Skip to main content

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.

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

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.

tloyd1013
April 19, 2018
Does anybody know that the man that's going by Kelvin Teddy he says he's in the UK on a oil rig got a little girl wife died
Target
April 24, 2018

In reply to by tloyd1013

If not same guy same scam as guy my cousin met last mo. Except daughter was in college and a girl actually called her and talked to her...
Tania
April 23, 2018
I met Paul Edward on Gay Matches and we could not meet personally because he was off to Syria for the Canadian government. After 10 weeks of emails back and forth , he was due to come home mid March. He was orphaned in Greece and raised by a Priest who brought him to Canada at age 15.He bought crude oil in Syria Through Lotus Corp and needed money sent to a Credit Union Bank in Scotland to open an account so we could live out the rest of our lives together at my Home in the country,off the proceeds of the sale of the crude . Of course I was scammed when i deposited cash into a BMO acct Christina Fraser BEWARE of PAUL EDWARD(s) He is still very active.
Target
April 24, 2018
Has anyone heard of scams where they actually send u a phone and check?? Then want u to go buy a $200 prepaid visa from your bank so they can give u money?? This guy claims he wants to Marry her.., gonna buy he $2 mil house fly her to nyc, fly me 1st class to visit. Pay to get her better divorce lawyer and rest of divorce... she fell for the oil rig guy last month.. he’s now French and has a daughter instead of a son.. I just don’t trust this whole thing if the guys a millionaire he doesn’t need her to go buy $200 prepaid card so he can give her money!! Her elderly father is @ bank right now getting her the money!! He’s gonna wore it to her! So why wouldn’t rich guy wire her the money? ? It’s pathetic bad enough w/ they scam someone w/ Money! Their going after someone w/ o money!
Fooled& heartbroken
April 24, 2018
Has anyone heard of a guy named "Iciis Lukas"? This is happening to me now! My poor husband! I've been putting him through complete hell because I thought it was sincere. All the warning signs are there. How can I find out for sure?
need to know
April 25, 2018
Has anyone been scammed by a Michael Connor Albertus? I can not find him on any guaranteed site of people finder. He found me on FaceBook. He said he is a Freelance contractor. He is now in the UK, supposedly, with a contract. he claims, that Turkey government, will not let his order go through without a lot of money. We broke up, and he contacted me again, now he wants me to open a checking account, get a debit card so his Lawyer, can add money to it, then I can send it to him via Western Union. He has a Daughter who is 26 yrs old and he can't ask her, as she has some things in life to sort out, and he wants to respect her, privacy. He swears, he loves me so much and does not want to hear about scammers, as he has other things on is mind. My heart tells me, maybe he really can't get his money wired to him. My gut tells me, to run. You see, he has supposedly a company in Dallas Texas, so I don't understand why they can wire him money. I googled him, and his name on FaceBook does not exist anywhere.Just wondering, if anyone else, knows of him?
FTC Staff
April 25, 2018

In reply to by need to know

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

NoDummyHere
April 26, 2018
I had the pleasure of meeting Jeffrey Matic on a dating site. Nice looking, plenty of pics and was able to sweep me off my internet feet with his smooth accent. He said he was cuban. He said his job was very dangerous (he trades gold from foreign countries) and it may be best if I didn't mention to anyone about his profession. He talked me into getting the call/msg app called Viber so we could msg while he was at work. After a week of txting we started calling. Within a week he was professing his love for me while asking about my 401k and actually said he was looking to move close to me. Fast forward two weeks...he had to fly to France and called, stating his friend, "Fredrick" needed a $50 Amazon gift card to purchase a book for college. I knew he was building up to asking for money, but my heart didn't want to hear it. Ladies, please be careful if you are on dating sites!
Cattgirl
April 26, 2018
Thomas Mueller, has anyone heard of this scanner.
NoDummyHere
April 27, 2018

In reply to by Cattgirl

No telling where they get the names from. Be careful!
DogLover
May 15, 2018

In reply to by Cattgirl

My mom is currently being scammed by a guy named larry mueller.
Ponygirl
July 31, 2018

In reply to by DogLover

I have a Larry Mueller chasing me now. He was credible at first. German American gold broker, says he lives in Florida. Finally asked me for money after a couple of months of talking and texting. Done and done after a friend found a photoshopped image search from 2017 that he said was taken last week.
Lola
October 30, 2019

