How the scam works:
Scammers find their victims on sites like Facebook, Twitter, eHarmony, Match.com and start an online dating adventure, slowly getting their trust.
They pose as soldiers in Iraq and send pictures to their victims, in which they are holding babies or playing with local kids. The pictures really impress the ladies, but they are just stolen images from the Internet, used as bait.
However, when the crooks feel their victims are ready to commit, they suggest a surprise-package for those children. Several women put a box together with toys, books, electronics, etc and send it.
The scammer says their location is secret and all the packages have to be sent to a neutral place, where a diplomat will organize the distribution. Victims still send the package to places like Ghana or Ivory Coast and days or weeks later they receive a phone call or email.
They are informed that the package has arrived, but “in order to be sent to your boyfriend, there is a clearance fee of $485”. You would be surprised to see how many women are still falling for this.
Here is some good news.
Watch the video below to see how you can easily identify if the profiles of the people you talk to on social media are fake.
How To Identify Fake Profiles Video
How to avoid:
Soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan don’t have a lot of time to be on online dating sites. And when they do have time for the computer, rest assured they have a lot of people they have to keep in touch with who are really concerned about them. Never send anything to people you have never meet in person.
How to report:
Make your family and friends aware of this scam by sharing it on social media using the buttons provided. Use the Comments section below to expose the name of the scammers.
How to protect yourself more:
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Here is what I got today:
I’m John Belcher. Am an active duty Soldier serving in the U.S Army here in Afghanistan for peace keeping. I have a discreet proposal of $7,000,000 for you that will be of immense benefit to both of us I shall furnish you with more information about this immediately I receive a response from you.
Recently I was talking to a guy named samwell turner ryer on Instagram…. He had pictures of him in uniform and out of uniform….he told me that his wife had died and he has one son who is 14…he had several profile same picture as..David ryer, ryer Johnson,ryer David David turner.
Beware of a fake UN pacekeeper calling himself James Lee. He is asking you for money supposedly to come back home….
I would like info on Arnold Tew who is in Middle East and is a Captain in the Navy and is on a destroyer. Says he is from Queens, New York.
I would like Information on Arnold Tew. He is on Facebook . He says he is Captian in the navy currently stationed in the Middle East . He tells me he is from Hamilton, NJ and is due to retire in Nov. 2015
A man calling himself Yu Chi Hung friended me on Facebook. After a couple of weeks of high speed romance he finally asked me to send his son money for a birthday present. I looked up scams and he was portraying himself as Lt. General William Caldwell. Of course I did not send him money and blocked him. He sent me these two e-mail addresses: chald_well@yahoo.com and chald_alex@yahoo.com. This occurred between September 2 – 18, 2015. Just wanted to vent and warn others…Thanks, Leta Sellers
Diana, post your stories and those pictures on the Forum here, under the Online Dating category: http://www.scam-detector.com/forums
Help other blind ladies in need!
My name is Diana and I believe I have been scammed. I have photos that’s were sent to me by a soldier named David Antonio Manson. He sent me a chat thru match.com on December 13, 2014.
Looking for information on a Justin Owens who is suppose to be serving in Afghanistan for another 2 1/2 years. Wanting to know if anyone else has any kind of contact with him. I feel that some things he is saying and telling me are odd and just want to be safe.
My name is Aundrea Glover, I need for somebody too check out two soldiers for me! Omohundro Davis and Kenny Megan!! I have been talking too them online since August & September they haven’t asked for money but we have friend relationship. I usually hear from them about twice a week and the conversation usually last about 30 minutes!! They claim they are in AFGHANISTAN I need too be on the safe side!! Both are on Facebook!!! Thank you, please email me back asap!! So I can delete them!!! I think Kenny is somewhere near Kabul!!!
Thank you for this info, I believe this man is trying to pull a fast one on me. He wants me to send in some Colonel $179. So he can have access to a field line. I told him i don’t have the money and now he is telling me he is going to be fired.First of all the military don’t fire they discharge.