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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.

Miracleshappening
March 08, 2018

In reply to by Headovrheart

Find out his address and then check it out.
Starbabe618
May 09, 2018

In reply to by Headovrheart

Hi I’m not sure if I’ve betn scammed but I’m reading so these stories snd it’s scarey I met a guy on FILIP IVAN FROM TAGGED SITE anyone hear of him from DesPlains IL PLEASE LET ME KNOW TY
Headovrheart
February 07, 2018
Is there a way to run a background check? to tell if its a scam or not?
lucabela
March 09, 2018

In reply to by Headovrheart

Yes, call a private investigator and for a small fee it's worth it to find out the trust before you waste your time and your money getting scammed. I've done it multiple times to weed out the fakes.
wendy
July 14, 2019

In reply to by lucabela

Hi I’m so confused right now I’m talking to someone who says he’s in the U.S. Army thought o this is fake said he’s lost his master card I offered to help him and he refused saying I don’t need your money can you please tell me how I can find out if he’s fake or not best wishes
Charlotte
September 12, 2019

In reply to by lucabela

Can you please post the name of the PI you use? I have contacted several and they seem to want 1200-2600USD per trace. That is too much for me when I am pretty certain my ex is being scammed. But at this point it is almost just like a "you left me, a good wife with good job, and your two young kids for somebody that doesn't exist." And never mind she told him to give up rights to his children because he did not need to be paying child support because she was going to make him wealthy enough to have the judge give him custody of our children and then take my house and business....right..mshaking in my shoes here...lmao
Cooper
February 07, 2018
I meet someone Canadian living in London civil engineer went to Nigeria three week’s ago. We had arranged to meet up in London in March. The site he was working at doing rock blasting 4 people died. He said police told him to attend his embassy or pay compensation to the families which he told me had. He now has no cash to pay his hotel bill to get himself out. He asked to come off the dating site parents are dead. Pictures he sent look ok he even faced time me same person as pictures. Why do I still want to believe that we will meet in London and he will be real. The guys name is Michael J Carlos . Has anyone else met him
Cooper
February 09, 2018

In reply to by Cooper

Guess what now because I have not transferred money radio silence. Please please anyone out there do not fall for this guy. He is white good looking. Could not believe he would do this to anyone
Miracleshappening
March 08, 2018

In reply to by Cooper

I understand what you mean. I have had a similar experience. You still want to stay open because you thought you will listening to your heart. The name is probably phony as well as his email. I place this whole thing in God's hands and I ask that the truth come forward and you be blessed with profound healing and miracles! God bless you!
almost dupped
February 07, 2018
My problem is that I transferred money from his checking after he gave me all the info to send "tuition" to his kids school. After refusing several times. He was very convincing. But last night there were one too many red flags & I am doing the moneygram. What do I do with the money? I called the credit card & they can't reverse the payment. If I pay his bank back, then he decides he didn't authorize the transfer I am screwed.
Notsureyet1014
February 12, 2018

Someone in the army says he's in Afghanistan. Asking for money in different ways. Pleading for me, I have not sent money. I'm still not sure of him. He says he has a security box in another country he needed my help to get by a letter. Not sure about it. I have been reaching him and can't find him. A little unsure.

FOOLED
February 14, 2018

In reply to by Notsureyet1014

Please do not send money! he is a scam artist. I learned that if service members need money they can get it where they are stationed.
TMD
September 01, 2018

In reply to by Notsureyet1014

This sounds like the scammer I dealt with. He too had a security box in some other country. Was in Afghanistan. Couldn't phone or video call. Robbed me of thousands of dollars. Ruined me. He goes by name Tony Freeman from Dallas Texas working for US Army special forces. Have pictures of him participating in Mollys 5k run in Virginia along with his wife or girlfriend and another couple. He did a video call only ones with me therefore I know the pictures are his. Now he disappeared because I don't send him iTunes cards and apparently he can't connect according to him which is a lie. I wish I had read these comments earlier.
sacomputer
February 12, 2018
please help me many poblem
sadandlost
February 11, 2018
Has anyone encountered a man by the name of James Hudson, Paul Hudson, James Guggisberg?
Cats8106
February 12, 2018
I come across these all the time, but they aren't doing it just on online dating sites. I have had them friend me on my Facebook messenger. I've never send any of my personal money, but I sure do got requests to pick money from western union under one name and resend it to the supposed friend/love interest through a different store or site using western union. I did it once and never will again. I watch for those who my show a picture in their profiles, but have absolutely nothing else listed even after you've friended them.
sadandlost
February 21, 2018

