The person says they are a soldier deployed abroad. Is that a scam?
The soldier story is one of the most used in romance scams, so treat it with care. Real soldiers do not need you to pay for leave, a flight home, food, internet or a "retirement fund", and the military does not charge fees for a soldier to go on vacation.
The scammer uses photos of a real soldier found online. The uniform explains everything: why they cannot video call, why they cannot meet, why the number is foreign, why messages come at odd hours. Then comes the request, often through a "commander" or "agent" who also chats with you.
How to check
- Do a reverse image search on the photos in uniform: soldier photos are among the most stolen on the internet.
- Be careful if the person says a fee is needed for leave, a flight, communication or a care package. That is not how any army works.
- Ask for a short video call. A real soldier with internet to chat can also video call.
- Look at the language: a "US soldier" who writes with errors a native speaker would not make is a sign.
- Check the number and the email. Scammers often use virtual numbers that do not match the country they claim.
Frequently asked questions
- The soldier gave me the name of their commander, who confirmed everything. Is it real?
- The "commander" is usually the same scammer or a partner. Nothing confirmed by chat is proof.
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