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It’s Valentine’s Day and love is in the air. You may think you spend a lot on flowers or chocolate, but losing money in a romance scam would cost you even more. Last year, people reported losing $143 million to romance scams – a higher total than for any other type of scam reported to the FTC. And, according to a new FTC Data Spotlight, reports of romance scams are on the rise.

What do we mean by romance scams? We’re not talking about the person you thought was “the one” but ended up being a dud. We’re talking about people you meet online, who lavish you with attention … and then ask for money. Usually they want the money by wire transfer or gift card. They might claim they need it for a medical emergency or to come visit you. Then they take your money, but there’s no surgery and no trip.

Romance scammers are hard at work wooing people on dating apps and social media. They may lift photos to create an attractive profile or even steal the identity of a real person. Just like with real romances, it may take them some time to gain your trust, but the scammer’s payoff can be big. Last year, people reported a median loss of $2,600 from romance scams.

How can you avoid romance scams?

  • Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven’t met in person.
  • Take it slowly. Ask questions and look for inconsistent answers. Check the person’s photo using your search engine’s “search by image” feature. If the same picture shows up with a different name, that’s a red flag.
  • Talk to someone about this new love interest. And pay attention if your friends or family are concerned.
  • If you suspect a romance scam, cut off contact right away. Then, report to the scam to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. Notify the dating site where you met the scammer, too.

For more information, read Online Dating Scams or watch this video:

 

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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.

kitkat621
March 06, 2019
Instagram seems to be the new online romance dating scam. I am not against online dating, but when scammers, liars start becoming predators it is down right frightening. Recently I was messaged by 6 different men on Instagram. All seemed legitimately normal at first. But then came the claiming to love, and shortly after the request for something. 1)Marcus Ferguson first started chatting on Instagram and then his profile disappeared because he asked to start chatting on Hangouts. We did, and we video chatted as well he looked like his picture. He was a divorced dad of two kids living in Alabama, with two houses. He wanted to get serious, have a relationship. And then came the I home sick from work, and I need your help with an Itunes gift card so I can purchase my papers and work. When I said no, that this is a scam, he got defiant. He sent me a picture of him going to Sunday Church. The following day I was requested to follow someone with a total different name on instagram but it was the same picture. Craig Ferguson when I put it in google images it came back with multiple reports it was a scammer. When confronted with this information he repeatedly said he was hacked, and how could I think that of him. I blocked him everywhere because he was becoming angry that I did not want to talk to him. 2) Benton Hansler messaged me on instagram gave me his phone number started texting me and calling me. Told me he had a son Trevor lived in Texas. He said he had to go to Brazil for work. He asked me to give him my sprint account information so he could start a phone selling business as a side job. I told him that I would not, he was upset but let it go. He started talking to me on Hangouts, and also his son supposedly sent me videos of his son. I told him I wanted to send his son a valentine and asked for his address, he gave me his Uncles in New York and said I could mail it there because he was going down to see his son. He said to send his son an XBOX gift card , I told him I don't send that high end gift only a book and candy he is only 10. He said ok. I blocked him after he asked for more financial help. 3) Jason from Norway a Doctor started friendly chatting and on Instagram then he said he was in desperate need to find an Itunes card and if I could purchase it for him, because there were none in Norway. OMG (BLOCK) 4)Zach Cronk from Maryland. Military going to retire and open a car business up in California, was going to Germany to purchase cars for his business. Then all of a sudden his cousin had an issue in some country where he had to go help him cause he was jailed. He then messaged me that his credit cards and passport were frozen and he needed me to moneygram or western union him $600 dollars for hotel expenses, or send him 900.00 to help transport his dog to me so I could watch her. (BLOCK) 5) Isaac Butler - Instagram messaging/Airforce then went to Hangouts from Ohio, son named Bryson Widowed said his wife and daughter died in a car accident. He had a house in Texas a farm. He said he had a job assignment in Tripoli, but as soon as he was home he was coming to see me. He was the longest hold out from December to February without asking me for anything. But he kept asking for my home address, asked where I banked. I would not give it to him, then he kept saying I need your help badly with something. I have a sale on some horses from my farm and I have no way to get the money deposited into my account. So can you open a bank account up? I said yes if you give me your drivers license and social security card I will open it up in your name, he said in my name cause he did not have that info cause he was secret ops. When I said no, give me your address and I will run a back ground check on him, he said no give me yours. then he got mad, started telling me I was insecure and no guy would want me because I don't trust them. BLOCK!!!! 6) Robert Stefan Antoni from Miami FL He said he was an widowed engineer with 21 year old daughter in college, and a coworker friend named Phil. He said that he was trying to start his own business. We talked and he professed he could not wait to meet me. Then all of a sudden he said that he was in a bind because his accounts at work were froze and his credit cards as well, and he had a job offer for his contract to be in San Jose and asked if I could help him with a 1000 loan so he could have hotel expenses and that his friend Phil and daughter would come up with the rest. I said no, thats the biggest scam ever when someone you never met asks for money. I said would you give me 1000 no questions asked if I said I needed help he said yes. I said that there is no way I have that kind of money. He got mad and sent me rotten text saying that he knows when the going gets tough who really cares about him. (BLOCK) He did however say that if you don't believe who I am I will send you a picture of my passport. I have reported many of these on Instagram and Hangouts I have screen shots and all the pictures they sent. I really want to nail all of the these losers post their sorry pictures all over social media and put them in a book of ONLINE SCAMMING PREDATORS so that naive and woman that would believe them would beware. I am still searching for Love but obviously in all the wrong places. I told a Romance coach about this and sent him some screen shots and he was appalled at the audacity. What is this world coming to? Who are these snakes????????
El
October 18, 2019

