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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.

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.

Don't use your…
September 16, 2019
Another scam I've come across occurs when you tell a scammer that you've been scammed before. They all know an FBI friend who will help you recover your money. There is a cost for documents, travel, etc. The FBI friend emails you and you can tell it's a scam because the info they ask for is sketchy, weirdly phrased and they guarantee you will get your money within a week or so.
Don't use your…
September 16, 2019
The men who have approached me on WWF are: Jack Sunday, John Nicholson, Paul Selva, Raymond Downey, and Jewel Andres. All have asked for gift cards to be sent for various reasons. All knew FBI friends who would help recover money that was scammed.
Lou
September 20, 2019
Wish I would have seen this blog before getting involved with my silver-tongued devil scammer. Yes I did loose $$ on iTunes gift cards, but worst of all my heart. You all know what that feels like . His name is Phillip and he searched me out on Zoosk in Washington State. He is 64 and a Civil Engineer with German parents both deceased. I believe he chose me because I am a widow. He said his wife had died 5 years ago. He seems to fit most all of the red flags of a love scammer. He's coming home this coming week so will play his game to see if he shows. He does have an accent but not German. Sound familiar to anyone??
Concerned
May 28, 2020

In reply to by Lou

Was his name Phillip Dill? A person by this name chatted with me on an online app. He told me a sad story about a woman he said he loved who was pregnant with his child leaving him to move to Australia with another man. After chatting for a few days, he asked me to purchase a gift card for him. I immediately stopped all communication with him. He tried to convince me to give him my phone number.
Wide Awake
September 20, 2019
What an evil world this is. I am looking for a wife, and then after a while, after I get emotionally attached to the girl I am trying to fall in love with in many of the dating websites. They ask me to send them a gift card. What the hell is this?
Lou
September 29, 2019

In reply to by Wide Awake

We know what it is now. Very hurtful indeed. Don't give up because there are nice people out there too
catlady
September 23, 2019
Once , on Facebook, I became friendly with a man named James Gates who professed his true love for me....than promised to marry me and take me to Hawaii. Then, James Gates asked me for $350.00 to wire $34,000.00 in American money from Singapore to the United States! I immediately knew this was a scam, but at the time I didn't know how to handle the situation. Sometime later, on Facebook, a man named Micheal(don't remember last name) from Liverpool, UK wanted us to announce our engagement on Facebook....after only 3 days of friendship! Well, a few days later, he sends me a message saying he was on a business trip to Africa, that he had been beaten and robbed...and said he needed $3000.00 to return home to the UK! Did I fall for these scams? NOOOOO! The best way to meet a potential mate is IN PERSON....and in a public place until you get to know them
Mary C.
September 23, 2019
On meetmindful.com Thomas from San Francisco asked me to respond on phones have been talking 1 month asked for 15,000. He will spend his life with me, will pay me back, loves me. He says he is an architect from Santa Barbara2 years to retire. Talked 2x he doesn't sound older.
tramhuyn85
October 18, 2019
This guy by the named Henry Cheung added me out of nowhere on Instagram. We started chatting then he want me to download WhatsApp so we can chat there. He claimed his job didn't allowed him such time to chat on Facebook or Instagram. He told me he an engineer for drilling oil and gas. Currently he is on ship out sea in Turkey doing a 3 months contract work. After a week of chatting he confessed his love to me. I thought to myself is he real. I still went along with it to see . After chatting for a month, just a couple of days ago he messaged me out of nowhere. He said some pipes blow up on the ship and he need money to replace it. He asked me for 3000. I told him I didn't have any money. He kept on begging me. I had block him from Instagram and WhatsApp. I should have played alonged more to see what other tricks he has. He actually messaged me from another phone# to pretend that he was disappointed with my character lol. I still couldn't believed such thing has happened to me. My friends are always encouraging me to tried online dating. Now I know not trust it.
Sunshine64
September 25, 2019
A dude friended me on Instagram and immediately he supposedly fell in love with me and was calling me his wifey His online name is Mathew with Las Vegas phone number Told me he was waiting to win an oil contract in Dubai and then we would have millions He would not face time with me as he claimed he dropped his phone so I asked him to send me a picture with a sign with my name written on it He was upset and told me he was legit and said I doubted him. He even wanted me to buy him a new phone Through our conversations he wanted my address and wanted my bank account information so he could send me money The pictures he sent me of the man he claimed was him is in his 40’s neatly trimmed dark hair and works in a gym so a fantastic body. Claims he is from Bulgaria. His Instagram picture disappeared while I was talking with him
fooled
September 26, 2019
Be aware of someone calling themselves Greg Randle. Will talk to you for months/years then all of a sudden disappear after asking you multiple times for money. Claims he is in New York and had a medical emergency but cannot pay because his accounts have been frozen.
Lou
September 27, 2019
(continuation to 9/20/29 post) Well, to my disappointment Phillip never returned to Washington State. He has confirmed my suspicions and never did live here! I am saddened and angry that I became his victim. He's not coming up anywhere on the internet, but at least I can prevent him from hurting anyone else By contacting his original hangouts.
A mug I am not!
September 27, 2019
Why do they insist on chatting on Google hangouts?
Wide Awake
October 02, 2019

