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Online dating worry

(222 Posts)
Beau1958 Mon 19-Aug-24 12:14:04

Out of the blue I received a message in my inbox on Tik-tok from a handsome looking serviceman in the US army he’s stationed in Poland. We started chatting sharing our brief life history, likes, dislikes etc. he messages me most days and has sent over two photos of himself and has asked me to leave tik tok to a different platform Google chat. I am quite wary of scammers and up to now no real red flags apart from ignoring some of my questions. His name badge and online name match he is around my age 60 possibly a few young’s younger. He is getting quite deep and meaningful in his messages about what he wants in a relationship and he’s looking for real meaningful love. He sounds like my ideal man and I was so excited about receiving his messages but a friend pointed out it could be a scammer. Has anyone had this experience before. What would you do ? I don’t want to put him off by asking him straight out?

pascal30 Fri 23-Aug-24 14:13:47

Daddima

I do get US military men, or US doctors! I’ve just sent these to my friend, who actually sounded as if she was believing they were genuine!

The requests only started coming after the Bodach died, even though I have no mention of my status on Facebook. These requests seem to have come via public groups I have commented on, so I presume it’s just coincidence.

I rather think that if these men were genuine they wouldn't be needing to do on-line dating!!!

Daddima Fri 23-Aug-24 13:51:26

MissAdventure

Why would this post be a scam?
As everyone is pointing out, it's not exactly unheard of.

More likely a wee ‘journalist’ looking for a story, as many articles I’ve seen have been stolen from social media.

Daddima Fri 23-Aug-24 13:47:45

I do get US military men, or US doctors! I’ve just sent these to my friend, who actually sounded as if she was believing they were genuine!

The requests only started coming after the Bodach died, even though I have no mention of my status on Facebook. These requests seem to have come via public groups I have commented on, so I presume it’s just coincidence.

MissAdventure Fri 23-Aug-24 11:26:14

Ah, OK then. smile

Jewelle Fri 23-Aug-24 10:38:21

No, it’s not unheard of, but to me it reads like a textbook account of how a scam like this is done. I really think it’s someone messing about.

MissAdventure Fri 23-Aug-24 10:10:56

Why would this post be a scam?
As everyone is pointing out, it's not exactly unheard of.

Jewelle Fri 23-Aug-24 10:05:37

I think that’s a scam and so is this post 🙄

sf101 Fri 23-Aug-24 09:39:56

So good to see all these answers - such an obvious SCAM - yet people are still falling for these and other scams.
Stay alert people!

Luckygirl3 Fri 23-Aug-24 09:01:14

Out of the blue I received a message in my inbox on Tik-tok - THAT is the red flag.

Switch on brain! Block!

Redhead56 Fri 23-Aug-24 08:49:09

On Line Dating Worry Really!
I knew two women who did go on actual dating sites looking for life partners. Both were divorced and they became victims of scams. The men they were matched with had gone on the sites posing as genuine lone men looking for partners. One woman was fleeced of money he kept asking for little loans until the penny actually dropped.
The other woman actually started a relationship with the man she met on line who lived in the same area. He turned out an abuser and it was a nightmare for her to get rid of him she actually moved house. Both of these women were warned by family and friends but let their middle aged hearts (at the time) rule their heads. Stop living in fantasy land and wake up to reality how old are you act your age.

Dempie55 Fri 23-Aug-24 00:14:09

Of course it’s a scam! US serviceman is the classic bait for UK women, for some reason! You need to go onto BBC Sounds and listen to You and Yours, Radio 4 - Wednesday’s episode on Dating Fraud - you might learn something!

Shelflife Thu 22-Aug-24 23:52:35

For goodness sake !!!! 😱 Of course it's a scam . Block him immediately and do not get drawn in and under no circumstances send him money 💰
He is preying on people .
My DH has Alzheimers disease and recently received an email supposedly from someone in America - some one he knows but not seen for many years. The scammer was asking for money , he said his friend had breast cancer and he wanted to help her financially but was unable to access his account at the moment!!
My DH is an intelligent man and I was shocked at his readiness to
' help ' him? Thank goodness he showed me the email, when I told him it was a scam he said " please don't make this difficult for me I want to help him" I looked at DHs
I pad and could see he had replied saying " I am sorry about your friend , let me know how I can help" I immediately deleted the scam email and my DHs response, had I not he would probably read it again , forgetting what I had said! I will now keep an eye on my DHs emails. Shortly after this his friend messaged all his contacts and said he had been scammed and not to send money. This seemed to convince my DH that I was correct! He was so close to sending the scammer money. So please be warned and have nothing to do with this excuse for a man .

