Former Romance Scammer Shares Tips to Avoid Online Fraud

13 hours ago 2

Beware of social media profiles with few photos and never send money or gifts without meeting someone first.

Those two seemingly simple tips could potentially save an unwitting man or woman looking for online companionship tens of thousands of dollars, a self-professed former romance scammer in Nigeria told Newsweek.

"People should look out for these guys that have few pictures and they are so cute on social media, especially military ones," said Chris Maxwell, of Lagos. "Don't trust someone who doesn't show their face on a video call or they're not willing to meet you in person."

The 26-year-old reformed fraudster who said he bilked dozens of women out of $70,000 from 2016 to 2021 now works as a consultant for Social Catfish, a California-based online dating investigation service that helps people verify questionable images and profiles. Maxwell wants to educate as many users as possible, especially women, to raise awareness of proliferating scams that can ultimately destroy lives.

chris maxwell
Reformed romance scammer Chris Maxwell, 26, now works for a California-based company to help identify and expose fraudsters like himself. "It was like a full-time job for me," he told "Newsweek." courtesy of Chris Maxwell

"I did military romance scams, which involves using military pictures to create fake profiles and attract single mothers," Maxwell recalled. "I also did AI scams that involved creating fake voice and videos to distract the victims."

Maxwell said he created a fake online persona during his second year of college using a stolen image of a well-traveled U.S. Army officer. The Instagram handle, hey_milkshake, depicted a buff infantry soldier with worldwide ties, including Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas and Korea. Family, fitness and food got the bodybuilder going, according to the sham profile with nearly 6,000 followers.

"I just wanted to make enough money to flex around and be comfortable," Maxwell told Newsweek. "I just wanted money."

Maxwell, who considered romance scamming as his "full-time job," said he targeted single mothers age 30 to 65, preying on loneliness whenever possible.

online scammers
Online fraudsters frequently woo victims for weeks or months before defrauding them via elaborate ruses or promises of huge profits in investment-related schemes. BASTIEN INZAURRALDE/AFP via Getty Images

"So, I [took] advantage of that," he acknowledged.

In 2021, Maxwell said he conned a U.S. woman of $30,000 after initiating contact on Facebook. Dozens of messages across several platforms ensued, culminating with Western Union payments or digital gift cards up to $1,000 each.

"She got into a huge debt afterwards," he said. "She became sick, she became depressed and couldn't even see her grandkids because of me. So, I felt guilty and I showed her my face on video."

Maxwell said the emotional call coupled with the real-life consequences of his actions led him to give up scamming entirely. The victim, who was in her late 50s, then helped push the brash young fraudster onto a new path.

"She cried and she forgave me," Maxwell said. "And she introduced me to Social Catfish and that was how I stopped scamming."

online scams
More than 42,000 reports of romance scams have been reported to the Federal Trade Commission this year, compared to more than 65,000 in 2023, but the average loss remains steady at $1,901, data shows. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

The victim had previously contacted Social Catfish and coordinated with Nigerian authorities to uncover Maxwell's scheme by tracing his IP address.

"She told them about her situation and they connected with her and they got to me through her," said Maxwell, adding that his scams involving dozens of victims totaled $70,000.

Maxwell said the middle-aged woman had become obsessed with seeing his "actual face" after countless messages purportedly penned by a muscular and emotionally attentive Army soldier.

"She wanted to know who I really was; I made life so miserable for her when I think back of what I did," Maxwell said. "I told her I'm sorry, I apologized, she cried and she forgave me."

online fraud
Maxwell and officials from the Federal Trade Commission warn against sending money, cryptocurrency or gifts to anyone they haven't met. Total losses linked to online scams in 2024 exceed $8.6 billion, compared to $10.38 billion... Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received 42,399 reports of romance scams in 2024, down from 65,717 a year ago, but the median loss remains steady at $1,901. All told, data shows Americans have lost $823 million this year to fraudsters like Maxwell, who acknowledged being arrested in scams in Nigeria but said he was never charged. Attempts to verify that account with authorities in the West African nation were unsuccessful.

Maxwell advised anyone who regularly uses social media, especially to meet potential mates, to be particularly skeptical of flimsy profiles with few photos or anyone who uses elaborate excuses as to why they cannot meet in person, such as being deployed or working overseas. Limiting personal information online is also paramount, he said.

"I would tell them to keep their identity safe and private at all times," Maxwell advised. "Anyone could target you and scam you, even your neighbors next door. But as long as your private information remains private, you would hardly be victimized."

Nearly 600,000 reports of impostor schemes, including romance scams, were received by FTC officials this year, with losses exceeding $2.1 billion. That figure was outpaced only by investment-related scams, which totaled more than $3.9 billion, data shows.

The FTC also advises social media users to conduct reverse image searches of pictures sent by new acquaintances, with mismatched details as inherent red flags. Telling friends or relatives about the fresh face can also help, as varying perspectives can root out potential wrongdoers, according to the agency.

Devoted scammers, meanwhile, will continue to hone their craft as they seek out new targets, especially during the busy shopping season, Maxwell said.

"I scammed for a very long period of time and I made a lot of mistakes along the way," he said. "But I always learnt from my mistakes because it was like a full-time job for me at that time."

Read Entire Article