In reply to by Ponygirl

My mom was talking to this same Larry Mueller!
JoJo
February 01, 2020

In reply to by Lola

February 2020 Larry Mueller contacted me as well. Says he is an international gem dealer.... he says he is coming to visit me next week. Lives in Florida. He sends many pictures of himself. Says he is a God fearing man. This guy is a major scammer.....I am reporting him
Don't use your…
September 05, 2020

In reply to by Ponygirl

Hey have you heard anything about Larry Mueller lately? I just save myself $2700 told me his son urgently needed some money out in the UK because he got beat up by a mob after a soccer game. I will post his name all over this place if I were you girls!
Sunny
April 27, 2018
well just reading from this site after 2 1/2 years ofbeing scammer by a consumant scammer. Ghana Gold scam and yes he got all of my savings and now i will lose my home.Also he took down my health by constantly pressing me to keep sending money and I lost over $170K . He found me on OKCupid.l It seems all men on any dating site are nothing but scammers. Even on match.com same thing. This person goes by Bill Robberts . So beware. If you cant voice them or meet them, they are a scammer period
Hillbilly Gal
April 27, 2018
I am older and still getting them have one right now He is using name Beck Collins and using all of the above comments to get money sent as of today I was scammed in 2004 for a lot of money I did not know there was such a thing as scammers...I got no help from FBI we as women and men have to stop them they are all over the country.......Follow all the information shared by people trying to help stop this ...Donot believe documents sent as evidence of proof those things are also scammed ...I know from experience..Keep your head cool at all times DO NOT SEND THEM A PENNY MAN NOR WOMAN DO NOT GIVE THEM PERSONAL INFORMATION OF ACCOUNTS NOR LET THEM SEND YOU ANY INFO TO HAVE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUBT <<
Too trusting
April 27, 2018
Iciis Lukas is a fraud. He found me on messenger then told me to talk with him on Hangouts. He talked as if he was a real man of God yet he got over $13,000 that I had saved up for retirement. Women do not trust this man!
Darling treasure
April 30, 2018
David campbell is 35 claims to be on an oil rig on the Black Sea. Confessed his love for me and is always asking how I feel about him him sorry but I don’t know you and I don’t know how many times one must say that they are not able to confess ones love just by having a few useless conversations. He claims to be from New Jersey city lost a previous girlfriend in a fire were dating for 5 years. Nationality to be Hawaiian and Spanish descend both parent no longer living and has no siblings. Claims father to be in the navy and was killed by his best friend when he was 7 yrs old Mother died of depression when he was 27. David first approached me on Instagram then whatsup app. He asked for a 100 iTunes card so that he could update his phone and banking app. He asked if I trusted him I said yes he hasn’t given me a reason not to but then he was pushy about needing the card so I suggested him asking someone from his rig to assist him. I then just blocked him from everything bc it’s obviously a scam. Someone to look so handsome and to be available there’s just no way.
Halesy19
May 02, 2018
I met a man on POF and fell for his lies even after all the doubts I had because he said he wanted to come take care of me and love me and wife me up. After a few weeks of talking he informed me that he had to go to Africa for a project his bosses wanted him to work on and while he was there could I use my credit card to make some purchases for his side job bc since he was overseas his cards weren’t working. He told me he would pay the cards back always but he needed my online info to be able to sign in and attach his accounts to be able to pay when needed. I waffled back and forth over this and argued that it was a huge trust issue and his response was basically, baby I love you please trust me in this this will take our relationship to the next level...so I did. Well, he paid th card off and that cemented my trust in him and he always did everything he said he would and my belief in him that he was who he said he was completely over shadowed any doubt...well about a month went by of making purchases and shipping them to his address of phones and PlayStations, his payments started getting returned and it was then that I truly realized I had been scammed. I’m now $18,500 in credit card debt, the banks shut down my accounts and I could lose my job. I’ve been scared to death that I’ve done something, but I truly trusted in him. I filed a report already online through the fbi website and have put an initial security alert on my credit. Lost all contact with him, too. I’m so upset by this and scared And feel incredibly stupid. Looking back all the signs were there but I so believed that he was who he said he was...
PattyEarl1
May 02, 2018
A guy named Harrison Harmony friend request me on FB. Startedchatting on Messenger. I did reverse image check. No picture or name found anywhere! Yes did try to go google. Yes asked for itune card, but did not pursue it. Calls using. Messenger. Speaks english very well. Pulled the old working out ofcountry. This has been going on for 2 months. He is so in love. Posts pics. I live in SC he in CA. Suppose to be in Turkey as contractor. Has not given me a telephone # or address. So told him if he was in Cali he can call me for free with cell phone. He lamely says with him overseas so much he really doesn’t keep a local phone only work phone.
mmason
May 02, 2018
Does Anthony James sound familiar? I want with all my heart to think he is not a scammer but I am afraid he might be.
Shopwalker
June 01, 2018

