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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.

Debyour e-mail…
December 09, 2020

In reply to by anne

Hi, Anne, did this guy go by Michael Davidson? Thanks for any help
coffeemonkey28
February 28, 2018

In reply to by Salina

Yes me too I've been on a dating site and got involved with a guy who wanted me to delete my dating site account right away and go to Hangouts and I did of course so we texted on there and after 3 days he asked if I'll buy an iTunes gift card at Walmart with cash he said I can't use debit card so I did for$100 so because he said without that we won't be able to talk anymore cause he's a geologist on a ship going to an off shore oil rig off the coast of Australia and it's hard cause he can't access money there so stupid me believed him and sent it via snap shots over texts on Hangouts so then I said but after this no more k he said k yesterday he asked me to send his son for his birthday$100 iTunes gift card so his son can download video games I said no this time Oh yea I forgot he asked me to marry him right of the bat of course I thought he was teasing and of course I said no every time this went on for 3 days then yesterday he said he has to tell me something he said he's getting an inheritance from his belated Dad and has to get married right away in order to receive his money oh my gosh what a creep I blocked him so I thought he called 11 times in a row so I finally answered it he said sorry he'll forget about the money and he still wants me to marry him I tried blocking him again but somehow he still calls I've paid for people search and found out that the number comes from trufant Michigan he said he lives in North Carolina and also his number was reported as a scammer so how in the world can I get him to stop calling I'm so tired of liers Thanks
Stalking Jack …
March 14, 2018

In reply to by coffeemonkey28

Omg! That is almost EXACTLY what is happening right now. He says he's an army officer in Pakistan. He says all the same I'm in love will you marry me stuff. Talked about how he lost his wife and has a son and how he was an orphan growing up. Only thing is he says he wants to send me money, but is asking for SSN and stuff. All you need for a money transfer is routing number and account number. But he hit me up on Instagram and after a couple days we connected on hangouts.
FTC Staff
March 15, 2018

In reply to by Stalking Jack …

Some scammers use people to help them transfer stolen money. They meet people online, create a relationship, and ask their new sweetheart to use an existing bank account, or open a new account. Then the scammer asks the victim 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.

Lost but found mom
April 27, 2018

In reply to by FTC Staff

I Live in New York and Help someone I met online receive money while he was in Arizona. He came back two months later to meet me but we didn’t have chemistry. I guess I was luck and won’t do that again.
amanda3030xoxo
May 15, 2018

In reply to by FTC Staff

I had the same thing happen to me I met someone on a dating site it was a site called okcupid. He asked me to delete my dating site profile and go on yahoo to continue talking so I did. Then he asked me to send him money through a wire transfer. So I did which was so stupid on my part. Then he asked me to send money like 1,500 dollars to him so he can get a discharge in the military to come home to be with me. So I told him I don’t have the money he was mad at me then he asked me to give me my bank account information so he can transfer money in there into my account so I can withdraw it and send it my bank red flagged the transfer. So I was about to send the money back to him then I checked my bank account they took all the money had. So I had to close the account and got a new one. Then they kept calling me from Nigeria numbers so I blocked them then the scammer was from my hometown and the other was from Nigeria and the y found me on Facebook and said if you don’t send us the money you will be arrested so I blocked em on Facebook and then they found my mom and said the same thing so I called the police and filed a police report. I was so scared
Dalx
July 24, 2018

In reply to by FTC Staff

Talking to a man now on hangouts! Works on oil rigs! He has been for 10 years! Has a million dollar contract! Says his bank blocked his account because it wasn't updated for quite awhile! The million dollars is in my name in a bank! Can't say bank name! Transfer to MY account for the million is $5,000! Needless to say, I don't have it! Can transfer $100,000 for $500 but I need cost of transfer code! This guy fell in love with me real quick! Called me his wife & his son is my son! Who, is in boarding school in the UK! I haven't sent any money for the $100,000 transfer! His contract is up at this month's end & he says he will be with me soon! Weird thing is, I picked a medium online for a reading! This medium informed me that I was going to receive 2 large sums of money & a new person will enter my life! I would have a beautiful from here on in!
DontDoIt
September 03, 2018

