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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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Topics
Shopping and Donating
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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.

Tickedoff
October 29, 2018

In reply to by Im his karma

If you know his identity. Please share so we can at least trip him up by saying his name to him, so he gets no more of us. Thank you
Lovely26
August 06, 2018

In reply to by Heartbroken

Just like me i know this “love” scammer thru fb because two of his friend is my previous classmate in high sch. After chatting in FB messenger he asked me if i have whatsapp then we start chatting his name is Miller Kilven Johnson born in US and living in Chicago. Last week his telling me he need money to buy new laptap as he need that to apply for a new job as presently he is working in bitcoin and he is not happy with his job so he wants to apply for another job. he is very handsome he is a good talker, romantic, handsome, with 6 yr old daughter name Lisa living in his step father brother in California. His dad US Army died when he was 6 years old and his Mom married to another guy. She has sister living in Texas. We are chatting to whats app everyday and he is calling me his wife as he told that her ex wife is a Singaporian female who got an affair with his best friend that causes the seperation. Today he ask me again money to buy cellpone he told me that he wants a remembrance to me. I refused to his request he even send me bank acct number where i will send the money to him. By the way he wants also to talk to me in skype and the account that he send me is for the arabic guy brahim Aziz living in Egypt. . He ask my home address and my mobile number even my email and he even grab all my photos in fb and make as collage together with his picture and make as profile picture in whats app for me to believe that he is not fake and he is sincere to me. today he ask me money. But i didn't send money to him. hoping we can share his photo. Anyway hope that anybody here have same story with me. Although i didn't probe yet if he is a scam. What i'm afraid is maybe he will used my name or picture in a fraud transaction. what i will do. Thank you.
KurtMcmahon-victim
October 17, 2018

In reply to by Lovely26

Same experience here. The guy a legal us citizen lives California with an almost 7yo boy and a nanny. Wife died 2 years ago. Looking for love again. Work at Bitcoin-he profile on Instagram says senior account manager at bitcoin investment. Has lots of female friends (Americans mostly) that he follows. Even sent me a pic of him and son first time we chatted. Begged to give him a chance to prove himself he was a good guy. Hw lost both of his parents when he wAs very little. Grew up with his uncle. Said he was gonna marry me, he even set the date-Next February. This guy is such a snake, crafty like one. I wonder how these scammers these ppl sleep at night. The phrases ...he used while texting make me think this one is african. This guy thought I was his atm machine and he must really be stupid...claiming that he counts use his credit card to get me sth online on off of Amazon unless I buy an Amazon card for him scratch it then snap the code then send it to him. He even promised to get me an iPhone xs which I didn’t even ask him for. Crazy ppl out there. I asked him to snap his ID card sent it to me so I know he’s real, he couldn’t. Kept asking me to trust him. That everything he had told me about him was true. That he would not steal anyone’s identity bc he has his. Real crafty this guy is. The sad thing is still out there on instagram. I tried to go bck on instagram on his page...i couldn’t access it, it says user not found. He prob blocked me when he found out he couldn’t fool me no more. But I feel sorry for his next victims! He goes by the name Kurt McMahon. Watch out for him, on instagram!!
Bambi77
August 09, 2018

In reply to by Heartbroken

I met someone named Ukay Amaogu from NIgeria said those same words to me. I felt just like your description. But no dont send money and block its a scam for sure. It needsto stop some how. Im sorry
Princess
August 21, 2018

In reply to by Heartbroken

I met a man on Facebook that claimed to be Walton Oliver working in the UK from florida.had his life savings in a security company that was closing down and he needed someone to get it and keep it till he got got home but the agent that was delivering it got caught by us customs.he called me wife.and was coming home to me and he loved and missed me so much.he got about 18000.00 from me before I woke up. He can't come home now because one of his workers messed up on the job and he has to pay for it .don't have the money.
Chloe
September 12, 2018

In reply to by Princess

Do you have a photo? Because this could be the same guy asking my bestfriend for money.
Dusty
October 18, 2018