In reply to by mmason

If your gut tells you he’s a scammer, trust your gut.
ladysophia
May 15, 2018
Ive been chatting with a guy from POF. He says his name is Robert Ollarr. I have a phone number and email address. I have google searched multiple sites and none of his identity checks out. He is military deployed to West Africa, divorced, son age 8 named Victor. He hasnt asked for anything except I write his superior ( strange shouldn't he have said commander) requesting leave for him. Also I've noticed he doesn't form his sentences like an American would. Also he says he's from Italian and Native American decent but he is blonde. I also have a picture of him in uniform. The last name says Ollar...email is ollarr03 @gmail. com Any info ? Thanks
Too Sad
May 02, 2018
I've had quite a few guys follow the same patterns mentioned above. The one that very nearly got me didn't ask for money but asked me to open a bank account. It was after we had been talking awhile and i was completely crushed. Never did but still feel incredibly guilty. I feel a little better now after seeing all these posts
Scorpio
May 06, 2018
I have been chatting for couple months now to this amazing guy, who I thought really loved me..but last night he called asking for£2000. I have sleepless night over this , I am gutted thinking he may be scammer. ... He too said wife died one son ....
gemini
May 07, 2018

In reply to by Scorpio

Hello I believe we may be dealing with the same man what is his name?
Pete53
May 06, 2018
I’m currently chatting to a supposed lady now, claiming to be from the US army. I’m fully aware she, they, he is trying to con me out of £150 in Amazon or iTunes vouchers. I’m keeping them hanging for as long as I can, because when they’re chatting to me they’re not conning someone else.
browniis
May 08, 2018
Have one been chatting with since January need iTunes for phone, needed money to ship deposit box from London cause place was closing due to bankruptcy. Now needs money for drill part and more money to have deposit box delivered. Does the name Tyrell or Gabriel Davis sound familiar to anyone.
JASON27
May 08, 2018
Have been contacted by a gentleman named Mark James on Instagram was asked to move over to Hangouts and talk claims he is a widow and has a 10 year old son named Kelvin has asked for money to fix his faulty equipment claims he is an engineer on a rig and is from Australia. Has anyone been contacted by this individual??
Lander
December 09, 2020

In reply to by JASON27

I believe this is Michael Davidson (alius), had me go to Hangouts, worked on oil rig in Gulf of Mexico, needed money to fix drill on rig. Has a son named Kelvin. Was in love with me within a week.
Lander
December 09, 2020

In reply to by JASON27

I believe this is Michael Davidson (alius), had me go to Hangouts, worked on oil rig in Gulf of Mexico, needed money to fix drill on rig. Has a son named Kelvin. Was in love with me within a week.
Wigmama33
May 17, 2021

