SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
After More Than 20 Years Of This Type Of Scam Fake Military Impersonation Scams Are Still Very Common, Especially With European, Latin American, And Asian Victims
Military impersonation scams are a type of online relationship scam or fraud where scammers create fake profiles on social media or dating websites using stolen photos of military personnel.
They then pose as deployed soldiers in conflict areas (Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.) in order to gain the trust of their victims, often women and men who are looking for love or companionship by luring them in and grooming them. Once they have gained the victim’s trust the manipulation begins until the criminals are in full control, the scammers will ask for money or personal information. They may claim that they need money to pay for their deployment expenses, to obtain leave to come and visit the victim, or they cannot buy food, for a gift for a child, to smuggle gold or gems out of the country, or they may ask for the victim’s banking information in order to send them a “gift.”
These scams can be very convincing, as scammers often take the time to create detailed profiles and backstories. However, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself from falling victim to a military impersonation scam:
IF ANY SOLDIER DEPLOYED OVERSEAS ASKS YOU FOR MONEY THEY ARE 100% A SCAMMER!
With over ONE BILLION (more than 1,000,000,000) fake identities online, there are plenty of scammers to go around. 1 Billion is AFTER the social media companies delete nearly 1 billion a year! That is how big this all is! And there are nearly a million new victims a year. You are far from being alone in this.
The Odds Are Nearly 100% That The Soldier Who Contacted You Out Of The Blue Is A Scammer!
If you think you have been the victim of a military impersonation scam, you should report it to the authorities and to the website, dating app, or platform where you met the scammer.
Online Romance Scam Information About Stolen Soldier Identities
Impersonation & Identity Theft Of United States Army Soldiers/Military – If You Suspect Someone Then They ARE A Scammer
You may have a suspicion about someone you have met online. You may not know it yet but your instincts picked up on something out of place (below we explain the Red Flags in more detail). Go with your gut – if it feels wrong it is!
Click Here To Learn More
United States Military & Social Media
So much of the information spread around about scammers and fake military is nothing but an urban legend. False information, misinterpretation, or rumors spread like lice in a preschool. This article will help to clear up many of these preconceptions that are nothing but urban legends and replace them with fact.
Yes, the United States has military personnel in EVERY country on Earth (except a handful). Most of these are assigned to United States Embassies, however, there are active military missions in over 100 countries – mostly fighting terrorists around the globe. Not since World War 2 has there been the deployment of United States and NATO forces in more counties.
Find the information you need to know if someone is real or fake here.
Click Here To Learn More About The U.S. Military
Click Here For A Guide To U.S. Military Ranks
Right Up Front – If Someone Sends You A Photo Of Their ID Card They ARE A Scammer!
That is because it is illegal for United States Military personnel to copy their ID cards. It is that simple!
However, so many people want to understand how to make sure they are fakes that we have created the following.
United States Military ID Cards Are Called “CAC” – Common Access Cards. The CAC, a “smart” card about the size of a credit card, is the standard identification for active duty uniformed Service personnel, Selected Reserve, U.S. Department of Defence [DoD] civilian employees, and eligible contractor personnel. It is also the principal card used to enable physical access to buildings and controlled spaces, and it provides access to DoD computer networks and systems.
Find the information you need to know if someone is real or fake here.
Click Here To Learn More
Impersonation Galleries
These are galleries of the real person – organized by their name – whose photos & identity were stolen and used for Romance Scams / Pig Butchering Scams.
Click here for our Impersonation Galleries
Looking For Fake Soldier Photos?
Visit ScammerPhotos.com For The Latest Scammer Photos
More Information To Help You Spot Fake Soldiers & Military Impersonation Scammers
More Military Information
- Fake Soldiers – Impersonation Scams (romancescamsnow.com)
- U.S. Department of Defense Military Social Media Use Policy – 2022 (romancescamsnow.com)
- Generals & Military Men & Women, Politicians & Diplomats, Celebrities, & Actors That Scammers Love (romancescamsnow.com)
- Soldier Impersonation – Scam Basics (romancescamsnow.com)
- How To Spot Fake U.S. Passports [UPDATED] (romancescamsnow.com)
- Victimology – What Is It? (scamsnow.com)
Understanding These Scammers
- Stolen Photos – Scam Basics (romancescamsnow.com)
- Why Scammers Don’t Give Up (scamsnow.com)
- SCARS™ Scam Basics: Scammer Acid Test (romancescamsnow.com)
- Basic Fakery Deception & Lies (romancescamsnow.com)
- Scam Basics: Dead Wife (romancescamsnow.com)
- Romance Scammers – Top Lies They Tell (romancescamsnow.com)
- Common Tactics & Types Of Relationship Scams (romancescamsnow.com)
More Articles That May Be Helpful
- Military Romance Scams: Are You a Target? | Military.com
- How to Avoid Military Romance Scams | Signs of Common Military Scams | Trusted Since 1922 (rd.com)
- CID Lookout: Social Media Impersonation of Soldier Accounts > Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division > Article Display
- How To Spot A Fake Military ID Card – SCRACVS
- What questions to ask a military scammer – Forces Penpals GB
Military Scams: What to Look For
There are a variety of words and phrases used by military impersonation scammers to hook unsuspecting women and men into fake relationships. Here are some of them
- They say they are on a “peacekeeping” mission.
- They say they are looking for an honest woman/man.
- They note that their parents, wife, or husband is deceased.
- They say they have a child or children being cared for by a nanny or other guardian.
- They profess their love almost immediately.
- They refer to you as “my love,” “my darling,” “sweetheart” or any other affectionate endearment term almost immediately.
- They tell you they cannot wait to be with you.
- They tell you they cannot talk on the phone or via webcam for security reasons.
- They tell you they are sending you something (money, jewelry) through a diplomat.
- They claim to be in the U.S. military; however, their English and grammar do not match that of someone born and raised in the United States.
Impersonation Victim Galleries
Do You Need Support?
Get It Now!
SCARS provides the leading Support & Recovery program for relationship scam victims – completely FREE!
Our managed peer support groups allow victims to talk to other survivors and recover in the most experienced environment possible, for as long as they need. Recovery takes as long as it takes – we put no limits on our support!
SCARS is the most trusted support & education provider in the world. Our team is certified in trauma-informed care, grief counseling, and so much more!
To apply to join our groups visit support.AgainstScams.org
We also offer separate support groups for family & friends too.
Become a
SCARS STAR™ Member
SCARS offers memberships in our STAR program, which includes many benefits for a very low annual membership fee!
SCARS STAR Membership benefits include:
- FREE Counseling or Therapy Benefit from our partner BetterHelp.com
- Exclusive members-only content & publications
- Discounts on SCARS Self-Help Books Save
- And more!
To learn more about the SCARS STAR Membership visit membership.AgainstScams.org
To become a SCARS STAR Member right now visit join.AgainstScams.org
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
It is unbelievable how we, as victims, see those grammatical mistakes and do not react. We need to see more awareness and education campaigns to help women not to fall for these criminals.
You are blaming yourself for this. You did not see them because your mind was manipulated to not see them.