In reply to by Princess

I have a man who claims he's owed money from turkey and wants me to collect a large some of money say his name is eric manual from Dallas texas . he said I need to claim his funds because he on oil rig out in the sea of San deigo ca.
Friendofthescammed
September 12, 2018

In reply to by Heartbroken

Oh my gosh! My coworker is talking to this gentleman I think! Down to the nanny, daughter,ect!! He is in the Army, uses 2 first names...goes by Louis. He changed his story around slightly, but this is it. Says he lives in Georgetown, DC. Ex wife is horrible person, parents are dead. She sent me an an message "Hi sweetness! How are you doing? Hope your day wasn't too hectic like mine. I'm sure you're getting ready to shutdown and go walk the dogs and possibly share some sweetness with me. I just turned in not quite long after the tasking day. I will freshen up and get some good rest. Was your day productive? Did you miss me? Smile. Please let me know how your day went, Ok? Know that you're in my thoughts and I love you loads. "
Ruthless
March 10, 2020

In reply to by Friendofthescammed

Most of these scammers work on oil rigs and go by 2 first names!! I have had several experiences with these jerks!!
heljose
September 23, 2018

In reply to by Heartbroken

Hi, I am currently in contact with someone with a similar story. WOuld like to see the men you are referring to. How can I do that.
scammedbygeorg…
September 23, 2018

In reply to by Heartbroken

I too was scammed, but was smart enough not to send any money and called him out on it. His response was after all we’ve shared? After chatting for 4 months, said he’s from San Diego, divorced, father of two teenage girls, works as a real estate contractor. Very romantic, well versed with a heavy Italian accent. Said he was born in Italy and lived in San Diego over 19 years. We often spoke over the phon, conversed through text and email, even sent photos of himself and children. When I called him out he got very defensive about and says after all of this I still love you. I feel sorry for the real man and kids in the photos that I was sent. I would really like to contact him and let him know that there using his face and his children’s faces to scam women. Disgruntled.
Annenotanidiot
August 27, 2018

In reply to by Gorgeus Flower1961

Try Lopez Wilson, a Gregory Wilson Lopez w/son named Kelvin in Syria on peace-mission in the Navy Army! Lol. Wanted 500.00 to turn iPhone to talk on. Even has pictures of a man in American navy uniform.
kitty4
December 10, 2018

In reply to by Gorgeus Flower1961

Same thing with me, met him on Instagram and he immediately wanted me to sign up on hangouts. Within a week, professed his undying love for me and starting asking for Amazon cards. He sent me many Music links as well
Andreax
March 29, 2020

In reply to by kitty4

Sounds familiar works on rig added me on if then asked me to join hangouts told me he loved me after a week sent photos ect! Also sends me you tube love songs! Not asked for money yet but says he’s an entrepreneur
CatDon't use y…
November 13, 2020

In reply to by Andreax

I am talking with a man named Kennedy Roland ( Ken) who claims to work as an engineer in West Africa on a rig and needs money for food. Asks for gift cards from Sephora and Apple. Handsome, well spoken, sends YouTube songs, and claims to be from Cardiff Wales. Calls me his wife and claims I am the love of his life. He says he is a widower. Sound familiar to anyone here?
Another victim
January 28, 2021

In reply to by CatDon't use y…

What platform is he on and what email is he using
Kindness
February 23, 2021

In reply to by CatDon't use y…

Yes, I am talking to Kennedy Roland (Ken), widow, Robin's AirForce base GA. Works for ExxonMobil, from Cardiff.
Dts2319
April 29, 2018

In reply to by need to know

I too, would like to know how to use the image search to identify a scammer
Don't uedith18…
July 03, 2018

In reply to by Dts2319

Andie long wood , Andy Longwood, Craig , Scott Donald. Are they Scamers?
Wronged
May 24, 2018

In reply to by Alon50

You can go to YouTube and search "Google reverse image search" Complete instructions. I found out profile pictures were stolen. Names didn't match pictures. Scammers use same stolen photos and multiple names. I feel sorry for people whose photos have and are being stolen.
Lynn
August 23, 2018

