A man from Palm Springs, California, is at the center of a troubling online romance scam that has affected thousands. Scott Cole, a 63-year-old tai chi and fitness trainer, has discovered that his likeness is being used by scammers to create fake profiles on social media. These profiles, which include names like Kevin Ottomar and Wilson Davis, have been used to deceive women into believing they are in a romantic relationship.

Cole has been dealing with this issue since around 2010. "My career's been all about helping people, wellness, stretching, helping seniors get out of the chair, helping kids work out," he said. "Here my likeness was being used to do something really awful." He explained that scammers use his images to build relationships with women, often leading to requests for money. "These people are being scammed by my image and likeness and being asked for money. It's so awful, and tragic, and mean," he added.

The FBI has reported that online romance scams have resulted in over $50 billion in losses from 2020 to 2024. Cole frequently searches for his name online to find and report fake accounts. "I'll do this when I'm trying to go to sleep and my stomach will just get in knots. I'll start to get angry and I start to feel like, 'Why does this happen?'" he said.

In March, Jennifer Liese, a woman from Germany, received a message on LinkedIn from someone claiming to be Kevin Ottomar. Initially skeptical, she engaged in a conversation that led to a relationship built on trust. "His profile was very, very large. He had a great amount of contacts," Liese recalled. However, after months of communication, Ottomar asked her to transfer money for construction equipment, prompting her to investigate further.

Liese discovered that the photos used by Ottomar were actually of Cole. "I was of course disappointed that I have been betrayed," she said. She reached out to Cole, who has been contacted by many women in similar situations over the years. "I've had hundreds of women text me or email me," he said.

Erin West, a retired Deputy District Attorney, noted that victims of these scams often feel a connection to the person whose image is being used. "People whose image is being used are victimized in that the victims of the cases think they know them and think they have rights to them," she explained.

The fake LinkedIn account that contacted Liese has since been removed. A spokesperson for LinkedIn stated that they proactively detect and remove fake accounts. However, Cole's experience highlights a broader issue. "There are a number of people, both men and women, that I've talked to directly whose images are being used to lure in unsuspecting people. The bad guys pick attractive people," West said.

Cole has reported numerous fake accounts to social media platforms, but the problem persists. "There really is no end in sight for someone like him," West said, calling for more accountability from social media companies. Cole expressed frustration, stating, "I have every confidence in the world that [social media companies] could locate every instance of his image and remove it, and they're choosing not to do that."

Liese reported the scam to the FBI and German law enforcement but received little assistance. "Those scammers are so well-organized and they are so convincing," she said. Cole has also filed reports with the FBI but has not received a response. The FBI acknowledges the volume of tips it receives and cannot respond to every submission. Cole hopes for technological advancements to help combat these scams in the future.