I just came across a post on “A Soldier’s Perspective” discussing a rather disgusting and disturbing trend that has guys posing as soldiers on Internet dating sites. Here’s the quote from CJ’s:
The latest trend involves trolling internet dating sites and convincing women that they are honorable Soldiers who have fallen in love and would do anything to communicate with the object of their affection. But, because they are deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq, they need you to sign up for an expensive telecommunications service like “Military TELEX” in order to make that happen. They profess unending love as their motivator and, unfortunately, many women have fallen for it.
The BIG red flag here is that the guy is asking for money. NEVER fall for that con.
If you come across anyone on a dating site who is asking you for money, regardless of the reason; block them immediately from further contact and then report them to the internet dating service.
You can also check out who is really behind their email address…
AND / or their telephone number…
To read specific details about about one incident, read CJ’s post “The New Military Dating Scam”.
Meet REAL Military Singles at MilitarySinglesConnection
Started in 2002, Military Singles Connection is the premier destination for dating for the thousands of men and women who serve or have served in the armed forces. Other military dating services can’t compete with the number of quality members or features you’ll find when you join the top Military singles dating site.
Military Singles Connection provides online personals services, including online profiles and photographs of single men and women, chat rooms and an instant messenger – to enable others to communicate in real time, a private mailbox to enable others to exchange personal messages, a public forum to enable others to exchange messages and information… and more!
Join Military Singles Connection today!
Ask them for their Army email account. It will end in army.mil. We all have one. Don’t trust yahoo and other free accounts. Just ask for one email you can write to to confirm.
SCAM: His picture is being used to pose as a soldier as Captain in the U.S Army..James Dewald isthe name the scammersays his is name & he is staitioned in Darfur Sudan
coddy stone zendrosky http://www.ccfreedomfighters.com/army%20logo. logo used in some email saying it had come thru the security
serving in iraq.. 58yrs old married for 10yrs
father polish mother american
his best friend in army jason swagger
coddy is in iraq for 1 yr …has got 8mths left
wants money to be able to talk on satalite ph anytime to me ..says they can’t access their accounts while on deployment..
Is he a scammer I can’t find anything written on your site though his name appears at the top when i typed it in ..
coddy stone zendrosky us army in iraq… met him on tagged
is he for real or a scam require money to be able to ring me …cant get money of their own while on deployment
Hi i,ve been chatting to a couple of guys who say they are in the army in Kabul one of them is called Gary lusio and the other 1 is called sgt jones raw. They have both asked me for money for leave and to secure a phone line i have told them both i havn,t got any money but they still hassle me i have got gary lusio,s address and i wrote to him. I think these guys scammers. Im not sure how to find out.
Be alert from seargent Dave Meller in afghanistan, he is a scamer too asking for 500$ for communication.
My good friend met this guy through online dating site 6/mo ago. After 3 wks he was telling her he loved her…He has a daughter in boarding school in Paris…he is stationed somewhere in Europe…His daughters mother died in accident when daughter was young…No parents…He is in military in “special forces” and never mentioned with who or any information regarding work as it is priviledged information. He has mentioned marriage, bringing daughter down out of boarding school…he supposedly lives in San Francisco, CA when here. He recently told my friend he will be coming down to states in couple of days and is desperate to meet my friend as he posted pics of “himself” as well as she has. He sent her message this morning around 4am our time (supposedly he is 8 hrs different than us) he needs to wire transfer some money to her for her to cash in her bank account and when he comes here, she can give it to him. He is supposed to be down only for 3-4 days then has to fly to Washington for military business. I asked my friend why can’t he wire transfer to his own bank if he has a home in San Francisco he should have a bank account. She stated he said he had his account frozen when he went overseas. Informed my friend to be careful as someone else higher up would have to freeze his account no him and she would be responsible for paying taxes on amount as the amount he was transferring was $30,000 (to pay off bills)….Is there anything I can do to help investigate this for my friend before she gets too far. She is extremely vulnerable…
Hi Krystyna
Your english is very good, I just wanted to let you know that you will never be able to find out who it is you have been corresponding with, you could check the IP address – I have previously posted details on doing this, however you can be 99% certain that the scammer is based in Ghana as the story about sending a package with a diplomat is one that they are using.
Once you have agreed to help, instead of the diplomat coming direct to you for some reason they take the funds from Iraq to Ghana and then they get stopped by customs, need bribe money sent, then money for a letter to get the funds into your country without hassles, then right at the last minute as the diplomat is about to leave the country a new customs person will discover what is in the package and another bribe is required. Of course there never was a diplomat, or money in a package (although you may be sent a photo of a suitcase full of money), but you only find this out later.
Because you would not help with that they are now trying to play on your sympathy for the dying son. Do not fall for it, do not send any money, you will never see it again.