In reply to by kitkat621

I have chat with enrbravo. He introduced himself like 46 years man from Tennessee. Engineer work in a big company waiting to get a contract for 6.4million dollars. He got 4 years old daughter. And he is a widower. He has started to me in Instagram. After we have moved the chat on Hangout (I didn't even know what is that app). During 1 week conversations he stopped for 2 days after he connected again and said he's father passed away and etc. After he won this contract (again he said for how much money) and he need to travel to China to buy installation. He asked me to buy for his daughter Google gift card coz he is running busy before his flight. He asked for 200$ and u said no. He started being rude and was saying how "the mom" of "our" daughter is so selfish?! I'm not her mum. Why I need to buy her gift cards? Anyway that passed. He went to China and then all the strange things started happening... Anyway niw he said is in China, with stolen wallet, crashed phone cam and he only can txt. But the reception there is bad... Anyway now he asked me to pay for him the annual taxes coz this stopped his last payment. He also gave me his account name and pass because he needs help to transfer the mo ey to buy installation. I've started reading this forum and now I know for sure all that is scam coz I found similar stories with different names. One of those is yours! Thanks
Lindaeverett
March 06, 2019
Id like to know if anyoneout there knows a jerry pollastro
Jane54
March 09, 2019
I wonder if anyone has come across this before. Contacted via Instagram by 51 year old Italian from Milan Gorge Mancinni. ( I'm not looking for any romance etc) Says he works in construction and interior design . Works for architectural agency and has private clients aswell. Says his wife , who was American,died and has a daughter studying in America. Chatting for 2 months. Soon after started went on hangouts- he's still got his Instagram account. He has sent me messages in Italian, pictures of his dog, his mother, his daughter, inside his house , his book collection , his meals!!! He has now gone to Madrid to work on a project- hotel renovation? Says company takes care of everything financial whilst he's away. Wanted me to access his account and transfer some money from his account to another's as he is buying art as setting up an art gallery in Milan. Trusts me to do this etc etc as I'm a lawyer etc. Never any direct request for cash from me. Says he's wealthy. Told him this sounded like money laundering!! Really angry with him as he knows my background- From the outset I told him I was a lawyer and knew all about scams, fraud etc . I think if he is a scammer, strange that he would continue with me knowing this? Won't tell me about his wife- too upsetting, won't speak on phone as too embarrassed about his English, won't tell me how long he's going to be in Madrid. Used term 'ex wife' instead of 'late wife' yesterday- said he made a mistake ? Very loving etc but I've been very sceptical from the outset and blocked him a few times. But if he is a scammer I have not been able find this scenario online. Desperate to know if this is an elaborate scam. I know all about the other type of scams- I block everybody who contacts me. But he seemed different. Any help out there please?!
lac
March 02, 2020

In reply to by Jane54

OMG - same thing happened to me on Instagram this past week. Very handsome man in pic - same bio - said his name I Mark Gregory. Wanted to chat in Hangouts... I just more curious about these scammers and want them exposed!
heartbroken
March 09, 2019
Two Names: Chris Wetzel and Cory Micheal The past two years have been completely draining financially and emotional. Chris an "engineer" and Cory in the military. Neither are real and have caused me to have to file bankruptcy. I have reported both. I really think that Chris had me involved in money laundering. I was so lonely and naive. Ladies please don't try to find love on line!
question
September 05, 2019

In reply to by heartbroken

i suspect i have interacted w one of these people, can you tell me how long it took for money request? bc i haven't had that yet.
Dee
January 15, 2020

In reply to by question

It can take up to 2 months. Just say no. I have no money. You will get angry nasty comments and try to make you feel guilty. I have had contact with a guy from Instagram claiming to be a site manager from KCA Dutag out of Newfound. Bid on a contract estimated low on the materials using the Tariff as an excuse to need money. Yea from Turkey. All red flags loves me on the what’s app. Just say no. Now I am reduced to a few messages here and there. No more chats lol don’t care I played him as much as he tried to scam me.
tmb0861
March 09, 2019
There are numerous sights on line that show the most common pictures used by SCAMMERS. They always pick the good looking ones. Please use common sense. The people in these pictures don't NEED to meet women on line, and certainly don't need money! I saw a special on TV the other night. An EX scammer took the cameras into a common room in Nigeria used by SCAMMERS. There were at least 50 computers set up around the room. I've had my share. I enjoy the chats until the subjects of going off the site to talk (I still don't understand that) and when money comes up. ( I hate to admit it but I actually enjoy making them THINK I am sending some.) Proof! They're instantly blocked. I wish someone would explain this thing about going to Hangouts or whatever? They can just as easily ask for money on Instagram?? Does someone know the answer?
Emilyc2
March 13, 2019
I got scammed by a guy on Instagram by the name of Turner Andrews said he fell for me right away and then wanted to marry me, then asked for $100 iTunes cards then Amazon card, then needed $300 for drugs for an injury in the army. Was so romantic and of course I fell for it, now that I broke it off with him he won't talk to me.
gotscammedagain
March 14, 2019
I have been scammed by three guys, Michael Bolgar, Willarad Kawamato and Scott Regnald. I fell for each one. Each one has a child, either their wife's have passed away or cheated on them. I was scammed out of my life savings. Two of them are engineers on rigs, the other is an engineer for construction. All out of the country working. Each have promised to take care of me and marry me. They really come up with some good lines to make you believe them. I have even been threaten by one of these guys if I didn't send money.
Viking
March 16, 2019
I’m pretty sure I’m being scammed by a guy who calls himself Patrick Sebastian. Started talking to him on instagram. He was very good said he was a widower that had a 5 year old boy showed pictures of a good looking guy with a boy. He said he was a mechanical engineer on an oil rig. Out 3 month off 1 month but wanted to get another contract that he could spend time with his son who lives with his mother in law, in Texas. He need these apple I tunes card to talk to me through a sight hangouts. After the second card he asked me for I gave him, I started checking out the internet for any image matches all his pictures were kind of fuzzy but one came up as a guy on a dating sight in London. I feel really stupid for giving him anything but he was very good at pulling me in. Told him in a text if he was who he said was he could send me more pics of his son. Oh ya his accent was Swedish because he was from Sweden and he’d been here working and living the states for 10 years. Please, people take note I only lost 200 dollars and my dignity. He is still calling and texting me after a day of not responding to him. Trying to draw me back in. He was a really good at it. Don’t want to delete everything in case officials want to use it to shit him down. I’m checking on that next.
Christina
March 25, 2019

In reply to by Viking

I think I may be talking to the same guy, I wish we could share pics on him. He's going by Gideon Brooke, lives in Canada, native of Cyprus, marine biologist, lost his wife, & has 5 year old son named Henry. His mother taking care of his son while he's on rig. The only pics I got were of him & son on vacation in white robes, a pic of son in a suit, & a few dating site pics. Been talking to him thru Viber since Jan 30, met him on Match. This week he said he is out on rig for 3 weeks, then all of a sudden I got an email saying to keep communicating with him I need to buy 8 $100 Google gift cards, take pic of them & send to them. I ask tons of questions like "what company u with? Customer service number?" I told them I reported them to scam & fraudulent dept w/US. They said they didn't care. The dialogue started back w/him & he sent me message why I wouldn't pay to talk while hes gone. I told him it's against law to pay for things using Google gift cards then he told me other girls were interested in him & he was going to give them the chance. Pretty much belittling me. Then my messages on Viber stopping going thru. These men suck how they miss w/ur emotions. He was telling me he would come see me after he got back off rig
MadWoman48
March 26, 2019

In reply to by Viking

I think I've been talking to the same guy that Viking is. I met him on Match on Jan 30th. He says name is Gideon Brooke, 50 (looks younger in pics), widower, 5 year old son named Henry, only family is his mother, native of Cyprus, lives in Canada, & a marine biologist. Immediately he wanted to talk on Viber, messages were long & quickly was telling me he loved me, sent me a couple pics of him & son on vacation in bathrobes, called me only once because he was always out on a rig for work. Said he was going to finish up this job & then come see me that was Friday, Mar 22nd. Then on Sat he sent be a text that said I needed to pay $800 in Google gift cards to be able to keep in contact w/him the next 3 weeks & the satellite company sent me email on how to register. I had a feeling it was a scam when I kept asking questions to the company sending me the emails, just general questions like, "what the name of ur company? Do u have a customer service line that I can actually talk to someone? Cant I pay a different way?" They didnt answer my questions & told me to stop asking questions because they had to tend to people who actually registered & said that I was going to lose contact w/Gideon. All of a sudden my messages thru Viber to Gideon quit going thru. Then I got an email from satellite company saying that Gideon wanted to talk to me real quickly so they were going to allow 30 mins then all of a sudden I got message from him thru Viber mad that I wouldn't pay & that I must not love him. He started belittling me & then said since i wouldn't do this he was moving on to another girl who wants him & would be willing to pay $800 to talk to him for the next 3 weeks & dumping me to pursue her. After that my messages stopped again thru Viber. These people make me so mad messing w/our emotions. I wish someone would stop them--ugh!!
Tyshsews
July 02, 2019

In reply to by Hate scammers

Mines on an oil rig too. Widowed and daughter in boarding school.
Christhomas
July 10, 2019

In reply to by Tyshsews

Is his name Chris thomas from Ohio And has a daughter Melissa? I have pics to compare
Poppy 45
January 19, 2020

In reply to by Christhomas

Hi I think it might be the same guy I can send ph6if you send me one of him to compare my name is Mary
Shennie
August 06, 2019

In reply to by Tyshsews

I have one working on an oil rig. 15 year old daughter in boarding school
BeckySue68
October 20, 2019

In reply to by Shennie

Mine was also working on a oil rig named Bradley widowed with son married and living in Texas. He showed pics of him with a dog and a couple other pics. He professed live right away and would love to take care of me. Then came the request for $3,500.00 to fix some equipment on boat. His accountant got in a bad car accident and could I send the money until this Rudy friend of his gets better. I did not send money then he asked for $1,500.00 instead. After I refused he never contacted me. I met him on POF dating website. I went back on POF and now I think I have another scammer. It's always the same....... widows with one child and no siblings or parents. Please ppl don't fall for these men. They are extremely good and attentive. Bradley on the oil rig even sent me a nightgown.....it did not cost more than $20.00 and they just want to reel you in. He got mad when I wouldn't send the money. Beware Ladies!!
Shennie
August 07, 2019

