Online Dating Scams
Before entering the rather exciting world of online dating, you need to know of its dangers. As in the real world, the virtual world is also prone to dangers. One of the most common dangers of the online dating world is the dating scam. In an online dating scam, there is a scammer, be it male or female.
He or she creates a fake profile for any given online dating website. You will find these scammers on the thousands of free websites that are available. These people say they are looking for love and dates, but what they are really looking for is to con you into giving them your money and having fun at your expense.
What makes it so easy for these online dating scammers is the fact that free websites do not bother with background checks and screening processes. This anonymity is what appeals to these scammers and they are not beyond making false promises to get to your money or anything else they want.
Types of Online dating scams
There are four basic online dating scams that each and every person who has considered online dating should be aware of.
- Prostitute scams – These are not essentially scams. There are people who are looking to solicit their business through the Internet. These scammers are easily recognizable, as they will have lewd pictures and sleazy names. Remember if you are not looking for this kind of entertainment, do not get involved with them.
- Phone scams – These are when the ‘dates’ give you their phone numbers and you call them and you realize that what you have really done is ended with a huge phone bill. Beware of 1900 numbers.
- Travel scams – These scams are when the person you are ‘dating’ asks you to help them with their traveling expenses so that they can come and meet you and spend time with you.
- Nigerian postal scam – The Nigerian postal scam has been quite a racket. The person on the dating website asks for your help financially to help a relative in Nigeria. You will be conned into making postal deposits and be fleeced out of thousands of your well-earned dollars.
Identifying online dating scams
So how will you know when a person is a scammer? You are not going to learn overnight that the person you are ‘dating’ is a scammer. This person will try and win your trust over a period of time, and once they know they have your trust they will ask you for money.
They will tell you they need the money to come and see you, or for visa and tickets. They will also try to use emotions to get money out of you and often emotionally blackmail you and make you feel guilty by saying they have been robbed and beaten or have been stranded at some place.
It is always best to be very careful when you are involved in online dating. Never give out your personal information on websites and to someone you do not know. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
