Dear Ms. Vicki,
I met a soldier online. He was in Africa at the time. We have been communicating for one year now.
He went from Africa to Malaysia, from there back to the States. We talked through Facebook. We've really become close. As a matter of fact, I love him. I truly believe he loves me.
I've seen pictures of him with his name showing on his uniform. He has pictures of me. I even have pictures of his son. He's supposed to be ready to retire.
But he owes money to other soldiers. He says that he can't leave the service until he pays that debt off. He's got all of his paperwork; they just won't let him go anywhere until he pays that debt back to his soldiers.
Also, he claims that he has no access to his bank account. I know he's being paid monthly. Throughout the year, I have assisted him with his finances.
I just have this strong feeling that he's not telling me everything. He says he's in Fort Drum, New York, at the present time. I even tried to find him through the worldwide Army locator. I needed his Social Security number, which he would not give me.
We're planning to be married as soon as I pay off his debts. He says the Army will buy his ticket. I believe him, but some things just don't add up.
-- Fiancé I Have Never Met
Dear Fiancé,
I hope I'm not too late to stop you from making a terrible mistake. Don't pass Go!! Scam alert!!
Please leave this guy alone and don't try to find him. He is not a service member, he's a scam artist and has probably already received thousands of dollars from other women.
Honestly, you may not even be communicating with a man. Who knows?
These people are like a well-regimented army and use whatever tactics they can to steal from women who fall in love with them and then feel sorry for them because they need money to come home for leave, to come home for good or to pay off their debts. They are scumbags.
Other women have reported to me their bank accounts have been wiped out! Their homes vandalized! They have put their very lives in danger!
Please don't communicate with him again. This is very important.
-- Ms. Vicki
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