If you've
heard of online dating scams, then you probably know that fraudsters have
ruined the lives of many people around the world. Some users have been wrongly
accused of knowingly taking part in money laundering and stolen product fencing
operations. Others have been ridiculed and embarrassed in their professional
and personal lives. Some have severed ties with their spouses, family and
friends because of these scammers.
Yes, these
online dating scams have very serious consequences for victims. So, if you're a
frequent user of popular dating sites and apps, then it's crucial for you to be
able to spot and avoid these fraudsters. With this in mind, here are some tips
that can help you avoid becoming a victim of these fraudulent internet dating
schemes:
How to Spot
and Avoid Online Dating Scams
1. Be wary of dates,which send you messages that sound too generic.
Chances are, they're sending out those messages to as many of their targets as
possible. These scam operations usually rely on the volume of targets that
receive their messages. So, if someone doesn't seem to be specifically
answering most of your questions in their responses, then chances are, they
might be fraudsters, who are trying to lure you into their online dating scams.
2. Take note of users, whose photos and profile details don't
match their voice, the way they write,or the things that they tell you in
private conversations. Many scammers, who run these online dating scams,
believe that the most effective way to lure victims is to post photos of young,
good looking men or women in their profiles. Also keep in mind that these
fraudsters have pre-targeted users in their lists. So, if their profile details
match exactly what you're looking for in a date, then they might be trying to
run a scam on you.
3. Confirm their identities. Google their full names. Look for
them in professional and personal social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook and
Twitter. If you see them there, try to contact them. Send them an email or a
private message on these social networks, just to confirm that they're indeed
the same person you met through dating sites or apps. By doing this, you can
avoid falling for online dating scams.
4. As soon as they ask for money, bail out. Don't expose them
or say that you know what they're doing. Instead, don't hesitate to report them
to the authorities or to the administrators of the dating site, since they
might look a bit closer at these suspicious users.
5. Drop them as soon as they ask suspicious favors from you. Don't
ever receive and ship back products for them. Never cash checks for them. Don't
open a merchant account for them. These are the main objectives of these
fraudsters for the online dating scams that they're running.
Also, don't
feel bad about yourself. These scammers just have lists of hundreds or thousands
of users in the most popular dating sites and apps. They target these users the
same way spammers target recipients of their junk email. What you should do, is
report these online dating scams to the authorities, and warn your family and
friends about the fraudsters.
