Internet Dating and Romance Scams

A growing number of Danish citizens have been targeted by people claiming to be U.S. Service Members serving abroad. The people behind the scams usually claim to be serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, or in Africa.

The scammers will, at some point, ask for money, e.g. for travel expenses, medical expenses or to pay for a telephone line. U.S. Service Members or branches of the United States Defense will never ask people for money. They will never reach out to people through the Internet.

When talking to people online we encourage people to follow the advice given below

• Exercise caution in where you go, who you communicate with and what you accept from other users.

• Stay smart: It’s important to pay attention to security bulletins and alerts, press reports on new cyber attacks.

• Expect it: When deciding what to put out on the Internet – whether it’s an e-mail or social networking site – consider the impact if that information ends up on the public domain or in the hands of a criminal. And if information is compromised, have a plan to respond and recover.

• If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

To report a cyber crime, visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center, the Federal Trade Commission, or On Guard Online.

You can read more about Internet Dating and Romance Scams on the U.S. Department of State website