In reply to by Tyshsews

He sent me a Hello on Instagram. He said his name was Walter Heinz Parker. His daughter is 15 and in boarding School in Italy. Does anyone know this guy? I have deleted everything from my Instagram messages, as well as WhatsApp
BB10
September 30, 2019

In reply to by Shennie

I had a guy named Aaron Parker divorced with a 12 yr old in boarding school he hasn’t said where. On IG he said he was 49
Elle
April 01, 2020

In reply to by Tyshsews

I had him too. I saw through him and played the game. Did you get a live video of the oil rig he was working on?
ChristmasandNewYear
December 29, 2020

In reply to by Hate scammers

Is your guy on oil rig in Baltic Sea? Have you seen a pic of him sitting at a table wearing a green t-shirt, drinking glass of red wine?
Not So Crazy C…
March 16, 2019
Have had two men who say they are in the middle East; one Air Force, one Army; contacted me on Facebook, then moved me to Hangouts; quickly professed love then asked for money. One wanted Amazon gift cards, had "phone trouble" needed New one to talk to me. The other needs money to buy his way out of Afghanistan after "losing official pass" he said his birth family died in a fire, and he was adopted by a friend's parents, who were now dead...if he couldn't get $8000 to get papers"sorted" he will be sent to Syria and won't be able to talk to me; says he wants to retire from Army and settle down...the Air Force man is also retiring soon and wants to marry me and settle down...Both men said they closed their Facebook accounts recently... I'm sure they change names with the wind, so look for any name...one is going by Joe and the other by Nathan...today I get a friend request from an alleged Marine...not going to even acknowledge that one...just sharing these details so other potential victims can observe some of the tall tales these people Are capable of creating. One even asked how much money I made, and wanted to know my credit score to ask if I could open a credit account for him to use...also said he would use that account to pay me back through. Beware. These crooks will tell you ANYTHING they think will prey on your feelings and your wallet! PS: I am in my late 60's, and thank God I didn't send either of them anything.
Online dating …
March 20, 2019
Be on the lookout for Giovanni Bartolini, says he’s a Geologist with Shell Oil. Widower with 2 adult children (both in college). He speaks with a thick Italian(?) accent, very intelligent sweet talker, very engaging. Also has LinkedIn account includes professional photos with details of his position as a Geologist and education in Milan and London. Says he’s currently in Kansas City but home base is in Huntington Beach, California. We spoke via video-chat but I was unable to see him clearly. Mostly communicated on Hangouts or he sent very long, detailed letters via gmail. I decided to end the contact as he was moving very quickly toward telling me he loved me and wanted to visit me in NJ with the potential for relocating!! Glad I read another woman’s complaint on this site about him as he asked her for money. The online dating site is POF. He took down his profile which was BlessGio.
Rosie’s mom
July 31, 2019

In reply to by Online dating …

I also communicated with Giovanni Bartolini for 2 months through words with friends and later. Hangouts Same story as previous reporting. Very romantic: believes you are his soul mate. Asked me for money for his son and later for money for fees for new contract. Sent me a copy of his new contact and I noticed misspelling and name on contract as CEO is Shell UK has been retired ten years! Has three different profiles on words with friends ; Blessed Gio And Favored Gio as well As George
confusedgirl
March 21, 2019
I met this man named Fredrick who states his name is Avery Fredrick and he is a plastic surgeon in Yemen. States he is there in a contract under the government. I met him on a dating site called Coffee meets bagels. He asked me to get him a Steam Card and now recently asked me to facetime him through Hanger. When I supposedly spoke to him, it looked like a pre-recorded video. Now he is in love with me and wants to marry me. All his text's through What'sApp sound too good to be true. Has anyone else come across this person?
Scammedandmad
March 30, 2019
I hate that I became a victim of a romance scam. I thought this man was an answer to my prayer, wanting to meet someone and get married. I searched this person so many times, and as often as I searched him I didn't find out that he was a scammer. I had friends that had warned me not to give money to him, I thought for sure he was real. I wouldn't even listen to my own gut, everytime I sent him money. I would send money that was supposed to be going towards charitable organizations and a could time for his daughter. He was supposed to be an investor, I thought if he could be so successful, heck he could manage my money! Our conversations would be on investing together, and about marriage. I look back at our messages and ask myself how could I have been so stupid. I can not tell you how hurt and devastated I was. If only I could have ended my life. The embarrassment as well, that someone could scam me. I recently had someone friend request me, he sounded really nice, but day 3 came and you guessed he want money. Of course had learned my lesson. He called me evey name. Better to lose love than money. To compound the problem, now I have to pay taxes on that money, because I moved it out of my annuity. I could be looking at somewhere between $18k to $20k. I don't think I will ever get over this or be able to trust anyone.
Flowersgirl
April 26, 2019

