subject: Tips to Help Protect Against Internet Dating Scams [print this page] Tips to Help Protect Against Internet Dating Scams
An important security tip to keep in mind, when venturing into internet dating, is that there are some unscrupulous people who might try to turn your hunt for a date into a moneymaking scheme for themselves.
It really is important to keep in mind that while the vast majority of people are nice people who are only looking for some companionship - there are also a few not so nice people who may try to take you for everything you have. There are many warning signs that someone might be into scamming on dating sites. This doesn't mean that you should fear signing up on an Internet dating site. It does mean that you need to be careful.
Here are a few things that you might notice about your potential date that might clue you in to a likely rip-off.
A Sad Story
If a someone informs you immediately that they are in some serious situation and require your help, block that person.
Changing Stories
If your prospective date tells you things that conflict with each other, for example in one email he lives in Nebraska and in the next he lives in Kansas - this is another major red flag.
Don't be in a rush to block a particular person for a small inconsistency. Sometimes people may possibly just be trying to protect their identity. You should just make note of any kind of trivial inconsistencies and then ask follow-up questions.
West African Scams
If a potential date tells you that she is in Africa doing missionary work, a business deal, or anything else in Africa, beware of Ghanian and Nigerian or any other West African schemes. Many types of scams, not just dating scams, are hatched in West Africa.
Long Distance Romance
If you get an email from somebody that lives far from you, this is often a message to beware of. Most people today want to meet other people who live near enough to meet.
It's possible that someone could be moving or, perhaps, spends their winters in a warm climate and the summer season in your geographical area, but sometimes a message like this means trouble.
Most dating services allow you to specify a region or a distance from where you live that you would be willing to date.
Rich & Famous
If your potential date is actually so attractive, fabulously wealthy, or claims to possess things that only a very well-off person has (like a private jet), this may be a red flag.
The Partial Picture
If a prospective date rarely ever offers you any sort of personal information -- not things such as his phone number but things like experiences regarding hislife in general like kids, career, or even pets, that's very odd.
Can You Spare a Dime?
If you get emails asking for cash, the man or woman sending them is not on the up and up and you really should block them immediately and possibly report them to the dating site.
Money Laundering
If any likely date requests you to first deposit a check for him - this is a significant red flag.
Communication is Difficult
If your match has a flawless dating profile but cannot write a coherent sentence, this is a red flag.
I LOVE YOU!
If your potential date tells you he loves you early on in the messaging - that's certainly improper and also that person may be some sort of scammer.
Internet dating sites are a great place to meet a date. However, there are some people that sign up on online dating websites that would like to help you out of your savings. Rely on your instincts and also keep an eye out for warning signs.
Visit our website for lots more dating advice & tips for spotting online dating scams.
