Scam Watch

Internet dating seems like a natural way to meet your next romantic partner – you can safely evaluate a wide number of people for compatibility, which can help make the entire dating process more efficient. While it is true that there are natural advantages to Internet dating, there are also a number of potential drawbacks that you should be aware of, including scam artists who use the sites as platforms to initiate their crimes. This guide will help you to steer clear of those scams before you even initiate contact.

The first form of Internet dating scam to be aware of are “fake” sites that get you to sign up with the promise of finding romance, but only deliver a login that takes you nowhere. Generally, there are two forms of fake sites: sites that work functionally but have so few users that they are useless, and sites that take your payment but deliver nothing. For the first issue, you should stick to the largest, most reputable dating sites, as this increases your potential matches. Further, reputable sites will limit the possibility of the second problem of outright fake sites that offer nothing beyond promises. One way of avoiding this problem altogether is to utilize free dating sites first – there are a growing number of sites that are ad-supported, so you don’t have to purchase a subscription in the first place. Be wary of any site that isn’t well known, and make sure to do full background research before reaching for your credit card. If you’re looking to join a site, you’ll likely be presented with countless offers from any range of sites. While many of these sites may genuinely want to deliver an effective service, the nature of online dating is such that it’s best to select from the largest, most well established sites.

Once you have found a dating site to join, there are an entirely different set of scams that you should be aware of. As a protective measure, you should never use an easily identifiable user name so that you are virtually anonymous on the site. Secondly, never provide personally identifiable information in your profile – save this information for further, confidential conversations with other members that have earned your trust. With a secure profile, you should enjoy meeting other people while keeping your eye out for potential scams.

You can judge the veracity of other members by a number of factors including their user names, profiles and photos. Firstly, most genuine people don’t pick excitable user names for their profiles – scammers will do this in order to attract attention. Similarly, if a profile features a glossy, model photo then it’s likely that this user is a fake. Look for multiple photos of the person in regular settings, which can help signal that they are actually who they claim to be. The language and answers on their profile will also give hint – check for natural language that suggests they actually took time to write about their interests. Before you make initial contact, or respond to, another member, you’ll want to scan for these factors to establish a baseline level of truth, in addition to your evaluation of compatibility.

A common form of scam is a member with an attractive photo who claims to be in need, and requests that you help them out financially. Again, guard your financial information vigilantly and never give it out to a person who you do not trust. With awareness of dating scams, you can better navigate the experience and have more genuine experiences with fellow members.