Pretty terrifying encounter with a POF Scam. Be on your guard.

DISCLAIMER: All names used were the actual names I was told, I apologize if anyone of these names is uncomfortable with my usage of them, I just wanted to relay as much information as possible.

This post will be long, I am sorry. I just wanted to give as much info as possible. If you do read the entire post, please refrain from dolling out a tongue lashing. In hidsight, I recognize the mistakes I made and take full responsibility of them. I just want to recount the situation as it happened so others may be prepared should this happen to them. THERE IS A TL;DR VERSION AT THE END OF THE POST. I've heard of scams while using the dating site Plenty of Fish, and am typically cautious when giving my phone number out, but this happened to me after letting my guard down once:

So, a little backstory, I am a soldier in the US Army and spend a little time on a couple of dating sites just to hopefully easily meet people since I haven't a lot of time afforded to me. We get a lot of cyber security stuff shoved down our throat on a regular basis, but mistakes do happen.

I had recently created a profile on the dating site in question and pretty much let it sit there most of the time, patrolling through it in my off time when I get the chance. One night, after a few drinks with my buddies, I get a message from a girl I had been chatting with. We chatted back and forth a bit until she asked for my number. Usually when and if this happens, I counter by asking for their number instead, so I can check it to see if there is anything fishy associated with it, but I was a bit tipsy and made a poor decision by complying. The night went on with no further messages, so I took it as either they lost interest, or were trying to play the waiting game or something. I quickly forgot about as my night went on.

Come the next morning. I get a call from a man claiming to be a police officer. He says his name and rambles off a badge number, and I groggily decided not to write it down. Second mistake. The “deputy”, after spouting off my rights and that anything I say can be used and such (typical legal stuff), goes on to say that a man by the name of “Mr. Moore” has come into the office and was considering pressing charges against me for what basically amounts to “Fraternization with a minor.” I’m not sure the actual legal term he used, but he claimed that I had been trading explicit pictures with this girl named Taylor Moore (my apologies if this is anyone’s actual name here.)

Flabbergasted, I exclaimed that I had been doing nothing of the sort anytime recently, and certainly not to a minor. I have of course sent pictures like that before to people of age, but that was quite some time ago, and never with anyone I had not met face-to-face.I explained that I didn't even know this girl's name. He went on to say that they have evidence linking these pictures to my cell phone and that we had been talking through the dating app and then later by phone. By this point, the fact that I had given my number out through the site had slipped my mind, but I knew that I had not spoken with anyone by phone from that site. I knew for a fact that I had not done anything the officer was saying.

The situation got more out of control when the officer asked if I would like to speak to the father to attempt to resolve the situation. This of course set off a red flag, as I am pretty sure when it comes to matters this serious, the police would usually asked you to come to the station if they hadn’t already came to pick you up themselves. Still, I was in shock and severely confused, since I had not been on the receiving end of this kind of thing before. So I agreed to speak with him. The “officer” warned me that the father was very distraught, as his daughter was in the hospital after pretty much attempting suicide because of me.

“Mr. Moore” did in fact seem very distraught, eerily convincing, in fact. He told me that this morning his wife had apparently walked in on the daughter as she was preparing to allegedly send more photos to me, and when confronted and told that the police would be called, threatened to hurt herself because “she loved me and didn’t want me to go to jail.” When the mother left the room to search through her phone, she apparently went back to the room to find the girl having attempted suicide. This story, though I knew for a fact I had nothing to do with this, was very heart wrenching to me due to prior experiences, so it added to the shock value. I respectfully explained to the man that, though I understand the pain he is going through, that I was not the guy he was looking for. At this point, since they were telling me that this was all being tied back to my number and profile, I was under the impression that either it was a very elaborate scam or that someone had either hacked my phone or spoofed themselves using my number. Either way, I was adamant in telling the guy that even though I sympathize with him, I am not the one he is looking for.

