Have you encountered fake profiles in social media representing soldiers?

MSG David Chappell — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:26:05 -0400

I am on Linkedin and get connection requests from soldiers every day, yesterday I get an email after I connected that shows its fake. Accoding to the profile this is a SSG in Texas with a college degree and works in supply. here is the most recent:
RE: Connection

suzzy moore

August 20, 2015, 11:25 AM

Hi Mr.David,

Nice to hear from you.My MOS is 92Y.

However,i contact you in good faith and as one of your grand daughters.i am deployed to Kabul,Afghanistan in peace mission.i contact you because you bear the same name as my late dad.

Please i want to share a very confidential issue with you.Even though we do not know each other for a while i confide in you.Promise me you will not disclose to anybody?Because my position is at skate.Hope to hear from you soon

Suzzy

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Aug 21 at 2015 12:29 PM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:29:44 -0400

When Facebook went IPO, it was estimated that 85,000,000 profiles were fake

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 12:30 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:30:37 -0400

I do get fakes on social media pretty regularly. They aren't specific to military though. As soon as I get emails like the one you did, I delete them. Perhaps I should be doing more to get their accounts removed?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 21 at 2015 12:34 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:34:19 -0400

I get these all the time as well. They are the same scam as when the crowned prince of some country needs you to send money in order for him to get his funds out of his country and he promises to give you half of it. We have our fair share of questionable profiles here as well but we are working hard to remove them. Delete, block and move on.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Aug 21 at 2015 12:37 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:37:47 -0400

That's funny. Did you say "Sure!" though? Because I really want to know what "Suzzy" has issues with.

I see fake profiles all the time. Few are military though. I have been approached by someone claiming to be a Kurd looking for operational information about the Abrams. I told him that if he really needed to know that, I was sure there was an adviser in his AO that could provide it. Never heard from him again.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 21 at 2015 12:38 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:38:01 -0400

It's a damn shame, but it's the current "thing". Easiest way to someone's heart and money is to claim that you're military. What's even worse is when they are/were military and still do stuff like this.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 12:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:44:42 -0400

I once got an email in regards to something similar. They were in Afghanistan but wanted to share the money they discovered recently in Iraq. The grammar was horrible at best. So, I actually responded and gave them constructive criticism about their grammar. Sadly, I never heard back from them thanking me for that.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 12:49 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 12:49:43 -0400

She probably wants to send you some money, MSG David Chappell. But first, of course, you'll have to send her your bank account information and a couple thousand $$ to help her free up what she wants to send. Sounds legit to me.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 1:35 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 13:35:49 -0400

Yeah, you just happen to bear the same name as her father from Accra, Ghana!!! Go figure!!!! Bwahahaha!!!

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 2:16 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 14:16:03 -0400

MSG David Chappell, whats the problem, seems legit to me.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2016 4:01 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 16:01:27 -0500

HAHAHAHA, I bet you won a Million bucks!!

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made May 9 at 2017 8:50 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Tue, 09 May 2017 08:50:21 -0400

Local police are arresting people who create fake profiles on social media all the time. Between money and sex there's ample opportunity for those inclined to scam someone. Had to laugh at the grammar and mechanics of this letter from a college graduate. If you fall for this one you need help. Pretty much you can spot these scams from a mile away, but that doesn't seem to stop people from trying.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2017 9:28 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 21:28:08 -0400

I get it all the time. People just see my picture and assume that I must be an actor. It is struggle that I face far too often. I will fight on another day.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Jun 27 at 2017 12:01 AM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 00:01:56 -0400

Here in RP? When you don't need a picture and can call yourself anonymous?