Looking for love online can be a fun and exciting experience, but it can also be dangerous. Unfortunately, there are many people out there who are looking to take advantage of others, and military romance scams are one of the most common types. In this blog post, we will discuss how to protect yourself from these scams and what to do if you think you may have been scammed.

What are military romance scams?

There are many types of scams that target military personnel and their families, but military romance scams are one of the most prevalent. These scams usually involve someone pretending to be a service member or contractor who is looking for love online. The scammer will often create a fake profile on a dating site or social media platform, and they may even steal photos from other people’s profiles to use as their own. They will then reach out to potential victims and start a relationship with them.

The scammer will typically ask for money after building up trust with the victim. They may claim to need money for emergency travel or medical expenses, or they might say that they are having trouble getting paid by their employer. Whatever the reason, do not send money to someone you have only met online, especially if you haven’t met them in person.

How common is this type of scam?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, military romance scams are the most common type of scam that they see. In 2018, there were more than 21,000 reports of this type of scam, and people reported losing a total of $143 million.

One relevant case was a New Jersey man who was convicted in 2019 of running a military romance scam. He created multiple fake profiles on dating sites and social media platforms using stolen photos of real soldiers. He then reached out to women and started relationships with them before asking for money. In total, he scammed more than 30 women out of more than $2M.

How can you protect yourself?

Follow the steps below to protect yourself from being a victim of a scam:

-Be suspicious of anyone you meet online who says they are in the military. If you haven’t met them in person, there is no way to know if they are telling the truth.

-Do your research: if someone you meet online claims to be in the military, take the time to verify their information.

-Don’t send money: as we mentioned before, never send money to someone you haven’t met in person. If someone you’re talking to online asks for money, that is a huge red flag.

-Be cautious about sharing personal information: you should be careful about how much personal information you share with someone you meet online. You shouldn’t give out your home address, financial information, or other sensitive information until you are sure that the person is who they say they are.

What should you do if you think you’ve been scammed?

If you think you may have been the victim of a military romance scam, there are a few things you can do:

-Contact your bank or credit card company: if you have sent money to the scammer, contact your bank or credit card company right away.

-File a report with the FTC: if you have been scammed, you can file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. This will help them track down the scammer and prevent others from being scammed.

-Report it to the FBI: you can also file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

By following these tips, you can protect yourself from military romance scams and other online scams. If you think you may have been scammed, don’t hesitate to contact authorities so they can help you get your money back.

Bottom line

One of the most prevalent forms of internet fraud is military romance scams. They generally include a person pretending to be a service member or contractor searching for love on the internet. Scammers frequently establish phony personas on dating sites or social media platforms, and they may even plagiarize photographs from other people’s profiles. If you believe you’ve been scammed, contact your bank or credit card company immediately. Reports may be submitted simultaneously to the FBI and the FTC, as well as other law enforcement agencies. You can avoid military romance scams and other internet frauds by following these guidelines.