In reply to by Dalx

Sounds familar except the kid. What's his name?
stay away from…
September 06, 2018

In reply to by Dalx

this guy has been scamming me and other women for years but no more don't send any money - take the rose colored glasses off - hes never coming to you - he sitting in a hotel in Ghana spending our money - wake up hell tell you hes coming for you but hes never ever left Africa or ever will and he has no kids
Theresa
October 05, 2019

In reply to by FTC Staff

This just happened to me ... Italian accent very convincing , fake photos asking to open a new checking account ..
Ruthless
March 10, 2020

In reply to by Theresa

Omg!! This sounds very familiar. Very good looking..Italian accent...smooth talker. Is his name Eric by any chance?? Mine is Eric Brendon and I have pictures.
natalogo
October 04, 2018

In reply to by Stalking Jack …

Hey,this guy from Pakistan,is he in the army on a peace mission.He says he is widowed,a and he lives in Washington DC area and teach at West Point.We been talking for a while,but something is off,I ask him to take photos of Islamabad, but he changed the subject,And he start calling me, my love,that he wants to marry.And I was like wow,take it easy,I don't want to married nobody, And surprise,he ask for his vacations so we could meet,and he ask me,to send him 1.000 for the airline ticket.I said NO,obviously, and block him,He goes by the name of Michael Sands.What a creep
Trussell
June 11, 2018

In reply to by coffeemonkey28

I met a guy who goes by Kennedy Martinez. Wanted iTunes gift cards and he sent a posture of himself. He told me after just a few days that he wanted to marry. He also sent the same pic to my friend but goes by the name of Terry Rodriquez
RDM
September 29, 2018

In reply to by coffeemonkey28

I have been speaking to a man named Thomas Downs...very handsome, gray hair, gray beard. He claims to be a geologist...supposedly in Dubai since 2/2018. I have ran everything (photos, etc) and I had and have come up with nothing. It's quite disheartening. Please lets compare. Thank you!
joyce3336
October 15, 2018

In reply to by RDM

Met a man thru online dating site. Hid name is David Pettitt . Everything I’ve read so far matches what everyone else says he lives in New York but, temporarily on a work project in Egypt. Now he’s ready to come home and texted from the airport saying being arrested by internal revenue agents. Everything is the same as others said. iTunes card, Apple cards, receive money from a friend in the Bahamas to send to a hotel which was holding his passport due to non payment in bill. Sent pictures etc. to me. Nice looking gray haired man... if familiar to anyone , please let’s compare.
Don't use your…
October 01, 2020

In reply to by coffeemonkey28

Was his son named Larry and in a boarding school in Calif, and was the guys name Paul Berlin
scammed again
March 09, 2018

In reply to by Salina

There is a guy named Christopher Matt and he also goes by Christopher Matt Arnold that is a scammer too on Facebook.
SunflowerMom
April 12, 2018

In reply to by Salina

Do what I just did, put a Public post on Facebook, Twitter, and any other "networking" site you visit. Put his name, what he did (or tried to do), and any other info you know about him! I had called my state police and they said they couldn't do anything unless he was physically in this state! FBI can't do anything because he's in the Ukraine. I doubt the CIA can or would do anything either. Apparently, it's up to us to stop this!!!!!
DavidK
February 02, 2018
There should be so much more in this warning. Some examples 8f a scammer.Scammers are using fake verification websites, the #1 being Craigslist Verify. But this is not craigslist, it is fake. Says will not charge credit card, for verification only. Thats a lie. 2. Any unsolicited email from an unknown source asking for a date or hookup. Sent from one email address, but wants you to reply to a different address. All fake. 3. Same as #2 only email is addressed to multiple addresses, your only cc'd or bcc, Fake. 4. Receive email and person wants you to join a sex site to see her profile and chat. Fake 5. All cam girls, they will lead you on but only want credits/money. Who knows where they really are. 6. You sign up for a sex site and try answering all of the questions wrong. It still lets you join, Fake. 7. Any profile with just a picture and one word. "Hello" Most likely Fake 8. Any site that says for entertainment only, uses "Love Stars, or any type of fake profiles as stated in the terms. Fake. 9. The scary one, there are "bots" on the loose in the internet. Not even real people, they are programs and algorithms initially designed for advertisements. They have progressed and taken on a life of there own. Example of a bit is ask a silly question like what is your favorite flavor of ice cream, it will ignore your question but continue with its conversation like you never asked.It has become impossible to use any online dating site without being contacted by a scammer. Some are so persistent that even after blocking, they have multiple e-mails set up so they don't miss a beat.
Guido777
February 13, 2018

