to travel the world with me... He would love my kids as his own... He could Come and live with me ..At the moment he is drilling the Earth in Valencia, Spain ..only last night he asked for a gift card for his daughter back in the USA, Portland, Oregon... Whose birthday is on Saturday... I said sure but no money.. I want her address to send her something else. He said a gift card is such a great present she can buy what she wants... I said no... And then after saying good night to him and promised we would talk in the morning I blocked him on Instagram and uninstalled hangouts... The name he uses is Derrick Delaney
really
November 23, 2019

In reply to by lemonlime

Was his name Patrick same story with me he’s Turkish on an oil rig in the UK always wants amazon cards to download his work files
Scammed2016
December 05, 2018

In reply to by aj2349

This is the same story I got from a guy calling himself Peter Kaua and he said he grew up in Brazil and has lived in Los Angeles, CA and now lives in Northampton, MA. Emailed me after 9 months threatening me about saying lies to the bank's fraud department and if I want my money back I should keep quiet.
Didn’t fall for it
July 22, 2019

In reply to by aj2349

Same guy, same long tale, same MO. Mark O Destenay, contractor, oil rig, yada yada.. spent 6 months talking, texting, FaceTiming. As contract was ending, “accident on the rig” needs 200k to close the gap to get to me. Ended up asking for the low amount of 1500. He got nothing but time from me. I just filed a police report as he emailed me specifically threatening my life. I will prosecute when he is apprehended.
Not born yesterday
September 22, 2019

In reply to by Shakema

Sounds similar mine from Miami works oil rig in Liverpool wife died of cancer a 14 year old daughter then said she in NY Studying medicine..lol he needs 2500 to get off rig to come visit and get married ..
Didn't fall for it
October 05, 2019

In reply to by Shakema

I do, numerous but I can’t figure out how to get the picture to upload.
Vonnienray
April 06, 2020

In reply to by Shakema

There is a guy that contacted me crom Facebook. Using name Mark Harisson 55 years old from Los Angeles Calif . on an oil rig in Sydney Australia since August of 2019. Coming home May 2020 to complete paperwork business. Told me a week ago his daughter Sophia is 13 and her birthday is coming up Wednesday and he needs me to do something. She loves stream cards for her games. Could I go to Walmart and get her one? Ask me how much I can put on it? I sent him the linkto online pocket otder so he could order this for her. He said that all his things were back home so he can't order it. It's at Wal-Mart. It hit ne so hard because I knew instantly hevis a scammer. Picture is so great! Said his wife Leah died crom lung cancer when his daughtet Spphiz was 2. Has not dated since because has been too busy raising Sophia. Sophua is in a boarding school in Los Angeles Calif. He has a 6 bedroom house in Los Angeles and. 2 cars..nothing fancy he said. He sent me a picture of a really pretty 11 year old african americam girl. Said his wife died..she was wealthy. She cheated on him hurt him. Her parents hated him because they said..he killed her. Told me he was praying for me..for love. Told me that he loves me and wants to be there for me. Sends me live poems. Just makes me feel so loved. My problem from the start is. I can't stop thinking about how he found me.? Thru a comment on my facebook page taking about cats. He posted a picture of his 2 cats..kittens and said he has 2 Labradors. He misses them. This is so unbelievable to me that this is happening to me. I am a very suspicious woman..do not trust men..never never would fall for this. Jave loved the attention..but the MOMENT he mentioned streams card..all signals went off. I just got off text. He replied..NEVER mind. Then geard from him soon after asking me if I was busy. Later after 45 mins. Passed I text that I was not feeling good..which I am not and good night. Again he is using the name Mark Harisson on facebook and he did ask me to sign up on Hangouts. He is the second man to do this..this past week. The first is Scott William...sent a picture of him and his daughter in a car. Wife died of cancer month's earlier but lust himself as single. I've felt from beginning that these are scammers. I would never never beluev it could be real. I was and am so right. Please be careful. They search out us..those who have lost our spouse and prey on us.
Nia
November 18, 2018

In reply to by kwally50

Did he say he had a 6 year old daughter and his wife died of cancer because I’m experiencing the same thing with a guy who says he’s American, lives in Australia and works for a crude oil company.
Richard Baron fake
December 09, 2018

In reply to by Nia

This sounds very familiar and I have been chatting with someone similar but says he works for United Nations
Fellforascammer
September 06, 2019

In reply to by Nia

I was scammed by a heartless guy going by the name George fenandez rodriguez i wish i had knew of this site sooner to save me from heartache. He claims to be Puerto Rican stays in Australia but is from the US. He scammed me £500 he was very convincing and good looking and i fell for his lies. Claims to be widowed(lost wife to cancer) and has a 6 year old daughter that lives with the mum in the US
stupidgurl
October 11, 2019

In reply to by Fellforascammer

Do you have a picture of this guy? Mine claims to have a now 7 year old daughter but stationed in Syria. Her birthday was September 11th.
WALMART
June 04, 2019

