Military scammer pictures: how fake soldier profiles work and how to check one
Quick answer
If an online love interest in a uniform photo asks you for money, it's a scam. Scammers steal photos of real service members. Try a reverse image search of the profile pictures, stop contact, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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How it works
Romance scammers often steal photos of real military personnel for their dating or social media profiles. The person in the pictures is real. The profile is not, and the soldier usually has no idea their photos are being used.
The FTC says these scammers can be any age, gender or sexual orientation, and may approach you on dating sites or on social media platforms. After building a relationship, they ask for money, often for things like:
- a "leave request" so they can visit you
- food and medical treatment during deployment
- care packages, sometimes through an official-looking but fake military website
One twist the FTC describes is scammers pretending to be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine, where there is no U.S. military presence. Servicemembers never have to pay to get packages, food, medical treatment or to take leave.
In 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam to the FTC, with reported losses of $1.3 billion.
Red flags
- A profile with uniform photos that contacts you first or rushes toward romance
- Requests for money for leave, food, medical care or packages
- Payment by gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency
- A fake official-looking military website asking you to pay for a package
- Details that don't match up when you reverse image search the photos
- Pressure to keep the relationship secret or to move off the app quickly
Example message
I'm a staff sergeant deployed overseas and I can't use my own bank here. My leave request needs a processing fee before I can fly out to meet you. Can you send it through [link]? I'll pay you back as soon as I'm home.
What to do
- 1
Stop and talk to someone you trust
Slow down before you reply. Tell a friend or family member what the person has asked for.
- 2
Run a reverse image search on the photos
If the photos belong to someone with a different name or story, you have your answer. The FTC suggests this check if details don't match up.
- 3
Cut off contact and tell the platform
Stop replying, then report the profile to the dating app or social media platform.
- 4
If you sent money, contact your bank or payment provider
Use the phone number on your card or in the app, tell them it was fraud and ask whether the payment can be stopped. Be wary of anyone offering to recover the money for a fee.
- 5
If you shared personal details, secure your accounts
Change passwords and turn on multi-factor authentication. The FTC's IdentityTheft.gov lists steps based on what you shared.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Scammers get names, phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses from people-search sites and from data breaches. A fake soldier profile that knows your first name, town or job feels more personal than a random message. Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them from sites that hold them, and alerts you when your email or phone number shows up in a breach, so fewer scammers can build a convincing approach.
Frequently asked
Are the soldiers in these photos involved?
Not usually. The FTC says scammers steal photos of real military personnel for their profiles.
Will a real servicemember ask me for money?
The FTC says servicemembers never have to pay to get packages, food, medical treatment or to take leave.
Is a reverse image search enough to prove a profile is real?
No. It can show that photos belong to someone else, but it can't confirm a profile is genuine. Never send money to someone you haven't met in person.
Where do I report it?
Tell the app or social media platform, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
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