In reply to by DavidK

I met this girl on a dating site we have been texting each other for over a month now and is in Ghana here mom is sick and I have sent her $200 in iTunes cards and she wants me to set up an account here she has been sending me pictures of her and texting me every day and lives in Florida but is over in Ghana with her mom she wants to come live with me is this legit or a scammer
Butterfly 101
February 15, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

Unfortunately you are being scammed. I have been doing the same thing to a guy claiming to be stuck in Turkey. Big indication is needing ITunes cards. I'm so tired of being a victim in these scams
butterfly 6712
February 26, 2018

In reply to by Butterfly 101

I have the same with a guy who is in India Name Roy Paige claiming to be a contractor for some proyect there but he from Scotland and. He ask me for money because the taxi take off while he went tu irinate. Omg all kind the crap lost passport and credit card. I’m tired because we chat for weeks without any money request really but my feelings.
Cautious
July 08, 2018

In reply to by Butterfly 101

What’s the use of itunes card? I was contacted by this guy KELVIN RICHARD supposedly a petroleum enginner from scotland. Who is a sweet talker, knows the bible, who loves me and wants to marry me right away and will meet me. He is also a widow witth 4 y/0 son. We video call twice. His face is the same from the profile pic. Then afterwards he asked for a $200 amazon card. Then he went to work in Turkey but was attacked by pirates and took his wallet and passport. So, now he is asking money for hospital bills, food and hotel bills since he has no money to pay. He is also needs money to open an acct so he can transfer money there from his scotland bank acct. I said, No!
Ruthless
March 10, 2020

In reply to by Cautious

They sell the iTunes cards for money. I had a guy I met on WWF then went to hangouts...claimed he was out to sea....asked for iTunes cards to be sent in $50 each amounting to 500 dollars. So he could exchange them for a phone or money or whatever. He went by the name Tom Dave.
Tryme.go
October 29, 2019

In reply to by Butterfly 101

Same story with me a girl stuck in turkey and now homeless because I can't send money! Pretty sure it's a man but only women photos
Big bob123454
February 16, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

I am going through the same thing only the girl is in new york and needs help for grandma in ghana! Hell yes its a scam.
Don't beamdump1999
February 20, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

Also, pictures will probably be an avatar, a likeness of a complete stranger. In one case, it was a porn quenn. The scammer had an extensive collection of everyday photos. A filename screwup uncovered the scam, not not before I sent money. LESSON LEARNED. Pass this on.
bullseye53
February 26, 2018

In reply to by Don't beamdump1999

I'm dealing with the same girl and her associates. She goes by the name of Nancy Lee/nancy_leeluv@ yahoo.com and it's her and her sick mother. Asked for ITunes cards to buy food which you can't do! Asked for money to come to me to live. Evidently, I just found out today, she used the enticing photos of the Porn star Abella Anderson to lure me in! Also goes by the name Anne Buchholz. Unfortunately I did not do any research on her early enough and I'm out a total sum of $2000 and change over the last 4 months. I agreed to help her out to get her out of New York, NY. Gave numerous ITunes cards, sent money for the care of her mother while she visited me then bought her 2 expensive plane tickets to get her here. She has a travel agent by the name of Philip Lansdown, who I sent the Walmart to Walmart money transfers to, resides in Cedar Rapids,Ia.for the plane tickets and a guy by the name of Marvin Benoit, Lansdowns secretary who is in Trenton NJ. And I thought it was all legit and sincere. Still in contact with her and the agent cause they don't know I know the truth. Got all my information in order and am going to try to catch them! If ever unsure of anybody do a google reverse image search. It's free and that's how I found out who the gal in all my texts and emails is. Good Luck.
FTC Staff
February 26, 2018

In reply to by bullseye53

You can help law enforcement by reporting to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies nationwide use for investigations.

