Burlington, VT -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/29/2011 -- An international scam using social media sites like Facebook and Skype used the likeness of Vermont National Guard General Michael Dubie to steal money from victims around the world.

Dubie learned of the scam after his staffers found fake social media accounts using pictures of the General. The Guard says the criminals lured women in foreign countries into wiring thousands of dollars, thinking they were donating to help the Vermont National Guard.

"It's pretty discouraging," said Dubie Tuesday in his Colchester office. "I think it's even more troubling that they're exploiting myself and other members of the military."

According to chat transcripts between the scammers and the victims, the fake General Dubie would flirt with foreign women to build a relationship and then ask them for money. One woman in Toronto was fooled and wired $3,000 to the criminals.

Click the video above to see some of the chat logs
"The best word to use is flirting with these women," said Lt. Dyana Allen, who has been tracking the scam. "They're trying to build their trust, it's a typical identity scam."

The Guard has already removed many fake Facebook accounts but they keep popping back up. They've also created a real account for General Dubie which they hope will stop people from communicating with fake ones.

The FBI has started an investigation after learning that similar scams are happening to high ranking members of the military across the country.

"We have found out that there are a number of other senior officers around the country who have had this same thing happen," Dubie said.

http://www.wptz.com/r/26881374/detail.html
Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie Has Identity Stolen
By Randy Gyllenhaal
Reporter