In reply to by A mug I am not!

Yeah, that's weird, strange. Most of the scammers insist on only talking thru Google hangouts and not by phone
Red peaches
October 17, 2019
Nicholas Manny aka Nicholas Smith Vegas Instagram and POF and Skout dating sites Asking for money and gift cards and medical care and plane fare. Smith nicolas874
Zarao505
September 27, 2019
I am currently being scammed by a guy using the name Roland Asger Moore on an interracial dating sight. He claims to be widowed, from Denmark, no family and currently working on a contract with Shell Oil in the Gulf. After 3 weeks he asked me fir $15k to move equipment to the oil rig. He has salt and pepper hair with same on goatee and moustache. He wears glasses. He is a charmer but luckily I did not give him money. His location is given as Orlando FL. He sent me a Shell Oil contract. I investigated the signers and discovered they had retired from their jobs in . early 2009. I plan on sending the contract to Shell.
Valentinus
September 28, 2019
Watch out Amanda Weber 498 on Instagram she claimed she’s from military Illinois and always “with god everything possible etc..try to take my trust use romance words and she has 5 pictures 6 followers I asked you are beautiful but no much followers and she has always excuses shortly after 24 hours boom!itunes card hope my scammer not indian at least I have good fantasies with this fake blonde girl..be careful guys
Blue_Dragon
September 28, 2019
I've met a number of women online. Instagram in particular, seems to be a breeding ground for online romance scams. I have experienced several times and learned more about how these scams work. They ask for money cards and the receipt of purchase (I believe) in order to get the money back for the card, after they've used the card. This my theory. I don't know it for a fact, but why would they demand that I send a picture of the receipt. I also believe the accounts are phony. I've also seen a number of accounts with the same woman's pictures.
vswift
October 24, 2019
Robert Kokholm or Scott Kokholm, I’m still hoping someone else knows these names. Or Kokholm Restoration and Design. Is it money laundering to transfer money from his Million $$ account to his attorney for him? And where did all this money come from??
Jojo
October 02, 2019
Has anyone had an in counter with King Stalling that’s in the Navy. Very handsome on Instagram? He wants to text you and never wants to talk.
Triple three
October 03, 2019
Has anyone on here heard or seen a use that goes by linda rebecca? She claims to be falling in love but constantly asks for iTunes cards. Like what can you possibly use them for? Resale?? She won’t talk outside of bigo or hangouts I’ve caught her in multiple lies... I mean scam artist or what?
Oil rig engineer
October 05, 2019
Watch out for con/scammer goes by name of Mark Dennis. Working in Norway for oil company. Born Oct. 1966/67, around 53 yrs old. Said he is from Champagne Illinois. Daughter, 15, "Sheila" in boarding school. Found ex-wife with his best friend. Looking for new wife for companionship and mother for his daughter. Wants you as future wife to send him steam cards to stay in contact. Needs you to hold his pay check of $50000 for him until he gets back to the states. Plans to "whisk you away and get married" as soon as he gets back from Norway.
Tararxa
October 06, 2019