In reply to by JASON27

My mother had the misfortune of meeting the same man but under a different name. He met her through an online Scrabble game and went by the name of George Frederick. He said that he worked on an oil rig in Venezuela and had a son named Kelvin. Also, told her that his wife had died. He "fell in love with her" and waited for weeks before asking her to buy a $200 Steam gift card for his son. This just happened a few days ago so they've been running this same scam for years! Fortunately we talk about scammers all the time and she recognized it for what it was. She's elderly and alone so I'd like to punch him in the throat!
Tlg
May 08, 2018
Yeah been talking to a bobby good says he's in the UK needed money for his stamp and he even let me talk to his daughter anna and said to unsubscribe from the dating site went back on layer and a different pic he's on dating site as 14u2 on mate one I reported him and never heard anything back and his pix still up there and has a few accounts on Facebook he's white but he has a Mexican accent and told him what I knew and still asking to let him put money in my bank like really it don't feel right investigate I did and found out he's a scammer after three weeks and 2000 dollars later ugh very sweet and nice voice he said all the right things to me
hurt1toomanytimes
May 09, 2018
I met this guy on Mingle2 and he is absolutely gorgeous. Very nice body you can see he works out. He messaged me and I replied back and we been talking ever since. He says beautiful things to me and one day he said he has fallen for me. I was starting to really like him. Anyways, he is a widow with a daughter. He works in real estate and other business. He was planning on meeting me but got called off to Africa regarding goods that needed his attention. Before that he gave me 3 different numbers to switch to. he called me a few times but mostly text. In the meantime I am online looking up info about scammers. Everything I read he has done so far. I wanted to see his face to see if he is the guy in the photos but always had an excuse. He has an accent. So, just yesterday he says he was robbed at gunpoint and needs money for his daughter's lessons. He says he can't get in his bank acct and says his advisor can wire me money. Plus he needs to pay bills. I told him I can't do this. Back up a bit he was also wanting to marry me. All the things he said sounded wonderful and yes I thought this is to good to be real. So, when I said I can't help him he says that he is hurt and can't believe I won't help and trying to make me feel bad. So he says if you don't want that's fine but if you do tell me. He feels I can't trust him now and says we can't have a relationship without trust. So now I wait to see if he will text me. He sent me alot of photos of him and his daughter. Doing my research I learned about reverse photo. All his photos were ok except for one. I went to that site and found more photos of him and all I found was the photo I had was misused. I also saw different names and a photo looks like he is a model. Yesterday more photos were posted but I can't find him by the name he gave me. Using same last name. I was really hoping he was the real deal.This stinks and btw I kept all his photos and emails with 2 videos he sent me plus I have a copy of our text where he asked for assistance. I am kinda leary about putting his name here. Tired of having my heart broken
Heartbroken
May 20, 2018

In reply to by hurt1toomanytimes

Your guy reminds me a lot of my scammer Wilson? Post his name . My reply to another post is on the first page dated 5/9/18 on this ftc site. I do have a FTC question? How do we talk privately to posts on here that sound similar to our experiences? So we can vent and compare photos and such? Please advise...
My aunt got sc…
May 10, 2018
Supposedly on oil rig of coast of Texas. Dead wife. Parents died in house fire. Twin sister died at birth. Two kids, Smith (boarding school in Massachusetts) & daughter (Viola) at Boston College. Said he was from Denmark, but studied at Whittier College in California. Needed iTunes cards "to finish his map", had her take a photo & scratch off code. Then he was supposed to call, but didn't because "there was an explosion" and four people got hurt. After that, he 'lost his wallet" and the "Board of Directors" couldn't locate it. Called her "My love" & "My Queen", wrote lots of poetry. Wanted her to Western Union 3000 euros to "receive equipment for the rig" & then he'd deposit the $ back into her account. I found the same name on an old Nigerian scam from 2005. And the photos were of a nice man from Virginia with beautiful blue eyes. And his son. Heavy accent, said it was because he was from Denmark.
Just checking
October 25, 2018

In reply to by My aunt got sc…

the guy trying to scam me also claims to be from Denmark. Hence, the heavy accent. But he was robbed! Yes, it was always my love or princess or sweetness...
Jk
May 10, 2018
I think I made a grave mistake by calling out who I thought was my scammer. He never ask for money and I found out that he really did have a job in Turkey. Then that he was not the person that so many of us believe that are going to Turkey. His name was Paul Cazorla and I must apologize for putting his name out there jumping the gun and thinking the worst because I had not heard from him for a while and thought he may have ghosted me but I have heard from him and I'm now assured that he is who he says he is so please ladies out there if you see this name please do not connect it with the scammers that you have found out about. This man is true and genuine.
shellbell
May 11, 2018
Has anyone been contact by a guy called Bryan Lanning? Claims to be a private contractor, suddenly had to fly to London just before we were going to meet up. Private contractor in oil, construction. Was going for a job interview and still there after 7 weeks. Won a contract for a job but now has issues with work permit and wants money. First wife has died, second wife cheated on him, has a daughter at boarding school in the States, has no family as both parents died in car accident. Is really good at writing and speaking from his so called heart. Just getting too many red flags now. Is this guy a scammer???
fell4it2
June 28, 2018