You can also report the person to the dating website, and to the money transfer service you used. Call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492 or MoneyGram Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400.

bullseye53
February 21, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

Don't do it! I had the same person hit me up. She goes by the name Pricilla and she asked me the same thing. The second I heard Itunes card I dropped her like a hot rock and you should too. Any mention of the ITunes card just delete their info.
kdog
November 12, 2018

In reply to by bullseye53

dude this girl named Priscilla her last name wouldn't;t happen to be Garcia. I met a girl named priscilla Garcia on twitter. It turns out she stole pictures of a girl and the girls name off Facebook. But I blocked her once i figured out she was fake
Broken heart
February 26, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

She is a lier and scammer ! She is lieing to you i been was dealing with ghana and nigeria scamms i too am a victim of both nigeria and ghana they think us america ppl are stupid slow they dont really like us just our money you gave $200 usa dollars gave her $ 36,000 nairas in there money she converted it i advise you to go to usa money convert in nigeria are ghana ! Stop sending her money she is lieing too you you will never see her and they pretend love to get our money marjarioty they wife husband girlfriend be right beside them getting that money and laughing at us stop being a fool okay its your choice i cant warn you if i wasnt in love like you from there but scamm they every where call them 419 ok scammer look it up thanks

Denno2367
February 24, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

I have a girl in Ghana that has been talking to me for about a week now and she says she loves me but hasn't ask for money.
boobooANGRY
March 05, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

this is happening to me Guido777. she says her name is Joyce Quaye. apparently very attractive . her mom is sick in a hospital in Ghana due to kidney failure and needs money
Nassau2018
April 18, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

Scammer can be a woman or man from Ghana. Also going by Loise Naisaino, Clare Nyongesa, Candy, Nancy.
Ann6723
June 08, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

I think my brother might be involved with the same person. Do u have a name?
Jen6723
June 15, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

My brother is going though the exact scenario. Can u tell the name of the person u r dealing with?
Andre
July 31, 2018

In reply to by Guido777

I'm a old pirate and trust me ya got scammed, Guido777 one just tried to scam again same story as yours.../
Disemam
January 08, 2019

In reply to by Guido777

Did she say her name was Jaqueline Tagoe 214)302-9564 mother is sick renal failure shes is school needed iTunes for a dchool project shes obtaining her masters degree.
Friend of A sc…
February 01, 2018
Friend gets Social Security check, cashes it and then buys gift ards and sends $400.00 to Male unknown, who is suposedly in the Russian army and a pilot. Been ongoing for as long as I have know her. This week he is supposed to arrive (again), and they will go off together and live together. Many people have told her she is being scammed but she will not believe it. She is divorced living in her ex husband's home but will be out of there oon.
alber.l
February 05, 2018

I have been trying to get rid of this sites but can't. They claim to be in walking distances to meet and have sex. This is an outrage and a sin i cannot get rid of them. One site is m.spdate.com. Another: www. freehookupaffairs. com. Wish the FTC could help. I already filed with them. There are others that suddenly send me a nasty message. I tried to see if i can unsubscribe or block them but those options did not come up.

lynn fisher
February 01, 2018
I know of 2 scammers on face book 1. is a Dr. Douglas Carl ,which he is still on there 2.Austin Pacheco is still on face book they both are scammers Why are they allowed to scam women ???
Nitewelder
February 01, 2018
I have met both fraud and legit on a Russian site. Fraud is always young,beautiful,almost qualifies to come to you but needs money for a ticket, sick Mum, or whatever. Real would like you to go there, tries to save you money if you do, and does not ask you to send money. Also sends pictures of themselves in a group of friends or family with names and tells of the events.Relationships both near and far develop slowly.
Foolmeonce
February 01, 2018
This sadly is all too common. I have the name of the person and banking information. Chase bank will not do anything with this information. Therefore are complicit.
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