I was scammed by a guy on Instagram. He goes by the name Thomas HMT (Hamilton) He has pictures on his profile with his captains uniform and name on his work hat. He has pictures of his travels and with his crew. He says he was born in Madrid, Spain but grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He said he grew up in the states. He deleted his Instagram account. He invited me to chat on WhatsApp. We talked over chat for a week. He professed his love for me and said he told his crew mates he has found the woman he wanted to marry. He said he has been working for over 25 years as a captain but wants to retire when he meets a special lady, which he believed was me. He said he was married for 21 years to his wife but she died in a gas explosion accident 3 years ago. He asked me to send him a Google play card because he needed it to do research. He said the connection was bad where he was and he needed an upgrade. I said that didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t send him a card and I blocked him on my accounts. But we did exchange personal info like my first and last name and where I was born, so I’m worried now about falling victim to identity theft.
DMS
October 07, 2019
I met someone on facebook. I usually don't accept friend requests from people I don't know but I accepted his request. He claimed he was a chief master sargent in the air force. He asked me to go to a "more secure website due to his status in the military. He was talking about a relationship with me within a week of talking to him and professing his love for me. I told him we had just started talking and he needed to slow down with the relationship talk. He said his wife died 7 years ago and they had one son that was 15 yrs. old. He talked to me for about a month and wanted me to be his fiance'. After that he started asking for my bank account details. He got upset because I wouldn't and said I didn't trust him. I did not give the information to him. He then said he was going to email the General in command to ask permission for me to email the General to request a vacation for him, which is free, and the soldier has to fill it out. I received an email from the General that had an attachment that said it would cost $4150 for his vacation form for me to sign and be approved on paperwork with an army stamp and a military letter head. I did some investigating on the whole matter. I sent a copy of the form to him and told him that he needed to fill it out for the request and it was free. He was mad that I was involving other people and what I read online into our relationship. He said this is the process for me to come home and you can't believe everything on the internet. I got online and inquired some help from a military lawyer concerning the document to see if it was authentic. He said he has never heard of a soldier having to pay for a vacation leave. He said it is free and again the soldier has to fill it out. The lawyer apologized for this happening to me and said it was a scam. He was very mad that I did that. He said he ask me not to bring other people into our relationship. He sent me poems and romanced me. He got me to fall in love with him. I tried to break it off and he would come back with I will forgive you this time for breaking my trust. Don't you want me to come home to see you in a week? I told him that if he wanted a relationship with a stupid person then maybe he should have chosen someone that wasn't educated. He didn't like that I said that. It's sad that people like this ruin it for good, honest people when it might be a real relarionship. With the help of my children, co-workers, and good friends that were helping to look out for me and cared about me the only thing I ever gave him was my heart.
hotlikeme
May 30, 2020