In reply to by shellbell

almost exact details for me, shellbell, goes by Greg Helmut...
Colby
May 14, 2018
Hello. I am getting a request from a person that I met (for friendship) on a dating profile; requesting that I forward iCards (in order to rectify the "connection issue" overseas). He states that he is serving in the military overseas and supposedly sent me "proof" of such. Is this a valid website: www. sddc. army. mil (the site usually has a "USSA" message saying that the person's bank account is "temporarily frozen...."?
FTC Staff
May 14, 2018

In reply to by Colby

People can't use iTunes cards to fix "connection issues." The only place to use an iTunes card is at the iTunes store, to buy online music, apps or books. The person didn't tell you the truth about what an iTunes card is for.

Colby
May 15, 2018

In reply to by FTC Staff

I sincerely thank you for your information. The iCard issue--along with asking me for money to take care of 'paperwork' for 'leave' request--is an absolute 'red flag (LOL). I will respond accordingly when I hear from him via text (yesterday it was a phone call to try and convince me of the importance of his request) but after thinking about it late last night; it backfired then and certainly will never occur now (LOL). Again thanks for your help.
KRET
May 13, 2018
person lara akin in africa nigeria becerfull
KB
May 14, 2018
Here’s a text message from someone I was in a Facebook relationship with. I did not send any money. sweetheart, how are you doing and how was your night?? I made a transfer on Friday to pay the balance for the pipes and i also paid engineers and laborers for their work. to my surprise today as I was about transfering money to the custom account i couldnt access my account and when i called my bank customer careline and asked why i cant make transfer from my account they said multiple transfer has been made in my account and my account has been accessing from an unidentified terrain and hence, they have to put a hold on my account for my own safety. I told them to lift the hold because i am the one making the transfers and i m in need of money to finance my project but the customer care provider argued that it was the bank's regulation that my account cant be unlocked until i get back to the State in person and sign some documents proving that i was the one who was accessing the account from the location.The bank said they have had such encounters too many times and the banks ends up paying compensation in some cases when the original account holders claim that their accounts has been compromised.So the only means i could get the money transferred to pay for custom duty and claim my pipes has been blocked and i m so confused right now honey. I do not want to lose the contract, the means of my livelihood and my money and my effort are all on the line honey and i really need you now to stand for me. I am afraid I’ll need the sum 25,000USD, to add to the one I have to complete the payment but I were able to raise 46,000USD here and the wife of the surveyor will be sending 32,000USD. what I was charge as import tariff is $103,000. sincerely I really need your assistance in this, and I certainly assure reimbursement of the funds as soon as i get work done and get my payment. I hope this will not upset you or make you feel disregard for me ,as at present i have tried a few things and I was able to raise $78,000 something deep inside of me has moved me to ask you as I never wanted to and i want you to help me out of this whole shit I am currently hanging. I dont want to lose the millions of dollars I have put on this project so far. Love you sweetheart,
Sandi
May 21, 2018

In reply to by KB

Omg almost the same thing happened to me. But he said his cousin was having a hard time getting into his account. He needed help because he didn't get enough pipes for his job. Which was ridiculous. So he was asking his mom to help and if I could just send him the money for shipping on a visa gift card. He didn't like it because from the beginning I have him a hard time but he still would try. I never sent money to him or open an account like he wanted me too. The one thing I do have to say is very respectful in the way they talk to you. But then again I guess if they didn't we wouldn't give them the time of day.
ImAIdiot
June 22, 2020

In reply to by KB

Yep, I am an idiot! This is exactly what my man sounds like in texts and emails.... exactly! However, the damage is done and I'm out a lot of money because I was stupid. I knew red flags were going up everywhere but I prayed and I asked for a sign. I misread everything because I wanted to believe in this person. Now I'm out of money and I lost who I thought was the love of my life! I really thought I was smarter than this but now I know people can be conned and never know what hit them! I don't think I'll ever trust another person again! His name is Lewis campbell - anyone been in contact with this guy?