A search for true love has led to a broken heart and a depleted bank account. It's the result of a scam that began with a profile on an Internet dating service.

It wasn't the alluring picture but the affectionate words that drew the attention and trust of a scam victim we'll call Sebastian, a man with a college degree and a good job.

"I think I was following my heart more than my head," he tells us.

After months of email correspondence, the woman promised to meet Sebastian but because of a family emergency she said that she needed him to cash more than $3,000 in money orders for her.

Sebastian deposited the checks in his Omaha bank account and waited a day before withdrawing the money, then wired her the cash.

Weeks later, the money orders came back counterfeit and the victim is stuck covering the loss at his bank.

Sebastian says, "They need to let their customers know plain, you need to wait a week for this to be cleared. You need a week, so we can't give you the money."

Sebastian put his profile on the Web site never suspecting that his search for true love would lead to someone telling everything but the truth.

Postal Inspector Dave Margritz says scam artists often peruse Internet dating sites, "because these people are willing to spend money, take chances to meet someone… These people, after messages, will say I'd love to come see you. Send me the money for an airline ticket or I'll pay my own way but I got this check I can't use and need the money wired to me."

Sebastian doubts that he'll ever meet the woman on the Internet whose only response to him has been, "I'm sorry."

He says, "I'm more annoyed with myself for being too complacent; for not exercising more caution."

Tom Haller of First National Bank says it's general practice in banking to allow customers to withdraw cash from their accounts 24 hours after depositing a check but that does not guarantee that the check is good. If it turns out to be counterfeit, the customer is responsible for returning those funds.

The best advice: if you deposit a cashiers check or money order from someone you don't know very well, wait a couple of weeks or longer to make sure it's not bogus.