It’s depressing but true; there are people who take advantage of the Internet to scam people. While most people who use online dating sites are sincere and real, you have to be careful not to be a victim. A scammer is usually someone who may contact you to receive funds. These people use false details and then try to trick you. They will certainly seem sweet, affectionate but looking for your support, but they are scam men/women. To avoid becoming the future victim of a scammer, you need to know how to identify them. Watch for these warning signs:
1. They are too attractive. Very often, when something seems too good to be true, it really is! If your partner looks like a model, think twice. Clearly, there are plenty of beautiful people out there who aren’t scammers, but steer clear of ideal looks and expertly shot photos. All of this should really add to your distrust, as scammers often use photos of attractive people from stock photography sites to gain their targets on online dating websites. Anyone who is lucky enough to be one of those genuine and beautiful people should preferably add multiple images of them that show them relaxing at home or just hanging out with their close friends.
2. They want to progress too fast. Whenever you connect with someone over the internet that you get along with, inevitably, sooner or later, you will exchange contact information. If, on the other hand, they ask for your contact number practically instantly and they are quite insistent, you should continue but be careful. Marriages started on the Internet follow a natural progression from emails to phone calls and finally meeting in person. Any time someone prefers to go to the last stage too quickly, something could be wrong.
3. They are too perfect. Scammers are really good at creating attractive and charming individual profiles (“the right person”) on internet dating websites. Many of these people are experts at what they do and work hard to earn your trust long before they ask you for funds. Any time you deal with someone online who seems too good to be true or claims to fall madly in love with you unusually quickly, be wary. These people may be genuine, but we encourage you to proceed with extreme caution and look out for suspicious actions.
4. These individuals are looking for money. Every time a person you’ve met on the Internet asks for her money, the warning bells should ring very loudly. Anyone asking for money is likely to be a scammer. Whatever their story and however persuasive they may be, you should never send them your money. If you’ve been dating in person for a considerable period of time, then you can judge for yourself whether or not it’s wise to offer them money, but until then, don’t. In case the person needing funds is from abroad, you may be convinced that he is a scammer, so be careful with anyone from another country.
5. They ask for personal information. Under no circumstances should you share personal data. When asked for bank accounts, debit card details, driver’s license, etc. Don’t give it to them. These types of people are really smart and have clever ways of getting this information from you without asking you directly, so be on your guard with just about any query they ask you. Remember that most of the people you meet on online dating websites will be genuine. However, realizing what to watch out for and staying one step ahead will make it significantly less likely that you will become a victim of the scammer.
