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+--- Thread: how can you see if someone really is in the army? (/thread-55888.html)
Pages: 1 2
how can you see if someone really is in the army? - Sonia - 01-19-2013 08:26 PM
I need to see if someone is really in the army and not a scam
- Matthew - 01-19-2013 08:34 PM
what unit does he claim he is in? if he is asking for money its a scam.
- wraeth - 01-19-2013 08:34 PM
If they asked you for ANYTHING it is a scam.
- Dexter - 01-19-2013 08:34 PM
Ask for their identification number.
- candy g - 01-19-2013 08:34 PM
have you met them face to face or is it a dating site.
If face to face ask to see his ID card......do not believe the BS about leaving it at home.
If on a dating site, ask to skype with them and have him hold his ID card up to the camera.
- NWIP - 01-19-2013 08:34 PM
Person you have "met" online then most likely a scam especially if done through Facebook or Twitter or Yahoo friends, etc..
If there they ARE in the military then he would give you:
- his military email address which would be something like joe.smith12@army.mil or smith.joe99@navy.mil
- his proper mailing address that would be an FPO or APO address that is valid (you can look that up).
If they are NOT in the military then they would ask you:
- tells you he loves you within a few days
- asks for money for someone and it has to go Western Union
- asks you to fill out his leave or retirement paperwork through some person
- asks you for money for a phone
You can also trace the IP that he is sending emails from as well. Most likely this is something from Ghana or Sierra Leone or Nigeria.
- Dan H - 01-19-2013 08:34 PM
I'll bet this is someone you met on a dating site. If so, it's a person in Nigeria claiming to be in the military in Afghanistan. If the person has said they can't skype because of security reason....can't give a military address because of security reasons....or has asked for money so he can "apply" for leave or replace an ID card, it is DEFINATELY a scam.
Check these out:
http://www.cid.army.mil/documents/Lookout/Cyber_Lookout/CID%20Lookout%20Release%20-%20Social%20Networking-Dating%20Sites%20FINAL.pdf
http://www.army.mil/article/67457/
http://www.army.mil/article/36242/cid-warns-of-internet-romance-scams/
http://www.cid.army.mil/romance_scam.html
- JROTC Cadet - 01-19-2013 08:34 PM
Ask them if they have fired a "gun". In the military it is called a weapon, not a "gun". Most military members and veterans I have met can't stand it when you call thier weapon a "gun". An imposter probably won't know that.
- CharlieFoxtrot - 01-19-2013 08:34 PM
You can't check some master list online of who is actually in the Army. There is no such thing.
But you can check a few things:
Be upfront. Tell him there are a lot of military romance scammers out there and you need him to do a few things. If he is legit, he will not be offended.
1. Ask him to send you an email from his official US Army email account that ends in .mil
2. Scammers usually say they are deployed. If he says he's deployed, ask for his APO mailing address so you can send him a care package. Tell him to write you back so you can see the military postmark.
3. Have a Skype video chat with him.
A scammer will tell you all those things aren't possible for some BS reason like "mail is too dangerous" or "I have a super high clearance and am not allowed".
A real Soldier can do all those things.
- indef - 01-19-2013 08:34 PM
if i had to find out i would ask a series of army related questions in person or over the phone. there are a number of things that basic training teaches every soldier and they should know by heart. reason i say over the phone or in person is so they have to respond right then and there so if there is any undue pause or apprehension in his/her reply then you'd know they are full of it.
i would ask basic questions like...
sing me the army song.
explain to me what standard weapons the army issues to soldiers.
tell me the soldiers creed.
...etc.
of course, if they are a veteran then they might know all of this. if you want to take it further you could ask for a copy of their current ERB (enlisted record brief) or ORB (officer record brief). i would also ask outright for phone numbers of their superiors in command to obtain some authenticity.
now... if they can pull all this off and still be fitting of a genuine imposter i would notify the closest army base CID (criminal investigation command) or perhaps the closest FBI field office so that this individual can be dealt with immediately.