Military romance scams: how to spot a fake soldier online
Quick answer
If someone you met online says they're a deployed soldier and asks you for money, they're a scammer. Real servicemembers never need you to pay for leave, food, medical care or packages. Stop contact, report the profile and file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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How it works
Scammers build a profile with stolen photos, sometimes of real military personnel, and start a friendship or romance on a dating app or social media. They then move the chat to a private messaging app.
Over days or weeks they build trust, then come the requests. The FTC lists common excuses: money for a leave request, for food, for medical care, or to ship a package. Servicemembers never have to pay for any of those.
The FTC has also seen scammers claim to be deployed to places where there is no US military presence, such as Ukraine, and in 2026 claim deployment to Iran, then ask for urgent money. The payment is nearly always by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency, which are hard to get back.
Red flags
- Anyone you met online who asks for money, for any reason
- A soldier who can only chat on a messaging app and avoids video calls
- Fast declarations of love
- Requests for gift cards, wire transfers or crypto
- Stories about paying for leave, medical care or shipping
- Profile photos that appear under other names in a reverse image search
Example message
My love, my leave was approved but I need $[amount] for the paperwork before I can fly home to you. The army won't cover it. Please send it by gift card and send me the photo of the numbers.
What to do
- 1
Stop sending money and stop replying
The FTC's rule is simple: if an online friend asks for money, they're a scammer. Never pay by gift card, wire or crypto.
- 2
Check the profile
Run a reverse image search of the photos, and search their name with "scam" or "imposter".
- 3
Report the profile to the app or site
Use the platform's report option so the account is removed.
- 4
If you paid, contact your bank or the payment company
Tell them it was fraud and ask them to stop the transfer. Report it to the FTC.
- 5
Watch for follow-up scams
People who've lost money are often contacted again by "recovery" services that want a fee. Don't pay them.
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
Romance scammers pick targets from dating profiles and social media, and look up details about you on people-search sites to sound like they know you. Serus finds where your address, phone number and email are listed on data brokers and people-search sites and removes them, and alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
Frequently asked
Do soldiers ever ask for money to come home?
The FTC says servicemembers never have to pay for leave, food, medical treatment or packages. A request for money is the scam.
How can I check if a profile is fake?
Reverse image search the photos and search the name with words like "scam". The FTC also advises being wary of anyone who avoids meeting or video calls.
I already sent money. Can I get it back?
Call your bank or the payment company right away and report it to the FTC. Gift cards, wires and crypto are hard to recover.
Where do I report a military romance scammer?
Report the profile to the app, then file at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or IC3.
Sources
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