Military Deployment Leave Fee Scams on Facebook
How scammers pose as deployed military personnel on Facebook to build romance and then request fees to fund emergency leave travel to visit their partner.
Part of: Military Deployment Leave Fee Scam
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Military romance scams exploit public respect for service members and the genuine reality of military deployments to create credible cover stories for overseas absence. Scammers present themselves on Facebook as soldiers, sailors, or contractors serving abroad — images are typically stolen from the profiles of real service members — and build romantic relationships through intensive messaging.
The scam reaches its financial phase when the scammer claims they can take emergency leave to visit, but require a fee to fund the travel, secure the leave papers, or cover a military administrative requirement. None of these fees are real — the military does not charge soldiers for leave.
How this scam works on Facebook
A Facebook friend request arrives from someone presenting as an attractive service member serving abroad. The early stages of the relationship follow a familiar pattern: rapid emotional intimacy, intense daily communication, and an expressed desire to meet as soon as deployment ends. The scammer uses military jargon and references real bases to sound credible.
When the conversation turns to an imminent visit, a crisis emerges: leave papers require a fee, a military clearance must be purchased, or a satellite phone must be rented to communicate from the field. Each payment is followed by a new administrative obstacle. Victims may pay for months, believing they are helping a service member navigate bureaucracy.
Common red flags
- Military profile photos reverse image search to other people's accounts
- Claims that the military charges personal fees for leave, communication, or administrative clearance
- Communication is exclusively through Facebook Messenger or a private messaging app
- Cannot do a spontaneous live video call due to claimed security restrictions
- Financial requests are always framed as temporary and soon to be repaid
- Stories about military unit, mission, or location contain factual errors
How to protect yourself
- Know that the US military and allied forces never charge soldiers fees for leave or communication
- Reverse image search all profile photos before investing in the relationship
- Verify claims about military bases and units through publicly available sources
- Insist on a video call — security restrictions do not prevent casual video calls for the vast majority of service members
- Never send money to someone you have only met on Facebook
How to report it
- Report the Facebook account as impersonating a military member
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov (US) or Action Fraud (UK)
- Report to the Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3) at ic3.gov if in the US
Frequently asked questions
Does the military ever charge service members fees for leave?
No. Military leave, communication, and administrative processes are funded by the government. Any request for money to facilitate military leave is fraudulent without exception.