Another red flag was raised when the man told me that he wouldn’t press charges if I agreed to help him with the medical bill (double flag for the whole “VISA pre-paid card.” In fact, the officer told me that a photo of the card could be taken as “evidence” and given to Mr. Moore if I agreed to do so. Stupid reason, in hindsight, but again, I have zero experience in this stuff). This set me off, as I was now 50/50 sure that this was a scam. Why would a man who whole-heartedly believes that I am the cause of his daughter’s attempted suicide want to settle it with assistance on a hospital bill? I was increasingly becoming nervous and afraid, as my job in the military requires a government clearance, and I was afraid that even though I would be deemed innocent, it would be affected and I could lose said clearance and my job by extension. I was put back on the phone with the deputy who told me that Mr. Moore had disclosed that he was willing to settle this with me. I drilled the officer on what evidence was being brought up and that I would drive down to the local PD to view it and provide a statement, but that I didn’t want charges being brought up against me for fear of losing my job. The officer told me that I needed to decide quickly, as Mr. Moore’s wife would be arriving soon and would likely want to pursue the charges. I told him that I would do what I can (mainly just to get off the phone and compose myself) and hung up.

I immediately called my military supervisor and explained the situation. The shock and awe of the dilemma was getting to me and I knew that I couldn’t think rationally and needed outside advice on what to do. Luckily, my squad leader was level headed and explained that it was likely a scam and that I should just wait it out. If it is indeed true, an officer would be dispatched to pick me up and we could take steps from there. He told me not to call them back to confirm or deny my compliance, and that should they do so, immediately demand a name, badge number, and the hospital the girl is in; then immediately hang up and contact the PD directly to confirm. A few hours past (keep in mind that Mr. Moore claimed that his wife would be there within an hour of the original call and that charges would likely be pressed against me), and the number called back again. Immediately I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was a scam when the voice on the line was the exact same as the alleged “Mr. Moore”, except this time, the voice claimed that he was an officer by the name of “David Frost” (apologies if this is anyone’s actual name). He told me that Mr. Moore was still here and was inquiring if I would comply. I did as my SQL said and immediately asked for a badge number recited slowly. The man hung up. Immediately, I called the PD and told them what happened. They informed me that (obviously, in hindsight) that they do not handle situations like this as the alleged had attempted, and that an officer would have immediately been dispatched instead of calling. I feel stupid that I was blinded so easily, but the shock and awe was frighteningly effective.

In hindsight, this was obviously a scam, but my naivety along with the shock and awe factor made it very convincing. I had heard of the blackmail strategies, the Nigerian Prince strategies, the sextortion strategies, hell even the fake police officer strategies. And I was thoroughly convinced that I was knowledgeable enough not to be swayed by them. But the combination of a fake police officer and sextortion weaved in a way I had not heard of was astounding to me. This combed with the fact that I have minimal knowledge of how legal matters such as this severely frightened me. I am just happy I was able to get outside advice before I was taken advantage of.

Some things I have learned from this:

• Allegations of this type are NEVER handled by phone. A police officer will almost always come directly to you, or tell you to immediately come down to the PD at the very least.

• Police officers will never allow situations as grave as this to be settled financially between the parties involved. This is actually a form of extortion and/or blackmail, obviously.

• If an officer does call you, it will likely be through the actual PD phone, not a cell phone (or an unassociated landline, as a search of the number that called me indicated). Keep in mind that spoofing can make a call seem to come from anywhere.

• If anyone requests money by phone, regardless of situation, be alert and do not comply. If they really need money, and believe that you are responsible for providing it, they can take it up with legal authorities

• No scams are by the book. There is no book, and many can be very convincing to the inexperienced or naïve. I would advise that anyone seek outside help from a trusted source before making concrete decisions.

• No matter the circumstance, keep calm and be partial. Threats do not have to be hostile to be effective. Aggressiveness is not required to extort or induce fear in a person. Know your options, and look at them thoroughly. Mostly anything that can be handled by phone can be handled in person.

• Ask a multitude of questions. Poking one hole in a potential scam can likely make the entire thing fall through. The most elaborate scams sometimes have the weakest foundations. Take notes on what is being said. Names, allegations, numbers, and take notes on your own actions as well. Pour over your past decisions that could have led to the situation, true or not.

I recognize my mistakes, and upon looking back objectively with a calm mind, I can easily see how this was indeed a scam. Now that I have this experience, I am better prepared and guarded over what to do to avoid the situation again, and how to handle it should it happen again.

TL;DR: Encountered a chilling and convincing combination of a fake police officer + sextortion scam on Plenty of Fish. Be vigilant and take any accusations brought against you, true or not, through your local PD with a confirmed source. Not all scams are “by the book.”