$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
deployment leave fee scam
A scammer posing as a deployed service member asks a romantic interest to pay for leave paperwork or travel costs so they can come home — fees that do not exist in any military branch.
“military romance scam”
↑ 100%Key indicators
Usually targetsMilitary families
Often hitsMilitary and veterans
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
After establishing a romantic connection, the scammer claims they can come home on leave but need the victim to pay processing fees.
2
A fake commanding officer or military administrator contacts the victim to validate the story.
3
Once money is sent, new obstacles arise — customs fees, flight changes, extended deployment — each requiring additional payments.
What to do first
Understand that no branch of the U.S. military charges service members or their families for leave.
Related terms
military leave scamR&R fee scamdeployment return fraudMilitary scamsSocial mediaSurgingMilitary familiesAdultsMilitary and veteransTravelersParents and familiesUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdommilitary leave scamR&R fee scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Sarah, 35, a military families, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate military scams situation while using Social media. After establishing a romantic connection, the scammer claims they can come home on leave but need the victim to pay processing fees.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: A fake commanding officer or military administrator contacts the victim to validate the story.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Once money is sent, new obstacles arise — customs fees, flight changes, extended deployment — each requiring additional payments.
The outcome
Sarah realized something was wrong when they claim leave requires a fee that they cannot access their bank to pay. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Understand that no branch of the U.S. military charges service members or their families for leave. Sarah's experience shows why they claim leave requires a fee that they cannot access their bank to pay and a supposed commanding officer contacts you to confirm the leave request and payment instructions are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- They claim leave requires a fee that they cannot access their bank to pay
- A supposed commanding officer contacts you to confirm the leave request and payment instructions
- Payment must be sent via wire transfer or gift cards to a non-military address
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Understand that no branch of the U.S. military charges service members or their families for leave.
- ✓Do not send money to someone you have only met online regardless of their claimed profession.
- ✓Verify a service member's identity through official military channels before any financial commitments.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The U.S. Army and other branches have published official statements confirming that military leave is never contingent on payment by service members or their families.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Understand that no branch of the U.S. military charges service members or their families for leave.
- ✓Do not send money to someone you have only met online regardless of their claimed profession.
- ✓Verify a service member's identity through official military channels before any financial commitments.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The U.S. Army and other branches have published official statements confirming that military leave is never contingent on payment by service members or their families.
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Military families, Adults
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Social media — Military scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Military families are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The U.S. Army and other branches have published official statements confirming that military leave is never contingent on payment by service members or their families.
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about deployment leave fee scam
How does the deployment leave fee scam work?+
After establishing a romantic connection, the scammer claims they can come home on leave but need the victim to pay processing fees. A fake commanding officer or military administrator contacts the victim to validate the story. Once money is sent, new obstacles arise — customs fees, flight changes, extended deployment — each requiring additional payments.
What are the warning signs of deployment leave fee scam?+
They claim leave requires a fee that they cannot access their bank to pay A supposed commanding officer contacts you to confirm the leave request and payment instructions Payment must be sent via wire transfer or gift cards to a non-military address
What should I do if I encounter deployment leave fee scam?+
Understand that no branch of the U.S. military charges service members or their families for leave. Do not send money to someone you have only met online regardless of their claimed profession. Verify a service member's identity through official military channels before any financial commitments.
Who is most at risk for deployment leave fee scam?+
This scam primarily targets Military families, Adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on Social media.
Is deployment leave fee scam getting worse?+
deployment leave fee scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA, UK. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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What to do first
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Targets
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What to do first
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.