In reply to by Scammedandmad

I feel bad for u same exactly happens to me but my with bar gold that he found when he went a mission but i been scamming the hold times I been fighting with him every day finally he gave up and move on to next victim but he is a real soldier though small percentage of a real soldier will do that but i turn him in to FBI
Kate
May 06, 2019

In reply to by Flowersgirl

Similar situation happened to me as well. I lost more than 30 000. He sent me friend request on FB, very good looking guy, from Las Vegas on Supervision mission in Syria. Works as head of orthopedics in Syria for UN. And I trusted him, and i didn'r believe my gut what he asked for money for vacation certificate. I paid a lot for him bacause he said it is dangerous to have money in Syria and he will return every cent to me once he is out of Syria. Then he started feeling bad and was unconcious for a few times and during that times his colleagues texted me on his WhatsApp about him. And in mid April he fell in coma and his colleagues called UN upper management and I started believing UN will help. Oh God, how can I be so fool???? So, now he is awake, but aksed for money to get out of Syria. And UN write me from private email platform that they will release all his money to me as I mentioned as his next-of-kin in his UN contract. I already replied I will not pay anything, so, he just reply that he cant continue this way. Sometimes all his words sound true but in the other hand I do understand now that even he has a contract with UN, it is UN that should cover all the expenses if all of this is real.
foolforaman
May 22, 2019

In reply to by Flowersgirl

What was the name of the guy or what name did he use? I am wondering if we have talked to the same person. His name is Tommy Wellem.
cvimmersion
April 02, 2019
I’m pretty sure I’m being scammed by a guy who calls himself Jason Edwads. Started talking to him on Instagram, then asked me move to Google Hangouts. Been chatting with him for awhile now. He was so romantic and of course I fell for it. He is in love with me and wants to marry me and promised to take care of me. He said he is a business contract as a civil marine independent engineer on an oil rig in Africa sea. His daughter boarding school in UK. Even asked me my credit cards account, password, ID or drive license. Last asked me to send him $1,000.00 via Money Gram to the real name as Caleb Evidence Onyedika. Has anyone else come across this person?
Don't use your…
April 03, 2019
Steve Kapper Match.com Andy Jones military stoked identity chrstian mingle.com
Fergie & Heidi
April 03, 2019
I was messaged on Facebook last October by this fella he is an engineer, His name is Brian Smith Travels a lot , He romanced me fell in love with me this Feb 2019, He has asked me for steam cards for his internet & is from Houston Texas, he is a widow 1 son they don't talk. He has sent me 3 gifts, & promises me that when he is done work in Turkey where he is now will come to me. And we will be married, Is he a scammer ?
JustCurious
April 11, 2019