These people are working in groups, and quite often you will be dealing with different ones if your normal contact is not available. The best thing to do is to block contact.
Good luck and I am glad that you found this site before you got caught, I wish I had.
Regards
Pauline
I was WARNED by Facebook that someone tried to hijack or phish my F/B account from Bucharest. I was already scammed from a soldier in Darfur, which the time zone didn’t even come close to matching, wanting money, love and marriage, but I didn’t bite, I just played him til he gave up… OMG they are everywhere…please, please be careful!
Some big clues:
1. Poor language skills.
2. I have seen the “leave form” they write up, it is not our DA31.
3. Addresses that sound military but end in .com, .net, .us. Anyone can get these. “10thMountain.us” is not a military address. They all end in .mil. Even Special Forces and those overseas.
4. Try talking about sex. Then if he would rather talk about money, red flag!
5. Even a local recruiter can look up these names for you to verify legitimacy.
6. Tell your story to at least one other single person you know at work, church, anywhere. Get the word out. Guys get scammed but “Russian hotties” too. Imagine getting scammed and then finding a friend who got scammed too.
7. IP addresses can be spoofed and it is only a matter of time before they do that and use real .mil addresses. Even if an IP checks out, still verify.
8. If he means that much to you surely he can send just a post card right?
Well ladies and MSG ROBERT McLAUGHLIN….I have laughed with some and cried with others here…I too have been scammed and yet my scammers name does not appear…he was know as STAFF SGT MORISON MILLER alias Jeff, Partrick,George what can I say …A ROSE (scammer) BY ANY OTHER NAME (would still stink)…but on FB he has about 40 other names…..and when I check back with another site called ROMANCE SCAMMERS.COM he has been active for a couple of years….boy did I come in like a sucker….believed all the crap he spun me…and yet when I read some of the stories here….its the same yarn….Im an AUSSIE gal and tried to contact our Federal Police….and they are a toothless tiger..because I gave the money…and its in GHANA they cant do a thing….so im notching it up as a lesson learnt…to do more research next time, which I have learnt from my friends on FB how to look up an IP address now, and yes Ive had scammers since…but feel I have this weapon of knowing now and play with them like a kitten with a ball of string. You see the problem I have with this site is you dont have photo’s attached so how can they be recognised, it doesnt take them long to change names but faces never change
Welcome
At the beginning of all sorry for the mistakes but I do not know English. I know just a soldier who identified himself as GEN.LEUT COOPER Danne. Also was in Iraq a week ago and had to return to the U.S.. and then live with me. He had to buy a house in Poland, and his son przyje?d?a?by us a visit. He sent even bouquets kwatów who wrote that they were paid card USArmy. Of course, do not believe in these fables. How else “was” in Iraq wanted me to pick from a diplomatic courier at the airport and no witnesses package from him with some funds … I received a lot of money in Iraq. When refused, changed his tone … he wrote me that he has enough of everything and everyone has to give him a rest, because his son is dying. Can anyone help me figure out who he is, in fact? his email is cooperdanne@live.pl
To Trouble
Believe me when I tell you you have been scammed. There are business men in Ghana who employ men and women to pose as soldiers, using photos they have acquired from the internet, usually from facebook to play on the emotions of people they contact. Their one aim is to get as much money as possible from each person, before moving on to the next victim.
Under no circumstances send any more money, even though he will try to convince you that he is genuine. The fact that you have come onto this site means that alarm bells are ringing for you, please listen to them. If you don’t you will not only get hurt emotionally, but you will also feel stupid for being sucked in. The only fault you have is like so many of us you are too trusting.
Best of luck
Pauline
Once the package leave the country you usually cannot get it back. When “Paul” did finally call me I told him that he had a funny accent and did not sound like a white boy from Georgia. This person got very upset. Who ever this person is they have a very heavy accent, and he likes american music, all sorts of music. Right now he still calls every night and speaks with me and tells me he is coming home in mid-dec. Is there anyone who can help me with finding out who this person is or does this person really exist?
