In 2024, 53% of men and 47% of women reportedly experienced some form of romance scam in an online dating environment. Romance scams targeting Veterans often begin innocently on dating apps or websites, social media platforms or even through email. Scammers create convincing personas and may pose as fellow Veterans, active duty military personnel, or individuals with shared interests and experiences. A con artist will invest time and effort into building rapport with a Veteran, gradually earning their trust and affection.
Examples of romance scams as detailed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) could include a scammer impersonating a deployed member of the military or a celebrity, gaining the Veteran’s trust before eventually taking advantage of the romantic connection that has been created to request money. Some scammers will make plans to meet the Veteran or even propose marriage through messages. But the reality is they will likely never meet. The connection the Veteran believed in will be forever broken once the fraud is exposed.
If something feels off or too good to be true, Veterans must trust their instincts and use these tips to stay safe:
- Exercise caution with unsolicited contacts: Be skeptical of unexpected messages or friend requests, particularly from those claiming to be military personnel or Veterans. Relationships that escalate rapidly warrant extra scrutiny. Always verify the identity of new online acquaintances, especially if they request money or personal information.
- Protect your information: Refrain from sharing sensitive personal or financial details online, especially with individuals you haven’t met in person. Learn how to spot and avoid scammers on dating sites and social media who build trust, fabricate emergencies and request money. Be mindful about disclosing information related to your military service, family or finances.
- Be cautious of financial requests: Approach requests for money or financial help with caution, especially if they come unexpectedly or seem excessive. A genuine romantic interest should not pressure you for financial assistance early in an online relationship.
- Trust your instincts: If something seems too good to be true or raises red flags, trust your gut feeling. It’s wise to step back and assess the situation critically. Don’t hesitate to consult with trusted friends or family when in doubt.
- Report suspicious activity: If you encounter any suspicious behavior or believe you might be targeted by a scam, it’s crucial to report it immediately. This includes notifying the platform where the interaction occurred and submitting a report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For suspected VA benefits fraud, call the VA benefits hotline at 1-800-827-1000. For all non-Veteran Affairs related fraud, reach out to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
More than 64,000 romance scams were reported in 2023, according to the FTC, totaling $1.14 billion in losses. By remaining vigilant and following these tips, Veterans can protect themselves and others from romance scams that can lead to heartbreak and breaking the bank.
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I was scammed out of my retirement savings. I reported it to the FBI and they did absolutely nothing about it not even as little as giving me a claim number which would’ve allowed me to write off a minuscule one percent of my losses on my income tax on the profits that I had made on my retirement savings.
.A few days ago I got a message on my Facebook page from a girl who wanted to be friends….Her Facebook page shows a pretty blonde girl working on a oil rig on the other side of the world…we started talking and very quickly she accelerated the conversation to “I think I am falling in love with you”… and being a older single man that was pretty exciting and we continued to become more and more intense…after a couple hours of this I asked her to call me…she tried to send me to something called “Telegram” which I had never heard of…I typed in “what is telegram” and instantly many stories appeared about this platform which was used by scammers to rip people off and then you can instantly delete your profile which no way to find you…you disappear …so without mentioning this discovery, I spoke again and asked her to call me on Facetime…a minute went by and then she posted a story that claimed she cannot make calls from an oil rig….so…I typed into google…”Can you call an oil rig??” and this is what came up…
Of course you can call an oil rig…but…there are many people apparently being ripped by something called “The Oil Rig Romance Scam”…which is exactly what I just described…Please go online and read about this…The stories say there is a group of people in Nigeria that are doing 99% of this out of one building…they work in teams around the clock looking for older single people and creating fake Facebook pages to get the hook into someone…then they start working them really quickly to get their trust and will eventually start the money requests…small ones first, then bigger and bigger…
so, I wrote back “Please call me” and again was told that’s impossible…so I sent the following…Please look up “Oil Rig Romance Scams”…and the messages stopped instantly. The stories say millions of dollars are being stolen from older people who really trust and believe this monsters…I am 100% sure that hundreds of people are being scammed this very moment, and thousands have already lost millions of dollars..
I appeal to the Channel 5 news team, make this story as public as possible on TV and in print and hopefully we can rescue many unsuspecting seniors who are getting bled dry…Please call or email me for any additional info on this..I am lucky I caught this after just 48 hours…most people will not. Thanks for you help with this horrible crime on the elderly citizens of this country. Jeffrey Brooke
Are you by chance in Arizona?
I was taken out of $100K when I asked her to visit me in the state but luckily the embassy forwarded my complaint to the Ghana Crime Unit; info.ghanapolice at consultant. Com. and the perpetrators was brought to justice.
I met her on a dating site and on her birthday which was 2 weeks after I met her she said she will be travelling to Ghana to celebrate her birthday with the orphanage and whiles there she told me someone has gifted her gold nuggets and she will be bringing to me on she was arrested boarding flight for non licensed of the gold and it was bill after bill for legal fees etc until I was out of funds and reported to the Embassy.Do not send money to any1 you’ve met online!
Was scammed by overseas romantic site.
Well developed, over 2 yrs. Had official looking documents, personal phone calls.
Official websites of Lawyers and Storage businesses. Even received, personal items, delivered to home address.
FBI didn’t show interest in my, plight.
I’ll be outta debt, maybe this summer.
I was a victim of a romance scam. My only saving grace was that I’m pretty cheap so she was not able to get much. I think the loneliness in COVID caused some of us alone to become more vulnerable than we would be normally. Afterwards, the depression and embarrassment were almost worse than losing the amount of money that I paid in gift cards, etc.
Previously, my marriage ended due to her infidelity issues caused by too many deployments, or whatever. COVID did not help second guessing my decision to leave. To say there were dark points would be an understatement. You can’t really talk to anyone about any of this kind of stuff as it then goes on your record and adversely affects you financially (cost of life insurance, etc.). Sometimes it feels like the system is rigged to force service members to make ultimately wrong and drastic choices when it feels like there is no hope.
Yeah, I don’t judge people that were scammed like this. Sometimes the “lady” I would chat with was my only hope in bad times. Financially, a therapist may have been cheaper in the short term, but not in the long run.
This issue could potentially raise a red flag for veteran suicide? I remember my son going some of these issues. He was a handsome, tall, charismatic, veteran that had young ladies (and some older ones) trying to date him/marry him. Maybe their intentions were for financial gain only? It was a constant battle. He had a big heart and would give them lots of money, cars, etc. In 2018 he ended his battle with PTSD in my garage.
Go **** yourselves you communist, neo-fascist surveillance CUNTS! I’m not a little boy in your rigged bullshit excuse of a gamified playing field that’s truly NONCOMPETITIVE.
How about we focus on FIXING healthcare and resources for veterans? ACTUALLY??
I’m walking around with tumors and internal bleeding and brain damage UNDIAGNOSED, ONE-SHOTTED heart failure.
F—- YOIUUUIIUUUUUU!!!!
Thanks.
Thank you for this information as I am a victim of a romance scam:
Thank you for this information it was very helpful I have been dealing with a person for 2 years and it’s always something about money yeah she told me she wanted to marry me and all this and that but if something don’t seem right about this to me
Hi this is Andrea Marie (Lindo) Palmer. I was Petty Officer Lindo in the US Navy. I am so scared for my life. I think someone as be trying to keep me in a control environment while living in my life. It’s scary because you never think someone would be so bold to do this to a USN disabled war veteran. They been doing this for years. And with the right help they may be able to convince others that they are me. It’s scary!!?.
Excellent Article