A LinkedIn Connection Turned Into a $1 Million Romance Scam

A LinkedIn message from a man who appeared to share a professional connection with one of Gaby's former colleagues became a two-year online relationship. She says she eventually discovered that the man was using someone else's identity and that she had sent nearly $1 million to someone she had never met.

A LinkedIn Connection Seemed Safe

Gaby says the relationship began in March 2019 when a man contacted her on LinkedIn. His profile appeared to share a connection with one of her former colleagues, making the stranger seem more credible.

The person she believed was Brian Haugen was not the real Haugen. According to Gaby's account on The CyberGuy Report podcast and reporting by Fox News, the scammer used photographs and identifying details belonging to the real man to create a false identity. Over roughly two years, Gaby says she sent close to $1 million. The requests began with relatively small amounts and grew as the relationship became more established.

The Money Requests Started Small

The man claimed to work in the gemstone trade and said he had travelled to Vietnam. Gaby says he later told her his bank account had been blocked. She initially sent about $10,000. The money was returned, helping convince her that the person was trustworthy. Further requests followed, including amounts of $10,000, $20,000 and $40,000.

Later, she says he claimed he needed about $200,000 for taxes and customs fees. By then, financial requests had become part of the relationship. The FBI warns that romance scammers can spend weeks or months building trust before asking victims for money. It advises people not to send money to someone they have only met online or by phone.

Every Attempt to Meet Came With an Excuse

Gaby expected the relationship to eventually move offline and considered travelling to Vietnam to meet the man. According to her account, he repeatedly gave reasons they could not meet. He said he was under stress and did not want her to see him when he was not looking his best. The Covid-19 pandemic later made international travel more difficult.The FBI lists repeated cancellations and excuses for avoiding an in-person meeting as potential warning signs of romance fraud.

A Medical Emergency Raised the Stakes

The requests eventually became much larger. Gaby says the man told her he needed surgery and linked the request to proving her love for him. She says she sent $500,000. The payment followed earlier transfers, including the initial $10,000 that had been returned, according to her account.

The Real Brian Haugen Was Also Targeted

The photographs used by the scammer belonged to Brian Haugen, a real man who had no involvement in Gaby's online relationship. Haugen told The CyberGuy Report that scammers had taken his photographs from social media and used them on accounts under different names. He also said photographs of him had appeared on passports connected to other identities.

The FBI says scammers commonly use photographs taken from other people's social media accounts and recommends reverse image searches when checking suspicious profiles.

Social Media Can Help Scammers Build Trust

The case comes amid broader warnings about romance scams originating on social media. FTC data released in April 2026 found that nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to romance scams in 2025 said the scam started on social media. Reported losses from romance scams originating on social media reached about $298 million that year. The FTC says scammers can use information visible on social profiles to tailor their approaches and build convincing stories before asking for money.

Independent Verification Exposed the Lie

Gaby eventually began questioning the man's identity. She followed the real Brian Haugen and arranged an online session connected to him. She then asked the person she had been communicating with to send a message from the email account associated with the legitimate meeting invitation. He did not provide it.

Gaby says she continued asking for proof before deciding that his story could no longer be trusted. Contact with the real Haugen gave her a way to test the identity behind the photographs. The FBI recommends independently verifying information when an online identity raises doubts.

What People Can Learn From the Scam

A professional platform, a mutual connection or a convincing photograph does not independently establish someone's identity. The FBI advises people to take online relationships slowly and avoid sending money to people they have only met online. It also recommends reporting suspected romance fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and contacting financial institutions quickly when fraudulent transactions are discovered.

For Gaby, the photographs were real, but the person behind the profile was not the man she believed she knew. By the time that distinction became clear, she says nearly $1 million had been sent.