In reply to by DMS

same here too. but this guy requested me on instagram, we chatted for a while then he told me to download the app hangouts which i did then he telling me he is a widow has two kids nanny watching him and he is in a special mission in kabul, afghanistan. he confessed his love right away and he said he needed a wife and a mom to take care of his two kids and his future. currently still talking to him but then like he told me to contact and email UN, united nation about his emergency leave to come home so we can work on our marriage and stuff like that. i have emailed UN and then they told me to send a fee for emergency leave of the months i want to spend with him and i choose three months which was $2,850 and i paid that fee. after they confirmed the fee they sent me another email saying this is the final step that would bring him home to me and i would have to pay another fee of $12,450, i like omg i dont have that kind of money. then i told him i dont have that kind of money. so then i remember that my cousin were in the army too and i asked her about all those fees and she said i didn't have to pay for those and why did i pay. i just told her that i paid the first one but not the other high amount. she said its def a scam. so i confronted him and he said i had to trust him he cant access his bank info there which i know hes lying because i had asked my cousin and she said yes you can access your accounts there. now he is upset and a bit disappointed that i am asking my cousins these questions. he told me not to bring anyone in our relationship. but i told him i had to and needed too. we are still currently talking. he was supposed to come see on Friday May 29,2020 but due to the high fee that i couldnt afford he wasnt able to come. now he is upset but i told him it is was it is and things happen.
Disenchanted
October 08, 2019
Guy contacted me about a month ago on Match. Seemed nice, we exchanged texts. emails and finally talked on the phone. He has a heavy (what sounds to me like) Africaans accent, though he claims he was born in the US, raised in Australia, and went to school in England and the US. Has apparently lived here 30 years. Says he is cautious about getting in another relationship since he was cheated on before. Claimed to have lived in LA and the Houston area. Called out to a rig in Baffin Bay. I noted in his letter his description was taken verbatim from a Wikipedia article. Long story short, he's on the rig, equipment failed, he has to stay and decides to reorder a new piece of equipment which will need to be shipped from China ($975,000 total). His friend/assistant in Houston got him a satellite phone (immediately which seemed a little strange) but he texted and called several times per day. About 10 days later, just as this job was getting ready to finish said assistant was hit by a car and had surgery, and was subsequently put into a medical coma. He tells me that he has no way to fly experts (who will program the new equipment) from Singapore to Canada and since his wallet is in storage onshore, he has no way to get them there or get his ticket home. Story builds over the next day or so and he eventually asks me for money (apologizing for having to ask) but will reimburse me when he gets home. I offer to try and set up flights that he can call and pay for later, ask if he can call his bank, his card companies, his assistant's wife (for the card his assistant uses), the storage unit. I also suggest perhaps the company with the experts can bill him. Shortly after this, while the tone of the e-mails are still sweet, the phone calls stop. 36 hours go by before he makes contact again via text, only to say that everything has been set up and things are once again in motion. I reply that that's great news. Later in the day I text to ask how things are progressing. Crickets. No contact whatsoever for over three days now. For someone who was so invested in starting a relationship, it certainly cooled quickly once I wasn't a viable source of income. The name on his Match profile was "Pete," but he introduced himself as Harrison.
Fallen in Love
December 02, 2019

In reply to by Disenchanted

I met a Harrison via Zoosk back in August 2019. From CA now in Houston. One week into our conversation he had to go to Canada to work on a Rig (Hill Island, Canadian Artic Achipelago in the Territory of Nunavut) exactly on Wikipedia. Asked for a gift card, said no. Charming man, good looking photo and has a way with his words. Said he is from idaho but raised by Aunt in Australia. Went to school in Manchester. Engineering degree. Divorced, wife cheated on him. Anyhow, then asked to pay for airline tickets so the Experts from China could fix his equipment on the Rig. Said No. Kept calling me Wife. He was in desperate need of money for new equipment. He said I was one of three to lend him money and said he'd pay me back when he returned. I used bad judgement and unfortunately gave in $10k). Then before he was to come back home to meet, he needed money to ship his equipment back to Houston. Said No. He then claimed he sold his Rolex. Over a period of 10 weeks he told me he'd be home at least 5 times. I was excited, I'd meet him and he'd pay me back. Wrong. He even went to the limit of emailing me a itinerary. Luckily I checked into this one and found out it was never booked. He claimed he cancelled and scheduled a new flight. But he never told me the information. No word for over 12 hours. Then he text me and claims he is being detained and accused of an oil spillage on the rig. Now in detention. But when I call, no one there by the name Harrison Lucas Brooks. Nor did the Lawyer name he gave me exist. Three weeks go by, he is now back on the rig to clean up his mess so he can get home to me, yeah right. Then he says he needs $60k to fix this. I said No. Still talking but very little. I know I will never get my $10k back and will never meet this man. It is so dishonest what these people are doing to others. More to the story, but I'll stop here.
Fallen in Love
December 09, 2019

