In a screenshot from a Meta public service announcement video, Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security, talks about how to avoid becoming a victim of social media romance scams. (Meta)
Those searching for love online this Valentine’s Day should be extra cautious when messaging supposed military personnel — especially if they start asking for money.
Scammers impersonating service members continue to be rampant and eager to pounce on a day dedicated to romance, the internet giant Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said in a statement Wednesday.
“In these cases, scammers typically pose as attractive, single, and successful individuals, often with a military or business background,” it said.
For example, fake profiles of retired Army Gen. Stephen Townsend are so abundant that advisories get repeated over the years by various commands.
A post on U.S. Africa Command’s Facebook page in 2021 said Townsend, who led AFRICOM at the time, does not have any social media profiles. “If someone is claiming to be the general, it is a SCAM,” the message added.
The scams usually begin with a generic message sent to numerous potential victims. If someone responds, the scammer gradually builds trust before ultimately requesting money or proposing a fraudulent investment opportunity.
Fraudsters posing as military personnel, often using stolen photos and personal information from real veterans or active-duty service members, have been a persistent problem.
Because military members are often stationed in remote locations and unable to meet in person, they provide scammers with a convenient excuse to keep victims engaged.
Another reason criminals frequently impersonate military personnel is that many people feel a sense of gratitude for their service and are unfamiliar with military life and protocols, according to the online safety company Aura.
In 2021, the U.S. military in Afghanistan reported nearly 900 fake accounts on various social media sites impersonating Gen. Scott Miller, the top U.S. commander in the country.
Stars and Stripes still gets occasional emails from people asking if messages purported to be from Miller are real (they aren’t.)
Since 2020, active-duty troops have reported 1,751 incidents of romance scams, with losses of $16.1 million, according to the Military Officers Association of America, citing Federal Trade Commission data.
Meta has already deactivated 116,000 accounts associated with scams in 2025, including many that lured victims under false romantic pretexts, the company said.
In a video accompanying the Meta statement, internet safety expert Rachel Tobac says of the scammers: “Their goal is to steal your money, sadly — not your heart.”
