Fake US soldier relies on check fraud to carry out his mission

Anderson Smith, as listed on eharmony, posed as a soldier from Rochester, NY completing his training in FL, 5 years out from retirement. He said he got selected to go on a covert mission to Manilla, Phillipines and I was the only person he could have outside contact with.

He needed to buy hardware to complete his mission and needed money for that which he begged for months for. Then he came up with a way; he would do a mobile deposit from his account to mine and I would moneygram him the money.

I was surprised when almost $10k appeared in my account and I dutifully sent home 2 payments of $2k each via Moneygram to the Phillipines when the bank contacted me to say the check was fraudulent. Moneygram got me the $4k back and I returned the money to the fraud investigation unit of the bank.

Close call and I am grateful to the bank. The bank said the check originated in CA. I have since gotten calls to send the money from "investors" and even a VM message from Anderson himself where for the first time I heard his very heavy African (Ghanan?) accent.