In reply to by Disenchanted

Do you still have his emails or a picture? I 've met a Harrison same story. Talking to him since August 29, 2019.
Dawnmb
October 09, 2019
I had 2 guys Nate your_mom_will_love_me and Matt Russell or Rody Russell both say they are from Texas. Matt on Instagram or Roddy he goes by on hangouts Talk for awhile then ask for a gift card for steam wallet gift card. Hes working in Qatar and doesn't have access to banking there. Hes a widower with 2 small kids and just wants a good woman. Works for an oil company. Nate works on oil rigs is in charge but doesn't have access to his account frozen over seas and needs money for a part on the rigs....
Luna W
October 09, 2019
Anyone knows about someone named Mike/Michael Park? putting nice Korean model pic. Wife died for 3 years. Used to work in Texas. Then offshore in Turkey. Suddenly asked for money for oil rig equipment because account got frozen.
Hotmama
October 09, 2019
I have been scammed by Jeff Pryor on an oil rig in the gulf. He said his wife died and has 1 son. He has been coming home for a year. He said he is from Louisiana and he has really got me good. Very good and said he has a villa in Italy. Has anyone talked to JEFF PRYOR
scammed2019
October 10, 2019
This guy Brock Wyatt was matched with me by Hinge and he scammed me for $100 itunes cards. only chatted on whatsappusing this number +1 (415) 930-6947. no phone call, meeitng etc. Good profile pic of whover he stole from - I wish I could tell the actual soldier that he was handsome. I have pictures of him. lemme know if nayone wants to validate if it was the same guy. Anyways, this guy said he lived in cobble hill, brooklyn. He claimed to be a soldier working for US army stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He said was 'E28 captain of the alpha squad of the 3rd batallion regional army'. did two tours of iraq, 1 of afghan and 1 of chad two months ago. Said he was on IRR leave to visit his son. His mother, father, wife were all dead and his 8 yr old son 'Kyle' was being raised alone by a nanny. said he had several dogs and cats. His dog 'Jack' would go with him on tours. said he caught his wife cheating on him several times. said she died an year after divorce after marrying another man and was sick. he was married for 10 years. he was raised by his father. Met him on Sunday night, scammed me on Wednesday. 2 hours into chatting on Hinge, he claims to have met 'the' woman and after another hour, he switches to whatsapp. Kept saying I love you and all sorts of flattering stuff. asked me if I was seeing other men. On Monday morning says, he has summoned urgently to report to duty. told me he was deployed to train the next batch in rural north carolina. several red flags on his against what he was claiming. But he said his 'disabled' friend set up his account to see him with a woman. And yesterday he scammed me into buying two $50 gift cards for his son and himself. I of course denied at first and asked to ask someone else, he said he already tried. I said I needed to talk to him before helping him. he said its against protocol at the military. Later asked him to send a selfie of him - he said, he was with his soldiers and commander and he dare not take a selfie but will send a selfie first thing in the morning after 'patrol'. something made me believe him even in the middle of immense doubt and my mistake was to buy his itunes cards before doing research on google which is invariably do!!! Please help track him down. we need to get our money back. Also lot of my personal information is with him. I am worried it might be misused.
Limitless
October 18, 2019
I met this “USA Soldier” on Instagram 3 months ago, two weeks after he was totally in love with me, he send pictures to me saying that he was a “Nurse” but I have a lot of doubts by the way he talked and the way he write... I continue because I gave him the benefit of doubt but deep inside of me something was telling me not to trust. But this people are wise and convince you if anything, I confront him one time and I call him a scammer and he pretend to be the victim and asked me if I had a proof ...If I ask him a question, he will not answer and skip it all the time. He was always talking to me through hangouts app , once he asked me for a amazon $100.0 gift card because In the camp they need to pay the connection and he claims to have problems with his master card... I did send it trusting it was true but shortly after two days apart he asked me for the same because the card he couldn’t use it ... I had an argument with him and he start to apologize and that he will not asked me again but to not leave him because he can’t live without me... everything was fine till 1 week ago.. he claims that he had a meeting and that he was to b deploy to Afganistán and that he don’t want to go there