In reply to by Fergie & Heidi

@Fergie & Heidi. I met someone also on Chritian Mingle this April 2019. He says his name is Brandon Alex Smith from Houston, Texas. He says he is working in Nairobi, Kenya and wanted me to purchase Steam gift cards and send him the codes so that he could finish his paper work. He has a Spanish accent and poor grammar. Said he was born February 1961.
LuckyEddie
April 04, 2019
Easy Tip: Look people. If you want to verify the person in the picture is the one you’re talking to, There are several simple things you can do: 1) request a live video conversation and if for whatever reason they don’t do it then it’s pretty safe to assume they’re fake , 2) if for whatever reason live video chat is not an option then just make a simple request for them to grab a piece of paper and tell them to write down a simple, unique symbol, drawing or set of letters and numbers + your name ( that you have Chosen for them ), then tell them to hold it up next to their head for a selfie and have them send you that picture of them with your unique code/picture with them… And if they can’t provide that within a few minutes ... they are fake. Anyone really would understand and have no problem doing this for you. Their turnaround time should be a matter of minutes so as not to give them time to Photoshop or whatever… It’s a relatively simple thing to do and if they can’t they are fake
Itstime
April 04, 2019
The man from the dating site was sending super eloquent romantic letters, claiming his eternal love with me. He went abroad to Manage construction project. Everything was alright. He sent sweat emails and spoke to me with a very heavy accent claiming being irish german. After many years of living in germany was not able to recall any german. First he established a date for coming to My state after his progect abroad, then he changed the date. Asked me to reserve a hotel for him, refused to do it himself online. I asked him to take some pictures but he said that he has a very old phone. On the secon week of his stay he said that concrete constraction fell on three workers and one is killed, he cryed and asked me to pray for them. He said that he is going to US to arrange money issues and woud come back. All that seemed strange, dramatic, surrealistik. This wealthy man (as he claimed), called to me later and asked to pay for his hote (5stars) because his credit card was opted out. I was extremely disappointed and upset, understanding with who i led all these romantic talks. Thanks to online education, i stopped talking to him, did not ask any questions and blocked him. He called that night on different phone and was tough on me. I feel awful because of such misery. From the other heand i have a drop of doubt.
Notthiswoman
July 01, 2019

In reply to by Itstime

I'm talking to this man now.. his name is Victor.. Similar situation construction fell in and there were 40 casualties and 21 casualties... Irish German very tough to understand.. I can never call him to rectly when I call him Google answers the phone.. Red flags were going up from the beginning I was just waiting this was the confirmation I need it thank you for sharing
Good Old George
April 06, 2019
Anyone knows this white French woman named Marie Duval from Mericgnac, Bordeaux. She is hunting old men on SKYPE for Romance Scam ,she falls for you instantly,promise to come to your place to love and care for you and ask for contribution to air ticket and then ask for the full air ticket plus travel expenses. she is patient and very convincing . I fell for it and she scammed me for A$2000 , because I am old,live alone and am vulnerable . Never believe scammers like her .
Kms
April 09, 2019
So there is a guy thru Words with Friends. Claims he has funds in Syrian security company which is going out of business. He needs beneficiary to receive funds. He says he has no one. I have refused as I’m assuming this is a scam and I have refused. He supposedly has 2 kids 14&16 and mother killed in car accident.
Irene
April 10, 2019
Ive been scammed two times: one was a surgeon in Afghanistan working for the UN. He asked for $10,000 for medical supplies Never gave it to him Thank God. His name he went by was Alex Williams. Had a daughter called Sharon who 16. Lived in Manhattan but also lived in Colorado Springs . Had a wife that was killed in an auto accident. But I found out it was a young man from Nigeria he ended up confessing to me. #2 Alessandro Marco works on a oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Has a 21 year old daughter Jennifer who goes to college in Canada lives with Alessandro's sister. He says he's from St Petersburg area he gave me his address but didnt fine his name on the ownership of the house. Hes 51 years old and a real sweet talker. He's looking to get $20,000 to get off this rig. He says he has an agent he wont help and the loader people wont help. Supposedly these are people he suppose to do business with. He says he's an independent contractor with a contract from the Conoco Phillips Company. When I called them they never heard of him. So I was wondering if anyone else has been contacted. Also he is a widower .And was born in Rome Italy but came to America when he was 9 and lived with an Uncle. Parents are dead.
Renee
May 06, 2019