BlueBelle Thu 22-Aug-24 21:49:29

I think someone is having a game with us

flappergirl Thu 22-Aug-24 21:17:44

Honestly, unless you've been living on another planet how can you not know that this is the most prolific scam of all time ever! There have been innumerable TV and radio programmes about it and even headlines in the press.

Your dishy American serviceman is in reality a group of male scammers probably operating from Nigeria and targeting older women. Over a number of weeks they build up a "relationship" with the victim and once she is hooked, a request for money will be made.

The "American serviceman" will claim that he's been hospitalised (or some other misfortune) and needs you to wire him £2,000 for medical bills. This will be a loan because naturally he has thousands in the bank but he just can't access it at the moment. Another misfortune will soon befall and a request for even more money will follow but don't worry, once this drama has passed he will fly to England to be with you and repay you in every way possible. In fact, it's the thought of you that's keeping him going.

Some women have ended up selling their homes to send money to these people. Once they've bled your bank account dry all communication will stop. I can't believe I'm having to explain this. Actually I give up.

BlueBelle Thu 22-Aug-24 16:35:33

SCAMMER, SCAMMER, SCAMMER
don’t be foolish please
I get regular request from US servicemen who love my smile and love how I look, this happens not only only on FB but many of the games I play Word with friends was the worst and I had to leave it was happening so regularly
I cannot believe you are taking this seriously block him immediately you shouldn’t need us to tell you that
If you don’t then you deserve whatever happens because you’ve had a 100 % warning replies on here

pascal30 Thu 22-Aug-24 16:34:54

glammagran

RosiesMaw2

Run for the hills.

I could not BE more sceptical.
What is a 60 year old American doing “stationed in Poland”
Doe the US have a presence there?
What is his rank (should be easy to check) number, background.
Although my suspicion is more like identity theft - could you check the data you find on him against the photos he has sent you?

Alternatively, save time and RUN.

I did Google this and apparently, 10,000 American troops are stationed in Poland.

You already sound invested Glammagran.... Do be careful

PinkSweetPea Thu 22-Aug-24 16:24:13

Do a google lens search on his photo and it will usually show them to be scammers. I get a few on Facebook and usually in the US and a lot seem to say they are doctors or in the military services. I just block them.

glammagran Thu 22-Aug-24 16:02:54

RosiesMaw2

Run for the hills.

I could not BE more sceptical.
What is a 60 year old American doing “stationed in Poland”
Doe the US have a presence there?
What is his rank (should be easy to check) number, background.
Although my suspicion is more like identity theft - could you check the data you find on him against the photos he has sent you?

Alternatively, save time and RUN.

I did Google this and apparently, 10,000 American troops are stationed in Poland.

pascal30 Thu 22-Aug-24 15:11:17

I get regular requests on my Instagram account.. invariably from alleged servicemen.. I always block them.. Do not get drawn in, this will inevitably end in tears if you do..

mumofmadboys Thu 22-Aug-24 15:08:19

Ask him if you can borrow money because your bank account is blocked! Or say you are having trouble paying your bills!

bikergran Thu 22-Aug-24 15:07:50

Bangs head against wall !!

Cossy Thu 22-Aug-24 14:59:45

No!!!!

Classic “romance scam”

glammagran Thu 22-Aug-24 14:54:00

The most prolific dating scammers are Nigerians according to what I’ve read.

sparkly1000 Thu 22-Aug-24 14:50:24

Very soon you will receive a message saying
a) He would love to visit you but for some reason cannot release funds from his bank account and could you advance him the fare or

b) one of his sons needs life saving medical treatment which for the above reason he cannot afford.

granfromafar Thu 22-Aug-24 14:50:03

He's probably the same man who goes on games like Wordchums and Words with friends. I had an impossibly good-looking man in a US army uniform who randomly started a game online with me. He also started chatting and asking rather too friendly questions. Immediately blocked. So obviously a scam.