because he was scare because he has a 4 yrs old daughter... he post my pictures in his Instagram saying I was the love of his life etc...he told me that he needs $5,000.00 as a fine to leave the camp and is there where I asked myself, how a USA soldier has to pay a fine to leave , there was a lot of clues that I receive from him for me not to trust him... he asked me to send him that amount and of money and I totally refuse and he start to play reverse psicología with me and kinda work but when he told me to send it through “Bitcoin” is when I said this is it I need to get information, I talked to my daughter and together searching we find out that I’ve been scam. I lost $200.00 but it could’ve been worse. Now I dedicate myself to learn a lot of more about this people and help others not to fall with this heartless , selfish people , he claimed to be from England his suppose named is Mark Pierson USA soldier serving in England. If it was tru or not I don’t care anymore. He use frankpaulshow as an email for hangout app. I’m a very private person and never talk to nobody on social media and the they I decided to talk to someone this happens... be careful read always between the lines.. if is too good to be true run away before us too late.
stupidgurl
October 11, 2019
Anyone else meet Prescott or david Wilson on WWF? Prescott claims to be stationed in Syria with a 7 yr old daughter in Germany but he lives in South Carolina. He claims to have been ambushed and lost his phone and wallet with all his cards and information. He begs for iTunes cards so he can eat and get his medication. And so he can listen to music and watch movies. He will profess his undying love for you. David claims to work for Exxon mobile in New York and has 2 daughters but is stuck in Japan and his bank account isn’t working so he’s asking for my bank account information and professing his undying love for me also. I would like to know so I can throw it in their face that I’m not the only one they’re scamming.
Cheryl
October 13, 2019
I have been talking with a beautiful woman who I never meet, we can’t talk on the phone or online because she claims she don’t have internet.. but keeps asking for money.
amarea
October 14, 2019
Hi, Anyone 'met' Christophe Collart or Christophe Dubois? Half Italian, half French. 40 years old. Very fit and handsome as indicated in photos. Wife died in a car accident (seems to be a theme on this board). Is his own boss selling cars. Had to go to Africa to work, got mugged, they took his credit card. Stayed at hotel du lac in Gagnoa, West Africa. Wanted money sent to Labas Syllas, supposedly the hotel manager. He contacted me through Instagram and wanted to do Google Hangouts but I refused. He's very charming so I see why someone would fall prey... I have photos if anyone wants to cross-reference. The Google reverse image doesn't return any photos of the same man. Wish there was another way to find out who he really is. Any feedback welcomed!
skeptical_for_…
October 14, 2019
Hoping to find others who might have interacted with this same guy that my aging mother is interacting with and swears she is in love with. I feel badly because she is so excited but I just think it sounds like a scam all the way down. They met online (Zoosk, Match.com, something) but moved off the site quickly to texting (strike #1). He says his name is Michael, lawyer/litigator for an "offshore oil" company (strike #2) near Houston, Texas but also has property in VA beach (of course he does). He has a grown daughter in college or law school and says he has been divorced for a couple of years. He says he is very tall and is Irish and supposedly 60 even though his photos reflect none of that. Has a thick accent he says is Irish (I haven't heard it myself and I am pretty sure my mother doesn't know any other Irish people so who knows about the accent). He shared a photo showing has 2 Mercedes convertibles. Has a phone that my mother said he told her is "one of those phones that isn't a landline or a cell phone" - umm...what? Within weeks they are in love and getting married and he is promising her the world (strike #3). Swears he is going to take her to Disneyworld and then move her to the beach, but didn't want to share his last name (eventually did - Myers. Mike Myers? Seriously, dude?). Was supposed to come visit but had an emergency the night before because the accountant for his company took off and no one can find him or the millions of dollars and something about the IRS, etc., etc., etc. When she got upset that he wasn't coming to visit he said he can come in a few days (remains to be seen). Then, he and her are going to be together and plan their lives together because he took 6 months leave to be with her (?????) and will retire soon. My mother says he hasn't asked her for money, but did say that he wanted