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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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Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
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Romance Scams

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Misto
February 28, 2021
I have a surgeon in Afghanistan wanting to send me a box of gold !
Misto
February 28, 2021
Anyone hear of a Brian Belford MD ?
Newuser2021
March 06, 2021
He has just tried to add me on Facebook, Rodgers Ashley and he’s a surgeon in Syria is this the same man ?
domoarigato
March 07, 2021
Just putting this out there in case anyone else has a similar man talk to them. A week and a half ago, random Korean doctor adds me on FB named Michael Park. Usually I don't accept but I decided why not try anything different. Talked for a little bit on messenger before he asked to move to Kakao (it's a Korean messaging service). He says he is on an undercover mission in Yemen, waiting on his retirement so he can be with his 9 year old son Paul who is in boarding school in England. He came over from Korea when he was 5, parents were killed in an automobile accident and 12 and his son's mother is druggie. Then Yemen government had awarded him 4 million dollars for a job well done. He didn't bring up me helping him the first time he brought up the money but the second he said he was having problems taking it out of the country. The only way he could do this to send it out in a lockbox with his retirement papers, and that I needed to call the delivery company for him. He said he could not leave the base without those things being sent out. I was already wary about the situation early on, there were many red flags for me. I hope this story helps someone and saves them from being scammed.
Very convincin…
March 10, 2021

In reply to by domoarigato

Same story, Paul is 10...both parents passed away. Dad in mva, and mother upon hearing this news hit her head and went into coma for a week... ex-wife using drugs and ended marriage bc of it. He asked to pay for delivery fee for his package (UN award of $3 mil)
Angie
March 08, 2021
Just lost $91k to a scammer in cypriot/turkey. He said he was in construction business and had been awarded a contract (even emailed) it to me. His name is Ollie Armon, and from Finland. He said he could not pay his workers because his bank had stopped his account because of suspicious activity. I asked him to show me his bank account, which he did and the contract money was in it. I gave in and got taken for every penny I had!
Amyk75
March 13, 2021
I have been corresponding with a orthopedic surgeon working on a UN peacekeeping mission in Iraq working in the ER. Goes by Jordan Wylie. No family. Widower. I have pics! All pics but one are in doctor scrubs. Claims he is from Montgomery, Alabama. Born October 21, 1975. Anyone with this same story, please message me. I've wired $3,500 to pay for his vacation certificate and retirement so he can leave Iraq. Now needs money to hire a mover to get his things out of Alabama. I told him I am not sending any more money. Claims he is waiting for his flight to come here but the terrorists keep blowing things up. I really wanted to believe it was real but after reading all your stories, I know it is not. I feel like a fool. I completely fell for him.
Mel
May 24, 2021

In reply to by Amyk75

I have all pictures and hang outs chats of the same person. Please contact me. He needs to be stopped. I never gave money or helped but I was just played this morning. It’s still happening
Bethfromark
September 16, 2021

In reply to by Mel

Are you talking about Jordan Wylie? I would love to see his picture.
Bethfromark
September 17, 2021

In reply to by Mel

Do you have picture of Jordan Wylie! I would love to chat with you.
Bethfromark
September 16, 2021

In reply to by Amyk75

I’ve been talking to the same doctor. His name is Dr Jordan Wylie. Says he’s an orthopedic surgeon from Ohio. Says his wife and unborn child got killed in a car accident. Was living in Texas at that time and gave his house to a homeless man and moved to Ohio. Says he’s been in Iraq for 2 years and is breaking his contract to get out of Iraq because of Isis. Wants me to pay $2500 to get his vehicles shipped to Arkansas. I’m so glad I read your story. Now I’m convinced that he’s a fake.
WiserinMissouri
March 13, 2021
Same story here. Dr. James Orthopedic surgeon on peacekeeping mission for NATO in Yemen. As soon as he’s confronted his polite manner gets ugly fast! What a creep!
Mel
May 24, 2021

