4 Online dating scams and prevention tips

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Online dating websites are among the most well-known methods of encountering a possible love interest, regardless of whether it is a committed relationship or a casual connection in the long run. After the covid breakthrough in 2020, according to specific statistics, 63% of dater state that finding romantic partners has turned more complex. Still, 2 out of 10 Americans are open to using online dating websites. 

But are online dating apps and sites always secure to sign up for?

Unfortunately, scammers commit financial fraud and identity theft by detecting online dating website services. Additionally, out of all Americans that have utilized a dating website in the last five years, 50% have undergone catfishing. Five years before that, the percentage was at 24%. The percentage growth is significant. 

If you are looking for a spouse, the last thing you want to locate is a scammer. 

Thus, this blog will speak about specific online dating scams and give tips on how to avoid them. 

Scammers move quickly without the intent to meet you in real life.

Often, the initial hint of an online dating website scam appears when a romance scammer lets you know he has an intense connection with you in a moderately short period.

This can get tempting, especially if you are looking for a casual connection and want to proceed to the meeting stage quickly; visit here for legit one-night stand websites, some of those are Bumble, Tinder, Zoosk, etc. 

However, if you are searching for a serious relationship, this can be a huge red flag. Knowing your seriousness, your scammers may tell you that they have fallen in love with you. However, it is a strategy they are utilizing to reach you to surrender personal information and details regarding security questions that you use to lock down your internet accounts. 

Keep your data safe, and be careful if a new potential love interest requests personal information shortly after matching with you. 

Scammers often move to other platforms.

Scammers often persuade victims to give up the online dating website and utilize instant messaging or the personal email address to communicate. Initially, this might come off as a red flag. In getting to know somebody, you will wish to move away from the online dating app or website and utilize other communication methods.

Be very wary when somebody asks for your email address or phone number since it makes it more manageable for them to access your data. 

If you are open to communicating on a different platform, instead create an alternate email account and use an instant messaging platform not associated with your personal information, such as your phone number or primary email address. 

Scammers ask for money because of “emergencies.”

Be aware of anybody who asks to help them financially, regardless of how devastating their occurrences are. Contemplate if you encounter certain storylines with your new acquaintance in an online dating app. Even if the person becomes a profound connection, they would not ask you for financial help at the beginning stages of your relationship. It would be best if you avoided sending them any money. 

Some of the excuses scammers could bring up for asking you for money are requiring money to help a sick family member, bringing visiting you as an excuse, such as needing a loan for an airplane ticket, needing some income to invest in a startup business venture, covering for a relative’s funeral, or being alleged US service members overseas. 

Even if they tell you they will visit, scammers consistently devise an emergency excuse not to.

If an online dating website connection continuously tells you they will visit but always come up with excuses to alter their plans at the last second, backing it up with family drama, a traumatic event, or a business loss, then it is a red flag. It would be best to be wary and suspicious when things like that occur.

Often, the scammers’ cancellation will be continued by a short-term loan request, claiming they will pay the money back in no time. Be cautious when somebody claims to want to meet you but makes excuses as to why they can not.  

Whatever kind of an excuse it is, be even more cautious if they state that they need some money for it and can not afford a plane ticket. If they ask you to lend them the money for the sole reason that they finally want to meet you, believe us, it is better to wait for a little longer; if they are not a scammer and are genuinely interested, they will eventually save up and arrive to your location to meet you.

Once you come to terms with how to detect an online dating scammer, it will be pretty designating. When victims report scams, they feel reassurance and comfort after notifying authorities. This is helpful for you and anybody else that your scammers could contact in the future.