Scott Cole, a 63-year-old fitness trainer and tai chi instructor from Palm Springs, California, has found himself at the center of a long-standing romance scam. Scammers have been using his images to create deceptive profiles across various social media platforms, luring unsuspecting women into financial traps.

How the Scam Operates

Since 2010, Cole’s photos have been misappropriated by scammers impersonating individuals with fictitious identities such as Kevin Ottomar from Florida and Caleb Davis from North Carolina. These fake accounts often request financial assistance from victims, exploiting their trust and emotional vulnerability.

Widespread Impact of Romance Scams

The FBI has reported that victims of romance scams collectively lost more than $50 billion between 2020 and 2024. Scott expressed his distress over the use of his likeness for such malicious purposes. “These people are being scammed by my image and likeness and being asked for money,” he noted, emphasizing the emotional toll the situation has taken on both him and his victims.

A Real-Life Encounter

One such victim, a German woman named Jennifer Liese, nearly fell victim to a scam involving a fraudulent account posing as Ottomar. After developing a rapport through online conversations, the scammer requested funds under the pretext of work-related issues. Fortunately, Liese recognized the signs of fraud before any financial losses occurred.

Cole’s Ongoing Battle

Despite repeatedly reporting fake accounts bearing his likeness on platforms like Facebook and TikTok, Cole has received limited support from authorities. He has filed two reports with the FBI, only to learn that the agency is inundated with similar complaints.

“I think one reason they may not have responded is that this is so rampant, not just with my photos but with other people, too,” Cole remarked.

Platform Responses

In response to ongoing scams, major social media platforms have implemented measures to detect and remove fake accounts. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, claims to have automated systems in place, while LinkedIn reports that over 99% of removed accounts are detected proactively. TikTok has also mentioned that it preemptively addresses a significant percentage of videos violating fraud policies.