Hello,
I am in need of some advice about a man that I have met online at match. He has been very nice and polite. He told me that is name was Paul Haggard. He is a CPT and sent me some pictures which seemed to confirm what he was telling me. The patch on his are shows 10th mountian division. My concern is if he is real or not. My sister who was 10th mountian and is now reserve had her friend look up his name and they could not find anyone with that name except a spc. in ca or a contractor. So red flag, he also told me that he was widowed and has two children being raised in the neitherlands by their aunt. Red flag. I am an ARMY brat. I asked questions and he would not answer them or could not answer them correctly. I have been in contact with him for about a month now and like other he has professed his love for me. Until last week he could not phone me and did not have a mic on his computer. Which I told him that is BS. He got mad. He asked me to send him some tshirts, socks and some other items which are typical to send to military personnel but to a handler/tender. he stated that he was special forces and they have their mail handled differently. So I did do it. But the address was to Ghana. His supposed handler contacted me after he contacted him and gave me the address of where to mail it. About a week later I get an email from the handler asking for an additional $200 to get the package through what ever need to be done. That pissed me off and at that point we had not spoken on the phone yet. I told him what had happened and he said he would talk to his commander and find out what is going on. I get an email back asking please babe send the money and I will pay you back. They also had me send it USPS with the tracking numbers, and email them with the information.
i think i am now talking to a scammer his name is mark gardner i was contacted on facebook he has MSN of mark_gardner45@hotmail.co.uk and mark_gardner45@yahoo.com has anyone else been contacted by this man so far i have found nothing on him but he is asking me for $600 to apply for leave for him but i must write an email to a GENERAL_NORMAN@USA.COM has anyone else been talking to this man i have picture of him if anyone wants them
Hi Diana
I have been IM David Brown dd_brown60@yahoo.com same story as you, son just been involved in an accident in London. Too many thinks that dont add up like Doc email address @yahoo.com would surely by .nhs or.org or even yahoo.co.uk, further investigation reveals said hospital does not exist.
Dont think the photos sent sound the same as yours as mine show tall good looking guy in white vest and jeans in some exotic garden with roses. Two of the pictures sent one in dress uniform at a dinner and one resting while on patrol, I have found on other sites.
Gonna keep him going for a while coz it will save the next victim a bit longer. Shame the guys is not as genuine as he sounds but a sicko.
Hello again
Well to add a name to the list, Mel Williams, posing as either a soldier or marine in various places. The first couple of emails were reasonably well written, but after that it just got sloppy. I managed to get some great laughs from this one though, especially his Bachelor of Science in Accounting (the 1st warning), but he went a little overboard from then on. His mother died just after his ex lost his child in childbirth, shortly afterwards his father got sick too and he had to go to England to pick up his inheritance. These are the lowest of the low, fortunately I pretty much knew from the 2nd or 3rd email. Ladies, these scumbags arent that smart, so don’t be made fools of. Ask questions, be vigilant and for God’s sake, don’t be so gullible. I got sucked in once, but didnt lose any money, listen to your own alarm bells.
When you find these guys do not tell then that you are on to them and then break it off. That does two things — it let’s them know that at that point they made a mistake, and they will fix that mistake, and it frees them from you to go after another pigeon.
Instead spend time with them, promise them the world, offer to send them calling cards, money orders, whatever they want. Give them fake confirmation numbers, follow their stories, ignore their blatant errors so that they do not get better with time.
They will eventually drop you since you will not put out, but in the meantime you have wasted their time and saved another person from their tentacles. It can be a bit fun on your part too once you know the deal and they are not clued in to that.
Until they are caught this is the best way to cut into their income.
Hi Karen,
Re George Patterson
georgepa01@live.com
I’ve met this Nigarian Scammer on September on plentyoffish.com but he said his name is George albert Wilson, Said he was a Captain in US Army in Afganistan and was retiring soon, he was widowed and had a daughter. The same method to ask for money. Fortunately, i have not pay any. He had told me his MSN email, I searched his email georgepa01@live.com a few day ago, i found a facebook of George Patterson and saw the photo. George A. Wilson is the same person of George Patterson, cause he had send me the photos. So i hope you can post it. His email is cptgwilson1@yahoo.com. I don’t want anyone to be the next victim. Please be careful! georgepa01@live.com is the same one of cptgwilson1@yahoo.com. If you would like to see the photos you can contact me at chow.nini@yahoo.com.hk. I’m in Hong Kong