In reply to by need to know

Ladies if you happen to hear or meet a man calling himself Jason Miller. He is a total crook. He wants your information. if he sends you an email with an attachment do not open it. It is a keystroke virus. He got all of my information and ended up costing me over $10K.
Titan12
June 23, 2018

In reply to by Once bitten

Some guy named CLARK WILFORD is trying the same thing....except he says he has a daughter in boarding school....he says he is a marine welder in Germany at first he wanted an iTunes card so he couls renew his app....wth I.sent him.NO money Now he is claiming he needs $3000.00 to get his machines off the ship to.finish his contract. I.told him I.am.not a bank DELETE!!!!
Pepperminton't…
October 14, 2018

In reply to by Titan12

Does anyone know the name Micheal Carlton working an oil rig off Rotterdam, marine welder, wife died in car accident 7 years ago California, used to be a real estate broker .....broken machines needing repair. Has a son Kelvin and Daughter Bernice who are looked after by a nanny called Sharon Nadine Beverly ??? Always asking for iTunes cards to access computer programme to access his funds fir the job he’s doing...
Tay
November 21, 2018

In reply to by Titan12

A similar story,WhatsApp,a new oil driller machine need to down load a liscence from the port.account frozen 1-2 weeks,
Me 2,
July 10, 2018

In reply to by Once bitten

This guy I was texting is something similar to yours but uses a different name,and he says he has a teenage son,who lost his mother to cancer, has not asked for any money though,not yet, did this guy let you text his child which is probably him .my guy says his nails Steven Robinson,and his son is Eric...can you see if he uses the named I mentioned....
same story
July 18, 2018

In reply to by Me 2,

Same story different name: Kelvin Williams, son Heyford
Beatles7
September 20, 2018

In reply to by Me 2,

I'm speaking to someone named Mike Robinson on an oil rig with a son named Adam. Just asked me for money. I'm deleting everything about this person, I never sent him s penny but feel ashamed I sent him a couple of pictures..beware he is a smooth talker.
Scammed2
October 08, 2018

In reply to by Me 2,

This sounds like a guy I'm phone dating. He lives in San Diego, Christopher Stevens. He say he has a son, his wife died of cancer. He is in Kenya and he asking me to send him $500 in Amazon cards. I told him I don't have it.
Tarty
October 09, 2018

In reply to by Once bitten

This sounds familiar! A guy called Edward Charles who works on an oil rig & has a young daughter called Annabelle. He has asked for money to get his Wifi reconnected. Currently on Hangouts using a work friend's mobile. I have now refused him money at least 3 times but he is very persistent in saying that he loves me & wants to marry me!
Ceceofritos4
March 01, 2020

In reply to by Once bitten

How can you look up the picture? These stories sound so similar to mine. Difficult to believe
Ijustlookstupid
June 21, 2018

In reply to by Fear of being …

Just go on Facebook. You don’t have to find them they find you. Then they get you off Facebook and have you go to Hangouts. From there they want to text your cell phone number. First time the guy asked for money he wanted me to wire money to a bank down in Florida. Gave all the information so I called the bank and spoke to a bank officer. She asked questions and said not to send the money unless I had met the person on the account in person. She also let me know I was being Scam. I did not send the money. Now he is really pressuring me into sending him 2 iTunes cards for $100 each. He told me not to tell anyone about us. I am stupid but not that stupid. He goes by the name of James Antonio.
Redflagjust wentoff
July 08, 2018

In reply to by Ijustlookstupid

Mine just asked me last night for iTunes cards. I said no but the light bulb went off when he did. I didn't react on the text just said broke. Hoping to end things quickly or find this sucker.
Maria
April 29, 2018

In reply to by Fraud Stopper

I was scammed by someone that says he is dwayne collins, an engineer working on an off shore oil drill off the coast of southern ca. Has photographs of himself with a lovely 11 yr old daughter, supposidly in a boarding school in Austria. He asked for $$ twice & a street address. Smooth talker, could be a nigerian scammer, terrible english !!
Susan
May 30, 2018

In reply to by Maria

I am concerned about my friend who met someone on Instagram 6 weeks ago. He is from Scandinavia ? and he too is an off shore engineer in California. He has given her access to a bank account and she is doing some smalltransactions for him. He has just asked her for some money to buy some equipment which he will pay back when imminent funds come in....$20,000! He says he loves her, is spiritual, sending her roses etc. Any detail you know that would convince her he is a scammer would be great. Thank you!
FTC Staff
May 30, 2018

In reply to by Susan

You could explain that some scammers use people to help them transfer stolen money. They meet people online, create a relationship, and ask their new sweetheart to user use her own bank account, or the scammers account, to receive and transfer money.