In reply to by Cats8106

So you have came across a man by the name of James Hudson, Paul Hudson?
Tiger44
February 12, 2018
Seems most of the scammers are out for women. I am a male, relatively new FB user and have had two attempts by women trying to rip me off. Sounds like the same MO though. Oddly enough or maybe not I am a recent widower and they are good, almost had me, until the money (iTunes card) surfaced. Like to Whack all these soulless monsters.
Lhh64
February 15, 2018

In reply to by Tiger44

A scammer pretending to be Johnny Depp ask me for an iTunes card. hahahah. Blocked.
ldav
February 12, 2018
Asking for money is a SCAM. An honest person will NEVER ask for money.
Countrygal
February 12, 2018
OurTime has a lot of scammers too.
mmason
June 18, 2018

In reply to by Countrygal

yes it is ....I got scammed by a very good looking guy named Anthony James I met on Ourtime.
İrfan8001
February 13, 2018
Protect God from scammers.Thank you
Not duped!!!
February 13, 2018
POF is packed with scammers!!! They r all foreign and their English on the phone isn't very good. Their written English is full of grammar errors. I got hit with 8 in a row!!! Ask for their number, then google it If its a LANDLINE in another state, u got yourself a scammer. They will.try to groom u before they hit u up.4 the ITunes card. They always work for themselves as " engineers" . One even told me he worked at the Syrian AF base that we recently destroyed lol!!! They have no friends in their FB profiles. They will promise u the moon. Always google their names and number. If u find nothing its cause they r fake!!!
FOOLED
February 14, 2018
I thought I knew better. We met on Bumble and I got lured off and surprised he got deployed. I got suspicious when he asked for an itunes card for $100. I did it by making a copy of the codes and we have been chatting via an app. Then he needs cash for internet use. He gave me his SS# & bank info. It's not just the Nigerians they are getting more elaborate and sophisticated. He got mad when I called him on it so I am reporting him. I just want the guy he is impersonating to be aware of the photos. What a fool I was.
Lhh64
February 15, 2018
Has anyone been scammed by someone claiming to be Sheikh Hamdan Crown Prince of Dubi?
Curious one
March 28, 2018

In reply to by Lhh64

Hi. I think I am being scammed to donate money via WU to his charity for the orphanage in Africa. Does this sound familiar to you? I refuse to send anything.
Foolsheart
February 16, 2018
I have been talking to a man that fits everything described. Widower, has a son in school, works out of country, unable to access his money, I have continuously refused to send money. He gets upset, not mean, then it seems to settle down and then starts up again with the request or a different issue. We have talked on the phone twice, but it was through an app. I have researched everything I can with the information he has given and questioned when things are off. I’ve even told him if I need to prove anything by sending money, then he can stop contacting me. He has not gone away. I’ve ignored his messages for a bit, but yes, I like talking to him about other things. Would someone say he’s a scammer?
Twice
April 17, 2018

In reply to by Foolsheart

He is a scammer. I have the same thing going on with one right now that won't go away.
me
June 02, 2018

In reply to by Foolsheart

probably...i'm in the same situation. the guy i am talking to video chats with me. He is very good looking but because i did not give him my credit card number to transfer money to a friend of his- he tells me that i broke his heart. I am still chatting with him because i cant believe the nerve of this guy... his name is Dr Jason Brown Simon
mlt
August 28, 2018

In reply to by me

My daughter has just been scammed by someone who claims to be a physician who goes by the name of Thomas Simon. She is out $40,000.00 and about to loose her home, car, and lost her job. Be cautious!
Female from wi…
February 20, 2018

How r we as woman who r being scammed but not one of us has wrote or said there name of the men that were doing this... I knw i just meet somebody in military and havent meet want same stuff ... Does Anybody knw this name... Richard Helseth from N.Y.

Laura
February 18, 2018
Has anyone been involved with a man named Andrew Mark says he’s in the army??
Jessee
January 22, 2019

In reply to by Laura

Mark Andrew has been texting me.he is supposed the uncle of janney Rodriguez or janney Andrews. Who knows right? If they ask you to invest in bitcoins, tell you they had an accident and lawyer holding their license, or maybe they living in a tent , car or church...RUN..don't look back!stop all contact with that person. Heck if anybody you never met asks for money drop all contact with those idiots. They are grooming you to take every cent from you they can get.
Lastlaugh
February 18, 2018
I had previously listed a blog on a man named Christian Buchanan, who at first, I thought was a romance scammer. I became scared thinking that I was being scammed out if money, which I didn't send, and quite honestly, forgot about the blog. It has been a number of months since this post, and Christian found himself on this forem. It was not fair for me to post if I was not sure, and I will work hard to have the blog deleted. Christian is a lovely man and father who does not partake in the scamming industry. Sorry for postin on a blog when I had no real tangential evidence.
cooperLV
February 19, 2018
I was scammed by the best rogue on the planet.He is on Facebook and now I cannot find him, fake name, fake address, fake job, fake country and fake mom dying of cancer. I gave him $25K over a period of 3 weeks. I am so duped and dumb. How can I get help?
FTC Staff
February 20, 2018

In reply to by cooperLV

You can report him to Facebook and to the bank or wire transfer companies you used to send money. Call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492 or the MoneyGram Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400. You can report to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint.

