REPORT FROM CID PART II

From the findings of CID, following information was made to all the users of internet dating sites. DO NOT EVER SEND MONEY! Be extremely suspicious if you are asked for money for transportation costs, communication fees or marriage processing and medical fees. Carefully check out the stories you are being told. If it sounds suspicious; there is a reason, it is routinely false, trust your instincts. If you do start an internet-based relationship with someone, check them out, research what they are telling you with someone who would know, such as a current or former service member.

   Be very suspicious if you never get to actually speak with the person on the phone or you are told you cannot write or receive letters in the mail. Servicemen and women serving overseas will often have an APO or FPO mailing address. Internet or not, service members always appreciate a letter in the mail. Military members have an email address that end in “.mil.” If the person you are speaking with cannot sent you at least one email from a “.mil” (that will be the very LAST part of the address and nothing after), then there is a high probability they are not in the military.

   Many of the negative claims made about the military and the supposed lack of support and services provided to troops overseas are far from reality, check the facts. Be very suspicious if you are asked to send money or ship property to a third party or company. Often times the company exists, but has no idea or is not a part of the scam. Be aware of common spelling, grammatical or language errors in the emails. Be cognizant of foreign and regional accents that do not match the person’s story.

WHERE TO GO FOR HELP

Report the theft to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) (FBI-NW3C Partnership) at http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx. Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

Your report helps law enforcement officials across the United States in their investigations. Report the theft by phone at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261.

Report the theft by mail at the following address: Identity Theft Clearinghouse Federal Trade Commission Washington, DC 20580

Report the fraud by email to the Federal Trade Commission on Nigerian Scams via at spam@uce.gov.

For more information on CID, visit http://www.cid.army.mil.