In reply to by kwally50

This sounds very similar to my experience. It was a crude oil shipment and of course he was on a ship. Trying to make me feel guilty because I wouldn't send the money. There appears to be a legitimate shipping company involved also. They have a website but the correspondence isn't quite right. There are at least 4 people from the site sending correspondence.
Katt
November 25, 2019

In reply to by WALMART

My experience was with a guy who claimed to be on an oil ship and wanted to ship me his valuables as he was immediate danger. The shipping company website looked legit but on searching their address it was not there. Also, they wanted me to wire the money or mail it to a strange address that was like a post office box.
ochie
December 06, 2019

In reply to by Katt

please tell me his name. looks like I am dealing with him right now
Penny
December 02, 2019

In reply to by WALMART

I meet a guy 4 months ago claims to be in crude oil business needs fees pay to be able to get off the ship. Do you know if that is true or not. I don't want to send money if I'll never get it back his company is asking me to send 8, 864. 94 if not pay soon he will not be able to leave if anyone could tell me rather this is a scam or not
Scammed Lady
January 16, 2020

In reply to by Penny

It is a scam. Don’t believe anything and don’t send anything.
Faye it is a s…
February 25, 2020

In reply to by Penny

It's a scam his name to me Robert Anderson
Laugh55
March 22, 2020

In reply to by Faye it is a s…

Wonder if that’s the same one as I had but his name was philip Anderson stick on a rig wanted a 1000 pound couldn’t access his money
You are being …
February 25, 2020

In reply to by Penny

Yes. Hun that is a scam. I was engaged to a guy that was a safty engineer on a oil rig for Shell. The company ALWAYS transports them to and from rig.
Nel
July 12, 2019

In reply to by kwally50

Having the same issue right now. Nothing adds up. Been in the US for 25 years from Australia but has a Brazilian or Spanish accent.
aj2349
October 20, 2018

In reply to by memb

Funny you should ask. That was another reason I was suspicious. The pictures he sent without my asking, were of a really good-looking "older male-model" type---too good to be true!
Justin
December 22, 2018

In reply to by aj2349

I was scammed for a lot of money similar stories. Guys in turkey. Name justin Allen Martinez. Met on pof
sparkle63
February 11, 2020

In reply to by Justin

so this guy called Justin Allen Martinez do you have photo of him what is his story? I met a man with the name of Justin Robinson on POF and I've been talking to him for two years and i just want to know if he is who he says he is. Everyone keeps tell me he is not real so i found this page and was reading it when i seen the name Justin from POF please help me. Do you have his email add?
Justin
February 26, 2020

In reply to by Justin

I met the same guy, He scammed me for a lot of money too. Stuck in Turkey needs money to get home. Also met on pof 1/ 2017.
Not a dumb broad
January 18, 2019

In reply to by aj2349

Similar stories with Mathew Walter, Mike Wood and Frank Milne. All from a dating site. All had lots of photos, handsome men, texted in a foreign kind of accent. Wanted iTunes cards. I had a son that was in a hospital and needed money to help cover the surgery he needed. One needed to pay his overseas hotel Hill so he could get back to the US. All crap. And when I called them out, they wanted to argue with me. Never talked in the oh nevermind it met in person. All via dating sites or texts.
Lycan Scot Stephen
October 31, 2018

In reply to by memb

Sounds like my story only mine had a son...
Britt9721
October 31, 2018

In reply to by Lycan Scot Stephen

Sounds just like my guy. What was his name and where was he from?
Christian lady
November 01, 2018

In reply to by Lycan Scot Stephen

Sounds very familiar,he friend requested on Facebook and said how he lost his wife,son , daughter in law and granddaughter in an accident.Had a son in boarding school! Didn't take me long to block "Micheal Jespersen" when he started to ask for money. Said he works for bisso marine.
Another Christ…
November 02, 2018

In reply to by Christian lady

I have had only bad experiences with Christian dating sites. Met foreign speaking men professing their undying love and then asking for money or even iTunes cards. Sorry to hear your sad stories but at least I know I am not alone. Of course I did not comply with their requests. Better luck to all.
Fell4it
April 13, 2020

In reply to by Another Christ…

Jerry Wood Says he’s a gorgeous white guy but sounds Caribbean. Logged onto my banking from Nigeria. Claims to have a daughter named Ann Whose mother died of breast cancer.
Run2mama
November 14, 2019

In reply to by Christian lady

Micheal Welch. Lost a daughter and later his wife in childbirth. Is currently in the gulf of Mexico. There was an accident on the oil rig. Can't get to his money to get the expensive parts he needs because he's offshore. Needs money to rent the piece of equipment to finish drilling the oil. Would fly to me as soon as done.
Tamfabulous
December 01, 2019

In reply to by Run2mama

I have a similar guy who has a daughter and is widow who's wife died of cancer. He's an engineer on contract on off shore rig in UK. He's asking for money to pay for delivery of money he sent me. Its ridiculous. His name is albert Walker. Has a Texas number from Bew York and Germany. Also uses a 518 #. Let me know if you have more info
Dazed and Floored
June 12, 2020

