Reporting Dating Scams - How to Do It

Reporting dating scams help improve the online dating community. The government is constantly improving its facilities to encourage more victims of dating scams and other Internet scams to step forward and report what they know. These improvements are in line with the government’s campaign to fight online malicious schemes that include dating scams.

The quality of the dating scam report you file determines its efficiency and the amount of help it can offer. In order to ensure that you are not just wasting your time reporting dating scams you must learn how to properly file a dating scam report. Although there isn’t any specific format that you should follow when reporting dating scams, there is certain information that you shouldn’t miss when filing a complaint. To give you some idea, see the list below:

Tips on How Reporting Dating Scams Should be Done

●  First, you must prepare all the relevant information that you have regarding the scammer. Listing down all this information that you have can help you easily organize your thoughts and recall all the other important information that the scammer may have mentioned in passing. Once you have all the information written down it will be easier to filter which ones are important and which ones can serve as additional relevant information.

●   The next step is to prepare copies of proofs or evidence that can help support your claim against the scammer. Reporting dating scams are not just about telling your story, it is also about proving that your story is true and that all your claims are valid. You can use the screenshot of your correspondence over the Internet as part of your evidence. Your conversation should establish that you both agreed to be romantically involved. You may also show financial documents that will prove your claim that you sent money to the scammer. Once you have the enough evidence that answers the questions what, when, where, why and how then you pretty much have everything covered.

●     Check your options. Find out which government agencies can provide you the safest and most effective online scam reporting platform. Check out which ones are the most accessible to you and which ones is suitable for your reporting style.

●     Most of the online complaint platform includes questions that will serve as your guide for reporting scams. Make sure to answer as many questions as you can  or to provide as much information and evidence as you can. These questions are there for a reason. The answer to these questions is usually the most important part of the dating scam you wish to report. These are the crucial information that the authorities need in order to initiate a formal investigation.

●     Keep a copy of all the reports and document that you filed. Reporting dating scams are usually the initial phase of the battle to catch the culprit. At some point authorities might want to contact you for further information or clarification. You can use the copy of your report as your reference when answering these follow up inquiries.

The tips provided below are just some of the things that you should remember when reporting dating scams.

How to Spot Online Scammers and Reporting Dating Scams

Reporting dating scams is critical. Online dating scams are growing and with almost anyone being targeted, you could easily be next. When love “happens” in a heartbeat, and demands for money come rolling in next, you can be sure you are in the trap of a romance scammer. But love need not be a cause for loss. Be alert for these signs that your special someone is a scammer in disguise.

#1 Age Difference That Speaks Volumes

Always note the age difference in the dating scam. Online romance scammers usually target older persons. Women in their 50s and 60s are the ideal targets because they are not only rich but vulnerable as well. If you have a case of “May and December” happening when it comes to your age and that of your romantic partner online, be cautious in case the relationship turns exploitative.

#2 The Perfect Profile?

Look for descriptions in their profile such as self employed, working overseas, a true professional or just widowed. These are all profiles inspired to create trust and liking in the person at the other end. Another sure sign of discrepancy is when they claim to live close by but are currently away and you've never heard of anyone like them in your locality.

#3 Photo Checks

Another great way to find out the truth about the scammer is through a Google Image search. Check if their photos match someone else's online or is associated with some scam activities. Reporting dating scams is easy provided you spot the scammer in time. Check all the snaps of your “beloved” online that you receive. Does something look out of place such as the background or landscape and clocks or date calendars. Once this has been identified, catching the scammer is easy.

#4 Inconsistencies That Stand Out

Another mistake that sticks out like a sore thumb is if they say they have been away, yet their profile shows then chatting online all the time. Another dead giveaway is if they say they are from a particular geographical location and their IP address or online location points in another direction.

#5 Check Emails

Reporting dating scams is easy if you can catch the scammer at their game. Inconsistencies in the email and glaring mistakes such as getting your name wrong or other signs could be an indication you are dealing with the scammer at the other end. Another sure sign you are being trifled with is if their language becomes ungrammatical over time. Contradictions may pop up in their stories and it is at this point that it is imperative people ensure they are reporting dating scams. If you leave the reporting till later, the scammer may become alert and leg it.

#6 Phone Calls Can Reveal The Truth

Another good way to catch a romance scammer is to hear the person on the phone. If they are using wrong phrases or have a foreign accent which does not match their origin, be alert and ensure you go about reporting dating scams. Ask questions that probe details and match the cell phone and area code with where they claim they are calling from. If there is a difference, take a stand and report the scammer before it is too late.

Watch out for the catch or you could end up being bait. Check for rapid escalation and sudden demands for cash while the romance goes out of the window. Reporting dating scams ensures you save yourself as well as innocent others from grasping charlatans.