Imagine sitting on Facebook minding your own business on Farmville and a Scumbag pops up for a request Sgt David Brown Lingo stationed in Afghanistan. What he didnt know is that i was a Navy bratt,had been married to a military guy and recently dated a Army soldier that just got back from Afghanistan HE PICKED THE WRONG ONE! He did the compasionate leave ask me to be his wife so he could come home ha! ha! that was a good one,well that didnt work,nexted was his poor son David Jnr got hit by a car in the UK and it was going to cost 6,000 for surgery and he didnt have the money since he was an Army Ranger and they locked down his account ha! ha! right He even went as far as to have an email sent from a docter Joseph Koyode saying they needed help. Oh i forgot to mention that David couldnt get to his son because he was shot in the (tigh) i think he ment to say thigh Ha! Ha! Oh and the docter said that his son had injury to his tigh to does anyone see a similarity here. Okey get this he even sent a picture of supposedly his son that got hit by a car.The picture was obviously of someone else. He became very upset when i told him he wouldnt get any money from me. At this point I had a idea that this was a scam so i went and GOOGLED MEN POSING AS SOLDIERS SCAMING WOMEN. Well guess whos picture showed up On Scumbag of the Week David Brown Lingo. His picture was up on the right hand page. Soldier holding a gun and theres another soldier behind him. BEWARE HE IS STILL ON FACEBOOK UNDER DAVID BROWN THERE ARE TWO WOMEN ON HIS CONTACT THAT I HAVE WARNED THEM ABOUT HIM . HE IS A SMOOTH ONE HE LIKES TO RIGHT POETRY I HAVE 17 POEMS HE WROTE. SMOOTH TALKER HE WILL TELL YOU HE IS A WIDOWER AND HIS SON WAS 10 WHEN SHE DIED HIS SON DAVID JNR IS SUPPOSEDLY 22. DAVID CLAIMS TO BE 50 AND GETTING READY FOR RETIREMENT. BEEN IN THE SERVICE FOR 26 YEARS.SUPPOSEDLY HAS A TATOO OF TUPOK ON HIS CHEST AND A SCORPIO SIGN ON HIS ARM. HE CLAIMS HIS BIRTHDAY IS NOV 25 BORN IN 1960. HIS FATHER IS FROM NEW JERSEY AND HIS MOTHER FROM ENGLAND. WAS LEFT TWO BUSINESSES IN REALESTATE ONE IN LIVINGSTON NEW JERSY AND THE OTHER IN THE UK. I CHATTED WITH BOTH HIM AND HIS SON AT THE SAME TIME SO THERES GOT TO BE MORE THAN ONE OPERATING HERE. PLEASE BEWARE OF HIM. HE IS POSING AS AN ARMY RANGER I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THE IDENTITY OF THE SOLDIER HE HAS STOLEN.I PRAY THEY CATCH THIS SCUMBAG!!!!
The guy looked like he was hit by an exsplosion,he had burn marks. Needless to say i didnt send any money which he become mad. He came back on and said he was doing horrible and didnt know if he was going to make it . Now if your that badly shot your going to get sent home. Well his case was different ha ha right. Well needles to say i was doodling around on the computer went to yahoo and googled men that pose as soldiers and scam women. Well guess who was on Scum Bag of the week David Brown Lingo. His was the first one on the right hand side. Soldier standing with a gun and theres a guy behind him. Oh WARNING He is still on Facebook although i have reported him. I have also notified the two ladies on his Facebook!!
do some body hear froma major barker muller ?? in afghanistan …he is a scamm they ask me for 4ooo dls and he supost to return me the money when he be aot of the afghanistan jajaj but its not real i have his pics if som body see this please let me know if major barker is in the aerforce he is in face book looking for the next victim .I DON’T SEND NO MONEY TO NO BODY !!! please take care the name is MAJOR BARKER MULLER … if sombody knows the real barker lease let me know
If you get scammed and DO send money, call your insurance agent and see if you are covered at all. A friend fell for the “I’ll send you a check for $4000 and you can send me $3500” speech and was covered under her policy.
IP addresses can be spoofed. Don;’t rely on those entirely.
Colleen and others, an Army dude will not say he is a “Capt.” Maybe an Air Force dude will. The Army abbreviation is CPT and no other.
To Wendy and all the others…thank you so much…in fact Mark Ross is on my IM right now and writing all the same b*s* as Wendy already wrote….I got the number of his friend Jeffrey today..the same one as written above with a 350 number … same thing….I confrontated him with the facts and of course he doesn’t understand what I’m talking about. I’m sorry for those who felt for him…. lovely story he is telling everybody…I just deleted the contact and put him under SPAM… Please girls, check always the IP’s …. this is how I found out that he’s from Nigeria, going over UK, Gibraltar and Scotland…different IP locations. ASk these guys for details and research it in the internet… I asked for the time in Afghanistan and he needed a while until answered…sure, he needed to search for the time at first…I knew quite early that he’s a scammer and I was curious how far this dirty people play… they have absolutely no scrupel or moral.Be aware and NEVER send money or anything else to somebody you don’t know. Good luck to all of you…Sally
I too was scammed a few months ago, but I didn’t bite on it..A army “Capt” sent mails of marriage, he wanted to send me his 6 month salary, after I wriote a letter to Headquarters in the midwest and he would collect it when we got together, He wrote of his rank.first he was a Capt and then his return address was of a Colonel, I am very atentive and tried to catch him in lies. His wording didn’t make sense nor did his spelling..Name: Capt. Martin Douglas. constant mails of love and missing me, can’t wait to meet, etc.
His profile was no longer on Facebook, so I’m hoping someone reported him.