In reply to by Tamfabulous

My person had a similar story, wife died of cancer, one daughter in marines. Civil engineer, tall 6.2 silver hair really handsome. Italian American, He’s asking for $25k had to make an emergency wk trip to a Turkey And owes the gov. Taxes, going by the Name Frank Mauro,
Twice times Foolish
October 19, 2020

In reply to by Dazed and Floored

Marko Stanovic or Marco Stanovic same story
SavageJ
January 21, 2020

In reply to by Run2mama

What did he sound like? What did photos look like? My guy sounds Norwegian a bit, says " oh la la" When he likes something. Has a very nice voice, has a ta pool e of birds chirping a n.v d likes country music. Says he has spent time in France and traveling the world. States owns oil drilling business. Has not asked me for money (Yet) but I am guessing will after reading these posts. So Sad and hard to swallow that this happens! Thank you for sharing.
Don't use your…
April 14, 2020

In reply to by SavageJ

I am talking to a guy named Jason Davis. He’s Norwegian. Loves country music. Has a 14 year old daughter who stays with his cousin while he’s working. Lives in North Carolina. His wife died from Cancer. I have foolishly sent over $3000. Claims an explosion happened and he hurt his head. Dr. Has been emailing me asking when I am sending the remainder of the money. I have Cancer. Am currently undergoing Chemo. I have fallen for him. He says he’s coming to see me. Says he wants to treat me like a Queen. I don’t know...
Wishihadknown
August 20, 2020

In reply to by Don't use your…

Same.we met on Word wars after a few weeks he said we should chat on hangouts due to security reasons.he told me that he is a us milItaly man and he doesn't visit that game.He introduced himself to me first In word wars he told me he lost his wife 4 years ago living him with two daughters.first before we met on hangouts I didn't talk to him for a week because I was sure he might be a scammer I assumed and I returned to game and talked to him.he started telling me that he always sees me in his dream so and everywhere he goes and whatever he does he sees me.he told me heither is in love with him although at that time I didn't know him very well. We talked in hangouts for so many days not until one day he asked me for money.he even introduced me to his daughter,tracy she sent me a message we talked and she introduced herself after some days she started telling me I should send money to his dad and promised they wI'll payback the money.they begged for a long time I sent but I cancelled I sent him the message he told me I should give him my email address that I used to login the app so that he can see history.Which history? I told his daughter is your dad trying to scam me or what.then his daughter asked why did I call her dad a scammer? Of course, I didn't I just asked instead of her saying something to support both of our sides she told me to do anything her aska me to do.His name is:Jason Marcusely he claimed he was a deployed soldier.his twitter username name is:@J marcusely anyone if you read this comments please tell me what you think or have you talked to him before.
Follow your gut!
July 26, 2021

In reply to by Don't use your…

I just disconnected with a Jason Davis, so handsome, I thought could be too good to be true. Says he lost his wife and daughter in a car accident five years ago and he's finally ready to move forward. Things were very sweet, talked at least twice daily for a month. Then he said he needs help, promises to pay me back ad soon as he gets back home (says he works as an engineer on an oil rig). He was SO begging and put me down when I said that something just isn't right. I apologetically refused, and he would not stop begging. I disconnected this morning from him. It is sad, because we have this"hope" that it's real. What sad and evil scammers!
jsphillips212
March 27, 2020

In reply to by Run2mama

I met my guy Gabriel Morgan on WWF2 and then talking on Hangouts. Was in love after a couple of days. Wants money to fix a machine that’s down and not able to drill. I can’t afford it. So I didn’t send. He keeps saying he is not a scammer.
Forget you
March 28, 2020

In reply to by Run2mama

I'm talking to a Micheal Welch sounds like the same guy you were talking to. He hasn't asked for money yet.
Steven
January 12, 2019

In reply to by Lycan Scot Stephen

That sounds like what happened to me I was on a dating site and a female sent me a message we got to talking after about an hour she told me to delete my account then we started talking and after 4 or 5 days she told me she loved me. She told me she lived in Atlanta Georgia she wanted me to send her a $100 so me being a sweet person I did when I saw that the duction in my bank it said it went to San Jose California so I called the pay pal I was able to get my 100 back then she told me she was going to be a nurse and part of her certification was she had to go to Columbia for 3 weeks we are still texting back-and-forth then she asked me to send 200 to Ghana West Africa I did and they rejected it but they took the money out of my account so now I have the way 3 to 5 days to get my money back if any of you come across this scammer she is going by the name of Sandra ham
Helena01
November 05, 2018

In reply to by memb

Oh my I am talking to a guy on an oil rig in Ghana I’m about to send money to I would give anything to know for sure that he is real we’ve been talking for over a year and yes twice he was coming to meet me both times something happened. Someone help me please
hes a scammer
November 12, 2018

In reply to by Helena01

don't send him any money hes conning you - he sitting in a hotel in Ghana getting women to support him - hes never leaving Ghana he a catfish
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