In reply to by WiserinMissouri

Yes he’s going by Gabriel Bloom now. I just ended it with him. He’s on social media also.
scamdoc
March 14, 2021
Yesterday a guy started talking to me on Twitter, he then ask to meet at hangout. He claims to work for the UN as an orthopaedic doctor stationed in Syria. Lives in Austin Texas. Widow no children, just wants a platonic relationship. His name John Reardon. I checked his photo on google but could not find anything. I blocked him now as I wondered if a Doctor in Syria would really have time to chat with me. I read on google that the UN has no doctors in Syria at the moment. I always check people out on the internet before I get more chatting with them. I can not find anything about him on the internet. Just his Twitter account drjohreardon. Looks like a white collar man.
Irish57
March 15, 2021
Anyone run into a very nice looking man from Brazil, but is working with US special forces in Africa? I have talked to him in the phone. I told him to send me a picture holding a peace sign and he did. We have been talking for awhile and just asked me to get him a $100 Google card so he could listen to his music while patrolling. Anyone run into a similar person?
JJ
March 17, 2021
Hi All, do u know this Orthopedic Doctor working in Yemen by the Name Ethan R Anderson his on hangouts
Gg
March 17, 2021
I was talking with Liyong, orthopedic surgeon widower and have 2 girls. I am not sure if he is scammer but he has some red flags. Be careful
NCReal
March 18, 2021
I have a client I believe is being scammed. She says her fiancé is coming home to buy a house with her and marry her. She says he is a doctor working for the UN in Syria, but got released from his contract early. She says they'll only pay for his "diplomatic jet" from Syria to Istanbul but he needed $12,000 for commercial flight from there. She sent him a cashiers check via FedEx! He then claimed he was being detained in Turkey because he tried bringing home millions of dollars worth of diamonds & jewels that Syrian officials gave to him as wedding gifts. He now needs $15000 to give to the crooked Turkish officials so that he can take his jewels and return to the US. She calls him Andrew. He says he's divorced with 2 grown sons in NY. She is so obviously being scammed. Has anyone else had a similar story?
Sk8girl
March 19, 2021
I have the same scenario as everyone here. A surgeon in Yemen went by Keith Billy .wife died , two girls in boarding school. Wanted money to come here and make a life. I didn’t send anything. Would love to see some photos on here though to see what we all had in common!!
StevieG
March 20, 2021
Afraid I'm being scammed by someone similar to what is being described here. He says his name is Mike James Miller, is an orthopedic surgeon on contract to Yemen with US Army. He says he has a daughter, Sophia. I have a picture and tried reverse image search but, nothing came if it. I really like this guy and hope he's legit, but it sounds very unlikely. The picture I have shows an attractive older gentleman of middle eastern descent with glasses and facial hair. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Litfit
April 09, 2021

In reply to by StevieG

Yes, a scam. Is it a picture of about a 48 ish man with greying hair and his chin resting on his hand? He is a scam. I messed with his head for so long before he mentioned money. I told him all mine is in my 403B and I cannot take any out of it, yet.
Mel
May 24, 2021

In reply to by StevieG

I have his pictures and same exact story but going by Gabriel Bloom. He’s on Twitter and Facebook. I just ended a two week relationship this morning with him. He needed me to contact a lawyer to get out of his two year contract because they were going to send him to Syria. He was staying in Mosul Iraq had a daughter named Sophia. I did not send any money. I would love to compare pictures I have everything saved.
Mel
May 24, 2021

