Army investigators warn public about romance scams
And I went and wasted all the money and that broke my heart. We would have sumptuous meals by candle light followed with cognac and a fine cigar I don't smoke except for a cigar once in a while.
Lots of military members do use dating sites to meet people in their community. Thank you Im going through something similar. Soldiers and their loved ones are not charged money so that the Soldier can go on leave.
Meet Soldiers Online - And they are hunting you.
So I joined an over-50's dating site. He said his site had left him, that he was raising his teenage son alone, and that he was soon leaving for a tour of Afghanistan. He said he was going to come and see me. He said all the right things. Jean offered to help and sent Alex some money. But it wasn't a one-off favour. I kept helping him and his son with various things - domestic bills, school fees and things like that. A desperate request for money is inevitable. The fraudsters behind the scam are often based in West Africa - Nigeria in dating - and it can prove very hard for authorities to track them down. They will sometimes use the names of real American soldiers - including those killed in action - and site photos from military websites or the social media profiles of american soldiers to make their own dating profiles appear legitimate. We've had more than 10 in the last five days. She will not reveal how much money she has lost but says she is in a lot of debt as a result of the scam. Like fellow victim Jean, she said the men posing as soldiers really know how to exploit the emotions of the women they hope to con. Sometimes you even get gifts - I was sent flowers, balloons and teddy bears, and would receive poems and emails every day. This soldiers an elaborate set-up, where the women are asked to complete official-looking paperwork - and send a fee, which they are told will be refunded. This is what happened to Rebecca. The majority are too embarrassed to share their story publicly but Rebecca and Jean were keen to speak, to try to ensure other women did not suffer the same fate. Today Rebecca is involved in a in the hope that she can warn other women of this costly hoax. Since starting the campaign, she has been contacted by more than 240 other women who have also fallen victim to phoney soldiers through online dating sites. Rebecca reported her case but was told there was no chance of her ever getting her money back. However, in Jean's case, police did manage to trace some of the money she sent to accounts in Nigeria and California. They recovered just over £13,000 - small consolation when the total sum she sent was close to £100,000. A soldier on after being caught out, Jean is utterly distraught knowing she was conned and feels she has let her family down. He had arranged for money to be invested so I could draw an income each month and I could have a decent lifestyle. And I went and wasted all the money and that broke my heart. I like to help them out, give them pocket money. But of course I had to tell them american this and tell them that it meant I can't give them anything any more. You can also listen again on the or by dating the 5 live Investigates.