The soldier in a war zone dating scam has been around for a few years now but it’s surprising how many people dating online remain unaware of it.
Nigerian and Russian scammers have long used the old “I’m a civil engineer working in Nigeria or Russia …. oops I’ve been robbed/got sick/got a great business deal and need a financial loan” trick to scam money out of trusting people they meet online.
The serviceman scam stoops to an even deeper low, playing on people’s patriotism, sympathies and trust.
When it began the soldier scam usually said they were a soldier (from US or UK) serving in Iraq but as public popularity for the Iraq war dwindled Afghanistan became the war zone of choice.
This is how the scam works:
After registering with an online dating site the scammer uploads a photo of a soldier they have downloaded from a facebook page or army recruiting website and then copies and pastes a great profile writeup from a script.
They immediately send a short but friendly message to numerous women on the site introducing themselves and asking about the woman.
You reply, saying a little about yourself and asking about him.
When they respond they will give very little away about themselves, again responding to what you have told them and asking questions about you. They will also give an email or msn address where you can contact them offsite.
NB … the more you tell a stranger about yourself, particularly personal stories, the closer you feel to them because there is a bond of trust … scammers use this against you and the more you tell the more trust you show.
In their second or third email they will tell you they are a US or UK soldier serving in Afghanistan or Iraq … they say they hope that doesn’t scare you … and they have one child they are totally devoted to.
The story then varies depending on which script the scammer is working from …. either they are a widower or divorced …. sometimes their ex/deceased wife was a Nigerian, if so the child may have gone to stay with his ex/deceased wife’s mother in Nigeria while he is away at war, or else the child is with his own mother in UK or US while they are in Afghanistan (this depends wether they have contacts in the UK or US to channel the money through).
After they feel they have your trust and you are emotionally hooked (usually after declarations of love or commitment to a long term relationship) they will start to mention how worried they are because they’ve heard their child is sick. This can either be a gradual process or they will receive a call with the heartbreaking news while they are talking to you online or by phone.
Then the first request to borrow money will arrive to pay for emergency medical care for their child … obviously they can’t send money from Afghanistan, it’s a war zone but will pay you back as soon as they get home.
If you send money the requests will keep coming as their imaginary child gets sicker and the medical bills mount up … oh and don’t forget his dear old mother who has to stay in a hotel next to the hospital.
This scam is quite successful because you have a patriotic soldier putting life and limb on the line each day. One who has gone through heartbreak and tough times emotionally (showing his vulnerable side) and of course one that is totally committed to loving and caring for you for the rest of your life … they are exactly what you have been looking for, a real life knight in shining armour.
A professional woman in the UK was scammed out of £10,000 by this very type of scam …. please don’t fall for it.
My apologies to the genuine US soldier in the photo used in this article, I simply copied it from google images to show how easy it is and I hope the soldier in the picture (and his family) would understand my intention is simply to keep women safe by explaining how the soldier scam works.
July 27th, 2010 at 12:37 am
Hi Sally
I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me. Please use any information from this clever scammer to help others.
Believe me, this is nothing compared to what i have been through, just only hope he suffers in life for what he has done (or whoever it is)
Did you ever find out which country the scammer was from?
Sally, thank you, thank you, thank you.
July 27th, 2010 at 3:04 am
Hi Sue
Thanks for sending all the information and yes he is definately a clever one so shall write a post soon on what makes him better than the others we usually see.
July 27th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Hi Sally
Thank you once again for all the information.
Please write a post and use anything you can and feel will help.
I cannot believe such heartless using people.
All the best and you are doing a fantastic job.
Kindest regards
Sue
July 28th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Oh my gosh!!!
I spoke with sgt Bruce Almberg, which I ve met on mate.com site. We chatted on yahoo and he saw me on the camera. When I asked him wjy I cant see him, he said, that they are not allowed to do that etc.Apparently he had been staying in Afghanistan, had a 5years old son and his wife died when pregnant with their second child. He asked me for a emergnecy leave, send the form. I first said- yes, but after that I realized that I would be really stupid to do that. And then they will sending me an emails saying, that If i wont pay they will send a police etc.
I cant believe it really happened….
July 28th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
That was a lucky escape Sabina and well done for going with gut instinct.
July 28th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
There is no low to which they will not sink. Scum not scam. Portia.
July 28th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Sgt Bruce Almberg…..
I spoke with him, he tried to convince me to send him money for the emenrgency leave….
When I didnt agree he was frightening me va email: ronald ( etc. ) that he will send the police to catch me.
To day I added him again as my contact on yahoo and he said that he is still in afghan, he has got his son on the photo
oh my god…
July 28th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
i am chatting with him…
is there anything i can do to help to catch him?
why is he doing it?
July 28th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
please keep me updated…
July 28th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Hi Sally just wondering if you got the pics of Sgt Bruce Almberg that i sent you, if not let me know and i will resend them. Hope the info i have sent to you has been of some help
July 29th, 2010 at 12:33 am
Hi Sabina
I’m afraid they are in countries where there are bigger issues than scammers, so there is no way to catch them. The best we can do is know they are scammers and keep them chatting for as long as we can, that way they leave someone alone who doesn’t know they are a scammer.
July 29th, 2010 at 12:34 am
Hi Charmaine
Yes I got them thanks, am busy writing some posts now but there are so many scammers to deal with at the moment it’s hard to keep up.
If anyone else has photos of “Sgt Almberg please can you let me know. Thanks