In reply to by StevieG

I have his pictures and same exact story but going by Gabriel Bloom. He’s on Twitter and Facebook. I just ended a two week relationship this morning with him. He needed me to contact a lawyer to get out of his two year contract because they were going to send him to Syria. He was staying in Mosul Iraq had a daughter named Sophia. I did not send any money. I would love to compare pictures I have everything saved.
Don't use your…
March 22, 2021
HR just tried to friend me on Facebook. Checked his page and with nothing in his interests lists he sue looked phoney to so I blocked him.
Tiziana51
March 22, 2021
A new one goes by the name of Austin Michealson on Facebook and Austin on the dating part. On Google hangouts same name.He claim to be in the army and currently in Afghanistan. My fortune looking at one of his posts on Facebook I found the name of a lady that called him a scammer on his post. I then contact her for have a better understanding! He will make up stories to ask for money and more not legal things! I hope this will help someone!
Jean
March 25, 2021
I have been talking to a guy that says his name is Stephen White and that orthopedic surgery in Somalia. He has a picture of himself and it is a picture of a model.
BlueRose
March 28, 2021
The man that has been talking to me says he is in the Military and is 58 and ready to retire. He hasn't ask for money yet but I think it's coming. He has very warm intelligent conversations with me. I could see why it would be easy to fall for him. He says his name is Mark Bryant. Has a son and nice looking man himself. But... he is trying to get me to talk to him through gmail hangout. and wants my gmail address. I have no intention of giving it to him. He is so good at this you almost think he is real.
Don't use your…
March 31, 2021
who here has met Leon Alekein from Switzerland....contract engineer...12 year old daughter names Jessie in Canada. SMOOOOOTH talker.
Concerneddaughter
April 16, 2021
I'm concerned about my mom. She's been talking with a guy named Natan Antoni since later December. He's a very good sweet talker. He Shays he's a widower and his passed last year due to COVID. Now he has custody of his 2 grandsons. I'm not sure if money has been given but I know he's asked. He also put her down as the emergency contact with his employer. He lives in NC but had been working in TX for the past 3 months. She doesn't want to believe it could be a scam. Has anyone had anything similar?
SC LADY
April 28, 2021

In reply to by Concerneddaughter

I've been talking with this guy for 2 weeks. Met him on Facebook. Post said he lived in Gaston, SC and last night told me he lived in Summerville, SC. Claimed to want a lasting relationship and a future together. Same story about family and grandkids. I confronted him with your post and haven't heard from him since.
Liz
April 20, 2021
I just got Facebook dating app and a man saying he is Dr David Derrick but he is Yemen and a surgeon he showed his credentials but looking here I knew he was a scammer said he had 31 year old son on drugs and adopted and 8 year old girl from Turkey she is smart and beautiful watch out for him ladies
Mama bear
April 21, 2021
Anyone deal with William Gary?. Supposed to be a doctor in Yemen
Bhill
April 30, 2021
Where can I locate pics of scammers in Yemen?
Scammer
May 03, 2021
How about orthopedic surgeon from Dallas Texas originally from Puerto Rico. Widowed with 16 year old son at boarding school. On a mission for a friend in Gaza . He friend requested me on Facebook I accepted and said let's text on WhatsApp I said sure. something seems strange after the second quick text and I said let's talk via video and he said he can't because of security that's when I googled him and I noticed his name information now with a different picture. I asked more questions a lot of nonsense back I reported it and I blocked him. I told him that he was a hacker and he got very upset so I knew that was a red flag.
Turkey guy
May 04, 2021
Met this guy yesterday who is claiming to have sent me something today,I gev him my post address, what should I expect next from him?He says he's a Dr in Istanbul, Turkey, Dr Fred Lowell, anyone who knows him?
Nancy418
May 11, 2021
I also was texting someone who claimed to be an Orthopedic Surgeon deployed to Yemen He kept changing his name-Dean Morgan Travis Sent some very handsome pics and and texted me very flattering remarks Said his wife died 6 years ago in a car accident When he started asking me to send a gift card to Yemen to buy food stuff I knew it was a scam I immediately deleted a d blocked everything!!
Mel
May 24, 2021
I just ended a two week romance with an orthopedic surgeon in Iraq. He did the same thing to me. Till today when he wanted out of his two year contract with the United Nations and needed me to contact a lawyer so he could get an early retirement. Goes by Gabriel Bloom. He’s on Instagram and Twitter. I would love to compare pictures.
SuzM
June 05, 2021
Hi, strangely I was contacted by a man who says being a doctor in Syria. Lost his wife and 2 daughters and has a son of 12 years old that's in the Marines Academy in Turkey. First contact in Facebook by the name Libertino Nelson, an orphan in the USA. Strangely disappeared that profile, and still talks through WhatsApp. Sendend a photo that I looked and it's different from his photo on the profile Facebook. This new photo seems like someone similar to an American actor.
Michele
June 06, 2021
I’ve been talking with a so called surgeon working at the UN in Yemen, He’s Asian and said he lost his wife in labor, and has a 12 yr old Son named Kelvin. I know it’s a scam, but yet I keep talking with him.. He hasn’t asked for any money .... YET, but he is in for a big surprise... I don’t have any money....
Angel
September 07, 2021

