Miriam
Beware of the scam

I got contacted by this profile today:

<a href="https://www.italki.com/user/6095678">https://www.italki.com/user/6095678</a>;

I immediately blocked the user but did a reverse image search and found this information: <a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/security/a22727446/scammers-impersonate-four-star-general-stephen-townsend/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/security/a22727446/scammers-impersonate-four-star-general-stephen-townsend/</a>;

It’s a scam. If you get contacted by “Stephen Townsend” or any other American soldier who was deployed to Afghanistan, is widowed and suddenly crazily falls in love with you, there’s only one thing to do: block and report. Never ever fall to this kind of scam nor transfer money. 

Mar 17, 2019 9:18 PM
Comments · 17
5

Wow! Thanks for the heads up. I'm surprised that so many other people have experienced similar situations here on italki.

Free advice to all: DO NOT TELL THE PERSON THAT YOU KNOW THEY ARE A SCAMMER. You actually help them improve their scamming technique. Just block and report. 

March 24, 2019
5
If some guys have a job as army or doctor or security officers from UN who are assigned to other countries, usually they are a scammers, or some guys too much words although they are just met usually their scammers or want dirty chat
March 17, 2019
3
Today I've been contacted by "Chief Urologist and Robotic doctor with the United States Army Medical Command heading the US team of Urologist and Robotic doctors on the UN/NATO Resolute Support Mission, Afghanistan." Why would he need English lessons, any ideas? ;) 
March 22, 2019
3
Good work Miriam...
March 17, 2019
2
Today I got a message by someone with an American name and the typical "I hope you're doing well over there" message but the profile was already deleted before I could check it, so I guess it was this kind of scammer again. I feel sorry for all English learners who get their hopes up when being contacted by a native English speaker and then it turns out that it's just some scammer.
March 24, 2019
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Miriam
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), French, German
Learning Language
Chinese (Mandarin)
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