How to spot an online military romance scam

ByCraig Haley

Online romance scams are one of the most personally devastating scams on the Internet and online victim data continually shows that these scams are just as prolific as they ever have been. One such popular variant is the military romance scam.

The vast majority of online romance scams usually follow a very simple formula.

1. The scammer contacts the victim online pretending to be looking for love and develops a relationship.
2. The scammer makes up an excuse as to why they cannot meet in person – usually because they are abroad.
3. The scammers claims they need money urgently and they request (or guilt) the victim into sending it.
4. The scammer continues to ask for money until the victim no longer pays up.
5. The scammer dumps the victim and goes on to the next victim.

All this could take days, weeks or even years. But the end game is usually the same. To lure the victim into handing over money. Online military romance scams work in the same way, only this variant of the scam will involve the scammer posing as a member or contractor of the Armed Forces stationed overseas.

The immediate advantage of the military angle is two-fold.
Firstly, the scammer will know that many people are attracted to (or may even specifically seek out) members of the Armed Forces.
Secondly, the story provides a good excuse as to why the scammers cannot meet in person (since they are “stationed abroad.”)


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Additionally it also offers the scammer a number of potential stories to spin when it comes to executing the “end game” of the scam; luring a victim into handing over money.

In past scams, scammers posing as members of the Armed Forces have used the below excuses to try and lure victims into sending them money –

  • To help with medical bills and expenses for injuries incurred on the job.
  • To help them pay for childcare
  • To help them pay fines to go on leave or resign or retire in order to visit the victim
  • To purchase supplies or housing for troops.
  • To help them smuggle money or gold from a third world country where they are stationed.

It is worth noting that those in the US/UK military (and most other armed forces) working abroad are offered full healthcare and equipment, and are not fined for taking leave or retiring. Nor will anyone from the military try and smuggle anything out of a country much less request the help of someone they’ve never met to help them do so.


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Romance scammers can locate victims through a variety of different ways. Predictably the most popular is through dating apps and websites but can also include email, text messages and social media. Military romance scammers may also frequent websites, apps and forums that are related to the military.

An example of an unsolicited email scam is below.

I am Sgt John Adams of the US Army base in Afghanistan for peace keeping I found your contact detail in a address journal am seeking your assistance to evacuate the sum of $18,000,000.00 to you as long as I am assured that it will be safe in your care until I complete my service here in Afghanistan. This is not stolen money and there are no dangers involved.
I count on your understanding.please get back to my personal email: johnad@****.com
John Adams

Scammers will also use genuine photos of current or former members of the Armed Forces on social media and dating profiles to make them appear more authentic.

Avoiding online military romance scams

Avoiding military romance scams involves following the same advice as avoiding any online romance scam.

  • Don’t send money to people you’ve never met in person, even if you have developed a relationship with them.
  • Do a reverse image search on photos a romance scammer gives you to see if the photo is of someone else. More information on that here.
  • Watch out for someone who is reluctant to meet in person or even telephone or video chat.
  • Watch out for poor spelling and grammar. (Many such scams originate from non-English speaking countries.)
  • Beware if the person seems keen on developing a relationship extremely fast, or attempts to make you feel guilt or pity.
  • Never send money online using gift card vouchers, services like Western Union and directly using a courier.

For more information on romance scams and how to avoid them, read our main article here.

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