In reply to by Irene

Definitely something in the waters with these scammers!! Contacted on POF by a “Joshua Prescott”, then asked to chat on hangouts. Chatted a couple of days. Very inconsistent and evasive answers to my questions. Claimed he had a 6 yr and mother/ex killed in a car accident. Claimed he was a Marine. The beautiful guys pics he stole has the actual persons name listed on the photos. YouTube video popped up as I was dots search on him. It said he’s a scammer. Wanted marry me and be a mother to his child, lol! He contacted me again after I told him not to contact me after about a week. So I played his game. Forgot to mention, he’s in West Africa undercover, and needs money for data so he can talk to me. Long story short he asked me to call him and I said no, but called unexpectedly and someone with an African accent answers and after he realized who I was, he quickly claimed he had to call me back. BLOCKED!! Smh...
need to stop
April 12, 2019
I had this guy named Martin D Camden ask to follow me on instagram. I'm not sure why I allowed him to follow me, but I did. He send me messages, told me his wife passed in a car accident she was the love of his life they have a daughter named Emily. Then he started asking all kinds question's as in my name, if I had kids, if I was married, what I liked, what I dislike, so on. He told me that he working on a proposal for a contract ( oil rig) it would be his last one before he retired. Said it was 4.5 million. I ask him why he would tell me that not knowing me said he wanted me to know everything about him. then ask me how much I made. of course I never would tell him. We talk for a little over a week then he won the contact had to leave that Saturday. He told me he couldn't use his phone there cause it was to damager's, but he could text me on Hangouts. He would be gone for a month,everything's was fine till the last week before he was to return, his machine caught fire and he needed me to send him money that I was the only one to help him. And he tried I will give him credit for that. But I told him to start out that I didn't have a lot of money. he would send me pictures of him before he left. the first time I knew he lied was he took a picture of him at breakfast I ask him were he was, he told me the name of the restaurant it seemed off cause of the background, it looked more like a McDonald's so I searched the restaurant and they opened for lunch and it was a nice restaurant. I never said anything about that. But I did ask if he was a scammer and he said he wasn't. I told my friend about all of this and she ask to follow him and he took the bait. Even told me that I was the only one he was talking to. He replied to her that she has a pretty smile I must say. Which made me sick cause at this point I knew what he was. I told him that I could see were he wrote on a post. Said it wasn't him that he has got hacked it's not the first time and he has people emailing him all the time. I did a google search for all the pictures I had, nothing would show up then it hit me he has a picture on hangout so I search it, it came up as David Mcbean they was pictures on his page that Martin had sent me. So I ask him about it all he could say he has been hack and they got the pictures off of him and changed the date. Which doesn't make since cause some I ask him to send me a picture of him at that time. So please be careful I do have picture of him and I'm glad to show them.
Sweetly
November 06, 2019

In reply to by need to stop

This really sounds a lot like this guy calling himself Allen Braisted. I ran his photo on Google but it hit on nothing. He’s an investor so he said. He won a contract from Shell for 13 million dollars. Told me to find us a nice house because he was going to take care of me. I ran his phone number from cell and it was issued in Utah. Has daughter st boarding school and needs 3500 for books. He can’t leave the rig to send it. No I can’t send money. Tried to get me to give him my bank account so he could deposit money in my account. I wouldn’t do that so he got really mad and started cussing me. I ended it right then.
Charity Book C…
April 12, 2019
Can anyone else tell me if they have had approaches from a Tammy Morris or Jaleena Gaskin. Both of these ladies have tried to befriend me, told me how they can see a long term future with, posted supposed photos of themselves etc. Then they ask for Amazon Gift Cards for various reasons including: I have no money to feed my son, my son has dropped my phone down the toilet and I need to get it fixed or I need money to upgrade my phone to run the latest apps. One claims to be a doctor working in Yemen for Doctors Without Borders and they need a break and want to come and meet me. I have to pay an agent in Bitcoin nearly £6300 to allow this to happen. Please can anyone contacted by these two ladies let me know. Thank you
Don't use your…
July 11, 2019

In reply to by Charity Book C…

I actually have 2 photos of Jaleena in her scrubs. One was with a group of doctors and they were all in their scrubs. She is very attractive. She did the phone card bit. We had interesting conversations....talking romance. I would love to meet her in person.
beenthere
November 25, 2019

In reply to by Charity Book C…

I actually approached J Gaskins b/c a different woman (Sandi Leon) that was scamming me was using at least one of the same photos as Gaskins has on her instagram page. I wanted to ensure whether Gaskins was a real person. Appears, both are fakes.