Soldier impersonators try to con women on Facebook
Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky.
Con artists are targeting women on Facebook in what’s becoming an all-too-common ruse: They steal photos of soldiers to set up profiles, profess their love and devotion in sappy messages — and then ask their victims to cut a check.
Military officials say they’ve seen hundreds of cases in the past several years. Some of the impersonators even have used photos of soldiers who have died overseas.
Christopher Grey, spokesman for the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Belvoir, Va., said the Internet impersonators often make ridiculous claims. Some say they need money for special laptops and cell phones. Others say they need cash to buy special papers to come home on leave or a registration form because military officials won’t let them talk to family.
The Army encourages anyone who suspects they are being used in a scam to file a report with their local police as well as report the cases to agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission.