Are you looking for love online? If so, then it is
essential to watch out for dating scams. It’s a good idea to know some basics
about them including the following facts:
1. It involves
building trust
This can take weeks or months. However, since it’s done
over the Internet, it costs the scammers virtually nothing so that they have a
device and web connectivity. There are times this part of the scam is done
quickly, but sometimes it even takes months.
As in the traditional “confidence man” scheme, the goal is
to gain the trust of the future victim before scamming them. Today’s dating
scams work the same way.
However, after building trust, the scammer then claims that
they’re in an emergency situation and need funds immediately. This could
involve a medical emergency of them or someone they know, for example. It might
seem like a reasonable situation since emergencies are a part of life.
2. It can involve multiple requests for money
There are sometimes then dating scams only involve one
request for money. However, there are other cases when the scammer asks for
money for all sorts of things. They could include groceries, rent, medical
care, utility bills, and so on.
What makes this such a tough situation for the victim is if
they’ve fallen in love with the scammer then they’re more vulnerable. In fact,
they might have a sense that something is wrong. However, if they’re thinking
with their “heart” rather than their mind, the results can be disastrous. It’s
possible for the victims to lose everything including their life savings and
retirement fund.
3. It’s increasing with online dating
It should be noted that not only are dating scams increasing, but online dating is as well. This is due to various factors
including the number of online dating sites and social media platforms. Both
are common ways that people look for romance in today’s world.
The traditional methods of dating have been replaced
greatly due to technology. Many people still make the excuse that they don’t
have time to join the dating scene. However, technology such as social media
and the Internet itself have made it much easier to find love in today’s world.
However, it’s also worth noting that as more people are
doing online dating, the number of dating scams and the amount of money being
scammed is also increasing. As with other online innovations while dating has
become easier than ever it’s also become easier for scammers to find online
victims.
4. It can include identity theft
In many cases, the romance scam is just about stealing
money. However, in other cases, the victim is convinced to provide personal
information. That, in turn, can result in identity theft, which can be even
worse.
What can happen? The scammers might open new accounts in
the name of the victim. They could then threaten people to give them money, and
all in the name of the victim.
These are some of the most critical
facts you should know relating to dating scams and how to avoid them.
