Maarja (37), from Tartu, Estonia, had recently gone through a divorce. Feeling lonely and ready to connect with someone new, she joined an international dating platform. She wasn’t looking for magic — just a genuine conversation with someone kind.
What she found instead was “Captain Daniel” — a man who claimed to be a U.S. soldier on a mission in Syria.
At first, it felt like a dream. Maybe even too good to be true.
The Story:
“Daniel” messaged her in perfect English — polite, attentive, emotionally available. He asked her daily how she was doing, what she ate, what music she liked. Within the first week, he sent pictures of himself in uniform — handsome, serious, heroic. Maarja later admitted there was something “too cinematic” about those images… but at the time, she saw no reason to doubt him.
After two weeks of daily chats, Daniel said he had grown emotionally attached. He told her he wanted to visit her after his mission and maybe even move to Europe.
Then came the problem.
Daniel said he couldn’t leave the military base without paying a “mission release fee” — €850. His American account was supposedly blocked abroad, and he asked Maarja to help him.
“Just a temporary loan. I’ll pay you back immediately,” he promised.
Maarja hesitated. But she trusted him. She sent the money.
A few days later, another issue appeared — missing documents. He needed €600 more.
In total, she transferred over €1,500.
When Maarja finally told her best friend, the reaction was instant:
“It’s a scam. There are hundreds of these.”
Maarja used Google to search his photos — and found them on several scam warning sites. The real “Daniel” was a U.S. army officer based in Hawaii, whose pictures had been stolen and used in fake romance profiles for years.
What Happened Next:
Maarja reported the incident to local police and joined an online scam victim support group. At first, she felt ashamed. Then — empowered.
She shared her story anonymously on a Facebook group, and dozens of women reached out, describing almost identical experiences. She realized something powerful:
She wasn’t stupid. She was targeted.
Maarja’s Words:
“If I had stayed silent, I would have blamed myself forever. Speaking up gave me my dignity back.”
Lesson Learned:
If someone says “I love you” before meeting you —
If they claim to be on a military mission and can’t video chat or meet in person —
If they ask for money, even just as a loan —
That’s not love. That’s a setup.