 

If you do this for a scammer, your name is on the bank account and on the money transfer forms. If you get involved with one of these schemes, you could lose money and personal information, and you could get into legal trouble.

 

Read more about online dating scams.

Karma
August 24, 2018

In reply to by Susan

May be just a coincidence, but when you said Scandinavia, it perked my ears up. I met a guy Instagram 5-6 weeks ago who says he compared his accent to Scandinavian. Told me he was born in Norway, then moved to Chicago with late wife. Now, has 10 year old son and mum moved back to help care for him since he is now deployed in Afghanistan. Seemed very very believable. Each time we spoke on the phone, I was able to understand him fairly well. Except, the accent sounded more African or Nigerian. Then after 5 weeks, he asked for money to help him with paperwork to not be deployed to Syria. "Thats a suicide mission, I'll never go." "I have my son" "And, my wonderful new lady to meet." Can you help me please as with all the signal blockers here, I can not access my account". Will you help me? Ughh...immediate redflag. Let him ask me for a few days to see if this was more about money and it was... Hope this helps.
steerclearkids!
January 10, 2019

In reply to by Karma

my guy also said he was born in Norway and lived in LA..wife died he's deployed as a surgeon in Afghanistan..instantly in love..speaks to me several hours a day and refers to me as his wife..handsome..told him i didn't believe him..wanted to video chat to "prove it." i declined..just asked me to give his son a gift card for his BD. i flipped out..told him what i thought and blocked him..sound like your guy???
Suzanne
June 23, 2018

In reply to by Maria

I was just scammed by a man calling himself Austin Hansen. Met on dating site, said he just arrived from Australia, and was working on a oil rig in Gulf of Mexico for 8 weeks. Claimed to be a widow, with a 10 year old daughter Sarah who needed a mother figure. Very smooth talker, had Australian accent, professed his love quickly, claimed they were not allowed to use Skype or FaceTime on the rigs, but was able to talk on phone morning and night. Sent many pictures of an attractive man and daughter. Wanted me to help him find a house to buy quickly, sent me fake bank info showing he had 3 million in bank, but the account was frozen. His mother needed an emergency colonoscopy and wanted me to send him $4,000. This man was very intelligent, well spoken, and very good actor. Would cry when he told me of his wife dying of cancer and daughter not having a mother.
Not dumb2018
June 26, 2018

In reply to by Suzanne

Sounds similar to a my story except his daughter was 12 and needed a min in her life. The name my person went by was John Wilson. Meet on messenger they him contacting me and soon started asking for money for several different purposes. Every time is tell him no, be wouldn't talk for couple faster than come back and start all over again with all the nice chatter than hit again for money. In all total 6 different needs for the money for a total of several several thousand dollars. From cash in red target card to money sent thru CVS to iTunes cards. Stir clear. I have
Im his karma
August 05, 2018

In reply to by Suzanne

Lots of this feed is actually 1 man. I know his real identity. He needs jail.
Adrian
August 22, 2018

In reply to by Suzanne

I am being scammed by this same exact person. Same name, same daughter, same everything! So sad that people are capable of this sort of thing.
MerJas
May 21, 2018

In reply to by Fraud Stopper

My mother in law is being scammed but she won’t believe us that he is a scammer he has scammed a lot of money we keep trying to tell her he is not coming. He told her he was from US had to go to Mexico and is trying to get back to US and needs papers and plane tickets for him and his 2 children. I reported it to FTC but they did not contact me back. I’m talking about almost $9000 he has scammed her. She say I just need to send the last of it and it will be done. We just don’t know what to do. She neglects herself for this person that don’t give a damn about her.
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