to her to open up a bank account so he could pay off all of her bills for her (eye. roll.), and that he has asked her what her limits are on her credit card, and has offered to book her a flight and rental car but would need her card number to do so (strike #...where are we? #4?). Luckily, an employee at the bank explained to my mother that this sounded fishy and told her that she would gladly help this man pay off all of her bills if he came in person to do so, which he is supposedly going to do, but of course had an emergency last minute. I tried the reverse image lookup for the image she shared with me but found nothing. I am SO, SO certain that this dude is scamming my mother and just can't seem to convince her of this, because they text and talk all day every day and she says they are in love and he has bought her stuffed animals and made her cards that he just sends photos of but never sends (strike #8million). Hoping someone else has interacted with this clown so I can confirm my suspicions and help my mother get away from this whole thing. She is rearranging her work schedule and buying new clothes and TANNING in anticipation of his visit, and cried on the phone when she told me he had just cancelled on her. I hate this for her and want to clear things up before she gets hurt any further. THANK YOU so much for your help.
Texas scammer
October 15, 2019
This man stated was born in Germany, currently living in TX. Sadly has been watching me for almost two years on my IG acct (stated he is a Civil Engineer and is also a fitness coach on the side) before messaging me; making his move. His photos fits description, his account has been around for a few years. Tattoo on one arm that goes around. He was a charmer for sure. I didn't budge in the beginning and we actually stopped communicating several times because he was pushy the first couple times, never asked for money but "fell in love" with me pretty quick, always talking about our future together, would send me "romance" cheesy quotes/memes, telling me to have a beautiful morning and how happy I make him. Definitely not me with the romance so we stopped communicating, he told me I didn't appreciate romance. I told him I was not the one he was in search of. Third time around, he messaged me on IG (I didn't have him on my acct anymore and I didn't follow him either) asking me to text him and he meant every word he meant. He missed me, couldn't get me out of his mind. Called me hun, sweetie, didn't want to treat me like a random because I was a queen, didn't want no sexy photos from me just "normal" photos so he could see me. He sent me a few as well, never questioned any distortion of any photos. Wouldn't talk over IG video and would get upset if I continued to ask. I refused skype when he offered. But it wasn't until the 3rd time communicating that he showed his aggression towards me. When conversation would get sexual (always my fault, kinda a sexual gal) would tell me he is very territorial and if I was his, he would never allow me out of his sight when out in public. Wanting me to say I trusted him, he could trust me and it was just him and I together, no body else I was committed to. I had his back and he had mine. I went out with friends one evening, a little jealously shinned through. Telling me not to be flirty, try to behave because he wouldn't want another man looking or getting my attention. Wanted me to give him my time during one of my breaks and come out to see him. Requested to send him a photo of just myself dressed up prior to going out, I didn't and he became upset. Advised for me to go straight home after a couple of hours that I didn't respond to him. Then offered to call me. I didn't respond back until next morning. Then all of a sudden I see "I love you". I told him I wouldn't accept that. Then a few hours later, I receive a message stating he needed me and didn't know what to do because of his meeting and asked me to help him send gift cards to an email for orphanage children (3 cards in total of $800 for movies/games). I of course didn't send and stopped communication with him. Blocked his IG acct and deleted my textnow number. I have read and read through all these, I don't see any stories similar to mine. A lot of these men claim to be oversees, mine states is here in US. I was smart and used textnow to communicate with him but not smart to give a couple personal photos (the daring ones doesn't show my face) so if they are shared, whatever. I didn't give him my location but he knows my state thanks to IG and following me for a couple years. Should I be in fear of him finding me? He was pretty upset that the email never went through. Final words to me was "good luck sweetie". He didn't have the typical grammar errors/spelling errors... just typical errors here and there.
sunnshines123
November 04, 2019

