Big Tech platforms refuse to protect Americans from identity theft, allowing romance scammers to steal one man’s photos for 15 years while raking in over $50 billion from vulnerable victims.
Story Highlights
- Scott Cole’s identity has been stolen by romance scammers since 2010, creating hundreds of fake profiles.
- The FBI reports over $50 billion in losses from romance scams between 2020 and 2024 alone.
- Social media giants like Facebook and TikTok repeatedly ignore removal requests, prioritizing profits over protection.
- Victims lose thousands while platforms claim they detect “99% of fake accounts,” yet scams continue unchecked.
Big Tech’s Refusal to Act Against Identity Thieves
Scott Cole, a 63-year-old fitness trainer from Palm Springs, California, has watched helplessly as social media companies allow criminals to steal his identity for over a decade.
Since 2010, fraudulent accounts using Cole’s photos have appeared across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, targeting women worldwide with romance scams. Despite Cole’s repeated reports to these platforms, fake accounts continue multiplying like a hydra, demonstrating Big Tech’s complete disregard for American victims of cybercrime.
'Why does this happen?': Man says romance scammers have been using his picture to attract women for 15 years https://t.co/3eSLXTsCjL
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) November 11, 2025
The Scammer’s Playbook Targets Vulnerable Americans
Jennifer Liese from Germany fell victim to one such scam when a fake “Kevin Ottomar” profile using Cole’s photo contacted her on LinkedIn.
The sophisticated operation involved months of relationship-building, fake artwork, and phone conversations before requesting funds for construction equipment.
Liese avoided a financial loss by conducting a reverse image search and discovering the real Scott Cole. This pattern repeats globally as scammers exploit human vulnerability for profit while platforms turn a blind eye.
Fifty Billion Dollar Crime Wave Goes Unchecked
The FBI documented over $50 billion in losses from romance scams between 2020 and 2024, yet social media companies claim they’re addressing the problem.
LinkedIn boasts of detecting “over 99% of fake accounts proactively,” while Cole continues finding hundreds of fake profiles using his likeness.
This contradiction exposes Big Tech’s hollow promises and prioritization of engagement metrics over user safety, leaving Americans defenseless against international criminal networks.
Erin West, a retired Deputy District Attorney and founder of Operation Shamrock, confirms that social media companies possess the technology to eliminate image theft but choose not to act.
“I have every confidence in the world that they could locate every instance of his image and remove it, and they’re choosing not to do that,” West stated, highlighting corporate negligence in protecting American citizens from identity theft.
Corporate Accountability Missing as Victims Multiply
Cole receives hundreds of messages from women worldwide who either lost money to scammers using his photos or discovered the fraud before financial damage occurred.
Some victims, convinced they know Cole personally, attempt to initiate relationships with him directly. This psychological manipulation demonstrates the deep harm these scams inflict on innocent Americans while Big Tech profits from the chaos.
The platforms’ current approach treats identity theft as acceptable collateral damage for their business models. Facebook occasionally removes reported accounts only to allow new ones using identical photos, creating an endless cycle of victimization.
This systematic failure represents corporate irresponsibility that demands immediate government intervention to protect American citizens from predatory exploitation.
