An online dating scam can come in different styles. It starts after the victim’s trust or an online relationship has been established. An online dating scam usually targets the elderly and lonely. It is usually perpetrated not only by one person but by a group of perpetrators who use popular dating sites such as Match.com and Chemistry.com.
The FBI warns of online dating scams. Find out how you can avoid being a victim.
Be on guard and learn new tactics being used by dating scammers.
An unprecedented scamming incident happened just about 2 years ago when a woman was reported by the Washington Post to have lost half a million US dollars over a time span of one year from an online dating scam. A similar scamming technique was also reported by a Canadian man who lost the same amount but in Canadian dollars. An American woman also has been reported to lose about 86,000 US dollars to a scammer she met in Match.com. This transfer of money has been the result of being too trusting online, letting the romantic feelings of people seeking love online overcome their common sense.
Sweet Promises
The scammer usually promises his or her victims with high returns from investments such as that of gold or asks for donations or funds for hospital bills. The scammer may also ask for travel money so that he or she can visit the hapless victim.
Dating scam do happen even in legitimate dating sites like CatholicMatch.com and eHarmony. Don’t allow yourselves to get scammed!
Attractive Profile
A profile of a person in a dating site is accentuated by the pictures he or she post and a carefully-detailed personal information.
Scammers are experts in using photographs which are very enticing to victims while providing personal data that seems to be trusting, forming a perfect recipe that is very tasty for a willing victim seeking for an instant romance to easily give in. The scammers may also extend their deception through continuous communication through text, emails and voice mails to build up the trust of the victim. As they say, constant communication can go a long way and lead to greater affection for one another.
Petty Scamming Techniques
A lot of small time scammers also exist in dating sites. This kind of petty scamming is also considered an online dating scam which is done repeatedly by the perpetrators, most of whom get a way, since the amount of money or valuables obtained through deception are not that significant.
Examples of small time scamming techniques is asking for cellphone load to establish contact, asking for cash to buy a cellphone with the same purpose of establishing constant communication and strengthening a long distance relation. Cash are also solicited as a part of a credit to be paid in the near future as e.g. support for scammer children or family, hospital expenses for loved ones. money for education or simply asking money for food. Again, sweet messages, enticing or sexy pictures, and romantic promises are used to deceive the victim in giving in.
How to Avoid Dating Scam
The best way of not being fooled by online dating scammers is to always keep in mind that no one can be trusted in an online dating site.
Never give in to a discussion which requires you to send money in any amount or form even without meeting the person.
Always try asking a lot of questions and consistently make cross checking of information about the person you meet online before scheduling a meet up. It won’t hurt if you ask the advice of a friend or a loved one before getting to acquainted with a person you meet online.