In reply to by Texas scammer

Hi what did he look like? From what you’re saying he sounds a little like the guy I was talking to.
oldguy
October 16, 2019
I had a girl approach me on a dating site. I was suspicious because she was half my age and not local. After a couple of days of txting she asked for my netflix account. I dont know why a scammer would want my netflix account but I told her I did not have netflix and that I used plex. If she would sign up for a free plex account I could share my tv shows and movies with her. She went into explaining how I could get a netflix account for her. I cut her off and blocked her number. Anytime a girl half your age, who is not local, hits on you, it is a scammer. lol
almost fooled
October 16, 2019
anyone heard of Peter Mason with an English accent? Very charming and smooth but I knew something not right , too good to be true! So today he asked me to send him a new phone for work as his apple was stolen in Europe! Please beware!
fintajoe76
October 16, 2019
Someone knows a girl, named Stacey Anderson?
dg14
October 16, 2019
I have a love interest who says she is a marine and is in a top secret location, where she can’t call or video message me. But she sends pictures. What is the probability of this being true???
Anna
October 16, 2019
I met this guy called Donald Waller scammer he was an work on the rigs off shore. Lost his credit cards in the ocean. Had a 16 year old. Even she wrote to me from school (ya right). He was so in love with me. I did email the girl $500.00 gift cards for her birthday which she was so excited and loved me for loving her daddy. (She was more likely him as well). Time went on and the daughter was in an accident going home on break and was in a coma. He wanted some money told him I didn’t have it. And wanted me to order some phones he was going to resell them to make some money for his daughter the phones would come to me and I would mail them out. I ordered the phones and was really thinking about this and cancel the order. I told him I canceled them and he mad at me, and told it would be my fault if his daughter dies. And he would never forgive me. I felt guilty and sent him 1500 in gift cards. So now he has 2,000. And then he ask for another $500.00 so he could send off some paper work for his company. I told him I wanted to see his drivers license o ya he had that planned out to show it to me and could see some flaws in some places. I told him it was a fake and no money I told him that was all I had in the saving but ask me if I had a credit card and off the bat I said no. I meant him playing words with friends 2 and than he wanted to go on hangouts. I feel so stupid. I deleted him from my hangouts and blocked him on my phone. Haven’t heard from him again
someone outside USA
October 17, 2019
I got scammed financially by a person in the USA and I live outside the USA
GOLDEN58
October 18, 2019
I met this guy on online game of Spades ..he told me his name was Peter Lionel and has a 9 Yo son named James and as in boarding school in Washington. Peter Lionel said he was deckhand engineer and bitcoins trader etc.. wife died of cancer so we started chatting for a couple of weeks and boom he asked me to buy him a Google Play card for 100dollars.. So I said no and thenThat raises a red flag for me so I asked him you’re supposed to be a deckhand engineer why are you asking me for money he got upset didn’t respond a couple of days then contact me again through Hangouts I forgot to mention that he wanted me to talk to him or hang out as well and I have his phone number to but he wanted me to start chatting with his side named JamesI chatted with James a couple of times he never asked for anything long story shortThe guy Peter has sent me a new photo yesterday and oh I must that he did send me other photos of him and I did Google image and nothing came about it but yesterday he sent me a photo and I Google image that one and oh my gosh different names in different sites came up he’s now going by the name of Abdullahi Owen on IG So peterlionel483 or Peter Lionel and Abdullahi Owen u didn’t get me scammer
Dumb
October 18, 2019
Shawn Walker, supposedly from Dallas Tx. One daughter Amanda. Scams for money. Don't send it. Reported
Griffen mom
October 20, 2019
Has anybody been scam by a guy name George! His wife passed away 3 years ago. He lives in California but just got a contract for an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico!! Met on words with friends then convince me to go on hangout site to talk! Then 2 month on rig amd had an explosion and now is bugging me for $50000.00. I refuse but everyday he begs me to trust me!
Dontwanttobescammed
November 02, 2019

In reply to by Griffen mom

I'm chatting with a guy named George who wife died of cancer 3 years ago. Do you have pictures to compare?