The information you provide to the FTC goes into a database that law enforcement agencies use for investigations natonwide.

Lora
February 21, 2018
My scammer uses the name Jacinto Oliver met him on OurTime and reported him. He has a fake french passport and uses the screen name Newtownfarmboi. He has also tried to scam others as there are posts on the blog. He claims he is in Dubai and needs money for Drs. bills and has a daughter names Helena 18 and a son Erik who works in Japan and has 2 grandkids that are homeschooled. He is a smooth talker and sends relevant and current pictures when asked. Please beware and report him ASAP.
Goldilocks64
February 22, 2018
What about a "friend" who asks you to change your phone service provider so they can buy phones and accessories so they can purchase THESE with their mooney that's supposedly frozen at the bank then sell them and get cash after reselling and shipping the phones to said purchasers.
Thankful I che…
February 26, 2018

Recently had a guy tell me he is a surgeon from the U.S, currently based in Syria, I started getting suspicious yesterday with some of the things he was saying. Sent me lots of pictures, asked me to marry him after less then a week, then proceeded to ask for Itunes cards so he can update his phone. Of course he told me video chat and calling is disabled for security reasons. Has a son being raised by a nanny, wife died 8 years ago. I googled his name and did not find anyone matching any of the stuff he has told me. I did not rush out and buy the cards as I was very skeptical and decided to look up iTunes card fraud before I did. Very thankful I found these stories and info before I lost out on money I can’t afford to spend

VLW
February 23, 2018

Has anyone heard of a scammer by the name of Robin Slot Jim? His business is Slot Construction. He claims to have been in Cairo Egypt building a new highway & bridges.

Robin Slot is Dutch, wife from England died, a son Michael in college in Michigan & a young son Alex who is with him. They had been living in US. Alex is American. Claims he owe Egypt a Clearance fee of $48,000, but does not have it, so they detain him in Egypt.

I gave him $57,000 and flys to Paris & gets detained because he owes Workers Union $60,000 to pay workers. He & his son have been in Customs Detention Center at Paris Airport & they want him to go back to Egypt to serve 3-4 years in prison.

Now he is asking for $35,000 to pay Workers Union & another fried gave him $30,000. Does this sound like a scam??

FTC Staff
February 23, 2018

In reply to by VLW

  • This story has many of the warning signs of a scam. The person claims to be a professional working overseas, travelling on business.
  • He says he is a widow with young children, and the children live in the US.
  • He has a sudden emergency related to work a needs money.
  • Although he is a professional, he has no one to help him, and his company won't help him, so he asks you to send him a large amount of money.
  • Then he has another sudden emergency related to work or personal safety or health.
Foolsheart#2
March 06, 2018

In reply to by FTC Staff

Yes I would say this is a scam. This is currently happening to me. Of course, I fell for it. A person by the name of Carl M Abbey claims to be a veterinarian surgeon in Yemen. Says he's from Brazil on a six-month contract in Yemen treating service dogs with other Physicians. Says he will return to the states in April at which time he will reimburse me and would love to meet me for a full-on long-term relationship. Says he has two kids in boarding schools and his wife passed away 6 years ago. Not even 3 weeks into our communication via Facebook Messenger he all of a sudden wanted me to transfer $3,200 to a bank in Turkey to retrieve a personal box on his behalf because the security company was filing bankruptcy. He asked me for my phone number email and address, of which I reluctantly provided. He says he's been living in the states in Missouri since the passing of his late wife. However, I am unable to verify any piece of information he has given to me so far. So now that I have wired through my bank $3,200 to this Bank in Turkey. They are claiming that they have not received the funds. Now this is as of today, they have not asked for additional funds just yet, but I fully expect that to be the next step. I enjoy speaking with this guy we have become very close. However, he claims to be unable to send current pictures and is unable to communicate via phone. The only source of communication is either email or messenger. He has a normal Gmail account and the security company has a website it all seems legit but I'm pretty sure this is a fraudulent scam unfolding as we speak. I have definitely learned the hard way. This is the first and only time I will ever entertain a handsome face on an app..
PaulaB
February 26, 2018

I was scammed out of thousands of dollars by a man who was supposidly in Turkey. What I know now, I was used and all of the money I had is gone. I almost lost my home because of this.

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