In reply to by Michele

He also told me he has a son named Kelvin home with nanny.lost wife 4 years ago in accident and always used the can't video or call for security reasons .orthopedic surgeon first in Syria then just in Iran. Sent pictures of lot people hurt in attack including one of a man and 2 children dead with numbers on thier foreheads.used name Dennis williams.sent 2 photos of son that is obviously the son of the pictures that suspose to be him and he suspose to be real short.i got my heart broke and I was a widow.before him I had contact with a name of Mark watson. I wonder if the 2 are the same person even Theo mark watson claim to live in Florida and overseas working on oil platforms out to see.
Ellie14
June 07, 2021
Has anyone recently met a man Mark on tinder. Profile pictures include one of him.and a dog. Quite an attractive looking guy. Said he's from Spain but lives most in the UK Same story: UN orthopedic dr in Yemen. Not able to take pictures bla bla bla .... I asked him yesterday if it was a scam and told him to Google yemen dr tinder scam. He's adamant he's not a scammer. I'm just playing along for the minute.
P
June 25, 2021
Smb contacted me by the name of Carlos Pendo from Brasil working in Yemen for UN. 3 days of brainwashing me! Iv got in seach for him on google- found lists of UN Dr and he wasnt there. Plus, iv contacted ppl from his fb list- they never met him! Found other woman who he lied to! He said he is single parent with daughter Sonia!
Sally
June 27, 2021
I have been talking with a man for about 3 months. He says he is a doctor working for the UN in China. He does not have access to his bank accounts in the states. He is about to get paid the first half of his contract and wants me to have it deposited in my account. I said no. Now he wants my full name, address, and email. He says a government official will deliver me a Diplomatic Briefcase containing the money. It's $277,000. Who gives a stranger that kind of money? I am not giving him my information
Midwest
June 28, 2021
Anyone talking to a Russell Antonio, orthopedic surgeon in Yemen, widowed with a 13 yr old daughter going to school in Italy? I was contacted by him.
Bellac
June 30, 2021
Been contacted by an Anthony Grey .. orthopedic doctor from Florida and currently posted in Yemen with the UN … anywhere I can send the pictures I’ve got of him to check if he’s what you’re mentioning above.
Sunny
July 12, 2021
I am talking to a Orthopedic Doctor in Damascus.He says his name is Robert Charles and has a 15 yr old son. Named Kelly .Anyone else talking to him?
BREE 77
July 13, 2021
Orthopedic Surgeon in Yemen for Who, widower with 9 year old girl in LA contacted me on Facebook then whatsapp. He claimed to have graduated at Stanford. Everything seemed very strange and his FB profile was not convincing. I googled his name, Michael Ainsley, and nothing came out. I googled "Orthopedic surgeon in Yemen" and I found this page and many others. Blocked him. Soo glad I made my research...
Nadia
July 13, 2021
I got invitation from Doctor Douglas Carter on Facebook. He was deployed in Yemen. He is divorced with 11-year old son David. He told he is from Canada. He promises to marry when come to me but I need to send big money for his vacation request (first 1800$, then iTunes Card, then 19800$ for replacing doctors). He cooperates with Ricky Jr Gaban, the general. Please help me. Is it a scammer?
Suspicious
July 20, 2021
So I was contacted on FB dating by Alec saying he's an orthopedic surgeon for the UN in Iraq. Sound familiar to anyone. He said he's Greek, 2 daughters in the states, divorced
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