Online dating worry

Well, that's something I didn't know, so thank you.

FYI Google chat is more or less untraceable which is why they like to use it

Keep alert. Britain needs lerts.

I had one very similar, he told me he had a home in the town I lived, gave me his company name and where they are based. I did a Google no company in that city. Widowed with a 12 year old girl. They all read a similar script. BLOCK HIM

Report him immediately, block him, I have had similar messages from various people all with the same military photo, please don't fall for this scam

A friend of mine got involved with a 'serviceman' from US. After a love bombing episode, he began to talk about his son and how he needed urgent medical attention. He had funds but couldn't access them and promised to repay my friend if she wired some to him, which she did. Then he asked for a larger amount, all the time writing love messages. It didn't end well.
Be very careful, sadly this could well be another scam.

Sorry to say 90% for sure it's a scam. I've had several of these. There's no harm in carrying on a conversation in case it's not but at some point he's likely to ask you for money or personal details which could lead him to your credit cards ot bank account.

I have had similar myself and always block them immediately.
His photo and information he is giving you is almost certainly all lies.
Unfortunately single women can be lonely and fall for the flattering attention.
Very soon he will come up with some elaborate story about his money is tied up and could you lend him a few thousand.

It's a scam! It won't be long before he starts asking you for money, or even send you money using you as a mule. All the script is there! I can't believe people are still falling for this these scammers make me SO angry.

As others have said, most likely a scam.
You can “reverse” search the photos he has sent you here -
tineye.com/
Might be informative!

The video I posted is by a man who plays along with romance scammers.

He reels them in by posing as Betty, from Hinckleville, and gets his would be romances to sing their favourite songs to him, etc.

Don't feel stupid Beau! These scammers are very skilled. My clever son fell for a banking scam and was defrauded. Forgive yourself!

Have a good day.

Don’t feel stupid Beau it can happen to anyone but now you’re aware it won’t happen to you again ( I hope) At first I thought you were ‘having a laugh’ with us but I now realise you were just naive and maybe a bit vulnerable
These scammers pinch photos off places like fb etc so everything would look perfectly correct to you but I m so glad you ve come back having listened to all the wise replies on here and even if he does write back to you dont please answer
Block him so you can’t get pulled back in

Thank you all so much I’ve never come across anyone writing to write to me before I was just naive his name matched the one on his uniform and his email address had his photo on he even sent me two selfies I’ve asked him for a photo of himself with todays date he hasn’t replied so obviously a scammer ! It’s upsetting as I was falling for it and now I feel so stupid. I’d never of sent money that’s for sure !

Daddima

Desdemona

Has anyone ever 'played along' with one of these scammers (but obviously not given them cash) - what would likely happen?

I have been tempted, and maybe some day when I’m at a loose end I might!

There is a YouTube channel called Social (?) Catfish, where they track these people down. The women are unbelievably gullible.

I did actually lead one on years ago, she was a Russian lady, offering herself, what she wanted was a visa to come to the UK, from many countries you can’t get a tourist visa unless you have a sponsor.
No I didn’t.

Fairislecable

On Wednesday You and Yours on Radio 4 did a piece on a lady who had been scammed out of £80,000!

It was a very intricate scam - but I don’t know how she didn’t see through it.

Well worth a listen.

she was so emotionally invested that she couldn't think clearly.. I just hope our poster isn't the same Fairislecable

On Wednesday You and Yours on Radio 4 did a piece on a lady who had been scammed out of £80,000!

It was a very intricate scam - but I don’t know how she didn’t see through it.

Well worth a listen.

Desdemona

Has anyone ever 'played along' with one of these scammers (but obviously not given them cash) - what would likely happen?

I have been tempted, and maybe some day when I’m at a loose end I might!

There is a YouTube channel called Social (?) Catfish, where they track these people down. The women are unbelievably gullible.

Age 60 - in the military?
No

Has anyone ever 'played along' with one of these scammers (but obviously not given them cash) - what would likely happen?

I quite fancy a charming Medic serving with the RAF. Is anyone out there?

A cousin who lives in Ireland had similar - when she asked my opinion my first question was “Why do they always look for someone who lives miles away?” He chatted away to her about all her favourite topics, art, classical music (my daughter said AI can give you any copy you need 😄).

He told her he lived in Nottingham, so we devised a plan where she wrote to him saying her cousin (me) lives near the town and was excited to meet him - when could that be arranged? Needless to say … he vanished!

BTW I was suspicious from the moment I saw his name “Arthur Buxton” 😂

"I don’t want to put him off by asking him straight out?"

He is not going to admit to being a scammer, that's a fact. It just seems suspicious to me that he popped up on your tik-tok inbox but you have obviously posted something to draw his interest.

IMO, block him, cut all ties, and be very cautious in the future. No one on Gransnet wants to hear that you've lost money to this 'person' whether he is genuine or not.

I doubt Beau will be back 🤣🤣🤣

I’ve had quite a few messages like this from men in the US pop up in various Facebook groups! I block them immediately.