Warning! I was Targeted by a Scammer

[jo0008]

Hi just letting Fitbit users know that I was recently targeted by a fraudster through Fitbit. A man allegedly called Ryan James from Atlanta, USA messaged me stating that he was a UN orthopedic surgeon working in Kubal. Please do not answer/reply to this man as he is a fraudster who will stak you and try to steal your personal identity information as well as constantly pester you for money for months.

Moderator edit: Clarified subject and Format

[Odyssey13]

Hi @Scentedsky  if someone uses a fake picture, they also use fake names. It's amazing how many people are fooled by these scammers. Wonder how many rejections these people get before they find someone willing to listen to their lies. I'm part of a Facebook group and accepted a few friend requests from women who know my my real life friend. My Facebook is as closed as possible, with only family allowed to see anything. There is one woman who has her profile wide open and she's hit on all the time. She shares a post about trees on a fall day and this guy swoops in with "My dear, sorry to intrude, but you have such a lovely smile. I'd like to be your friend. Message me " and every day it seems to be another guy and they are all single, military or fabulously wealthy, etc. with pictures that look like they came from a fashion magazine. Best thing to do is ignore these people. No different than scam phone callers. I don't answer if I don't recognize the number, but it doesn't stop them from trying. These scammers are just part of our living in a more digital world, sad to say.

[Memaw86]

I would look out for names Charles Hillary, John Harrison, and Richard
Hammond, too.

[TanyaK]

I'll be on the lookout for them.

[TMacG722]

How did you report it? I have someone who scammed me that has now come on here 3 times with 3 different ID’s. They were Brown C., EnchantedStars, and now it’s Joe f but on the site it’s Joef. I just tried downloading his photo and it says I don’t have permission to upload images. So isn’t that a kick in the face!

[Odyssey13]

@TMacG722 you can't put up images until you've posted a few times on the forums. Putting that picture here isn't going to help get the person removed. You say you were scammed? What exactly do you mean by that? There are scammers, but it doesn't mean we have to give them anything. As for reporting them, it's easy to do. I just went over my friends list and reported two who had links in their profile to sex sites and Fitbit removed the offending links.

[TMacG722]

I met him on a dating site and he told me his name was James from San Jose
California. I have had friend requests from him on Fitbit under the three
different names that I listed the most recent one is the one that’s there
now. And when I met him he ended up convincing me to sell my house and send
him a bunch of money with the intention of coming back and being together.
Looking back I feel very foolish but I never heard of them at scammers in
2019 and I just gotten out of a relationship so I was not aware. He’s a
really good looking guy and so I just don’t want anyone getting pulled in
by him, brought onto hangouts, and falling for it caused it sob stories of
things that are going wrong and sending him money because he needs food or
his daughter needs food or he sick or his daughter sick. Another girl I met
was conned by the same guy

[Odyssey13]

@TMacG722  I'm so sorry this happened to you and pretty sure you're not the only one taken in by another's scheme. Did you report this to the police? If James is chasing you around the internet, that's a crime, too, I think. You'd think by now people would be more cautious, but these scammers have practiced their deceit do often, they can seem quite believable. 

[TMacG722]

I have reported James to the police, FBI, and the federal trade commission. However I believe it’s different scammers using the photos. Each time I have spoken to the individual’s on Fitbit, it’s not “James” as their stories are slightly different. So I believe they are different scammers using the same photos.

[Laryz]

I just blocked the person and they usually change their name most of them. I dont accept friends requesr anymore to be safe.

[Laryz]

Most guys do that and make sure you do not give out your mobephone number so they will not use your number for google calls. These men really are on the prowl for money.

[TMacG722]

I never thought about that, regarding the phone number. So thank you so much,fantastic advice! I have most certainly had one heck of an education this year!

----------

The photo is definitely been taken down twice under the two other ID’s but now it’s back up for a third time under the name Joe F. When I start seeing people responding to his posts, I get nervous for them because he’s really good at convincing you that he’s a widow with a daughter and it’s all lies!

[Scentedsky]

Hello, I'm sorry you have to go through this but I had to learn the hard way. Most of the scammers do not have Fitbit. You clicking their account there's three little dots on the right hand corner, report profile. I hope this helps just remember be cautious and if you don't see someone that has a Fitbit don't add them that usually can screenshot it and post it on their profile

Get Outlook for Android

[TMacG722]

That’s a really good point. Thank you 🙏🏻 This is him.  FYI

[Bumkins]

I have had so many scammers contact me through Fitbit it's unbelievably pathetic. I have stopped reporting them .. Often widowed military or doctors despite stating on my profile that I am married and do not want to receive messages

[TanyaK]

I'll also be on the lookout for these names. 

[TMacG722]

Thank you so much! Because I have been scammed by him/them,  I get notified when a new profile is posted and I saw his profile photo come in under the name JoeF. Unfurther inspection it was under the title “introduce yourself quote in the introductory forms. His photo was there and a brief write up. It will not take long before people reach out and talk to him as he is really good looking and I don’t want anyone to go through what I went through and lose the amount of money I lost. This is the third profile that has been set up with Fitbit. Other profiles have gone by the name: Brown C., EnchantedStars, and now JoeF.  I have informed Fitbit previously and they take down the photos but they put up a new one. He is very good looking and will take it advantage of people who are not familiar with scammers like I was. And I don’t want anyone to go through what I went through

[TMacG722]

They don’t do anything other than take a report. I reported mine to the police, I will trade commission, and I see three. Nothings been done and I lost a significant amount of money. So when I come on Fitbit to exercise and to see the face that was being used by my scammers, It makes me sick! I don’t want to have to look at that face or deal with it when I come to exercise and get in shape. Fitbit has been good about taking the photos down but it’s a constant ordeal as they just keep changing their profile ID’s. 

[Scentedsky]

I'm so sorry to hear that you have to deal with this. I've come across a couple but now I'm aware and do not add people that do not have fitbit's .i know they can screenshot it from somebody else and post it on their site. if the picture looks too good to be true it's too good to be true. Another thing to look for is that oh I want to get to know you can we talk outside this site so we can share pictures. that's also a red flag. There are app to scan pictures as well. Hope this helps its been quiet for me since i look fir these flags.

Get Outlook for Android<>

[TanyaK]

I got that same request from a guy called Shane N. I told him it wasn't a
good idea because that's what scammers do. He got really huffy and then I
blocked him.

[Memaw86]

I got a request from a Shane but his pictures were of Grant Cardone.

Karen