Love Not Spared: How to Spot Online Dating Scams

The increasing popularity of online dating services is not only good news for those looking for friendship and love.  It is also good news for scammers.  Scammers use websites like online dating sites to target unsuspecting users.  There are a variety of methods that dating sites use to provide warning signs to their users against scammers and those who are taking advantage.

Many online dating sites have filters that try to separate scammers from legitimate users.  Unfortunately, they cannot spot all online dating scams.  Most of the sites also rely on their members for reporting suspicious users.

Scammers usually ask for your instant messaging or regular email right away.  They may try to lure you away from the site, so they will not be noticed by the site administrators.  Always use the message system provided by the site when you contact someone new.

There are signs that the person you are talking to online is a possible scammer.

Communication is Very Difficult

They tend to repeat what they say and make statements that are difficult to understand and frequently commit spelling and grammar mistakes.

Fake-Looking Profile Pictures

The profile photos look just like a model or they look like they were cropped from some internet site.  The scammer may use someone else’s profile pictures, or they may post a picture which is dark or blurred.

They Do Not Answer Your Questions And Only Talk About Themselves

They may be using standard emails and sending it to many different people they are trying to take advantage of.  Also pay attention to the times they they send their messages. If they are sent when they should normally be sleeping they may be located in another country, which is another warning sign.

They Share Sob Stories

You may also be contacted by someone from a foreign country saying they wish to come to your country & need your help.  If there is no “first date good behavior” and they start telling you about their problems or asking for money  before you have even met them you should stop communicating immediately, block them if they persist, and report them if you feel you are being scammed.

The best way to weed out any scammers is to ask people to elaborate on the information you find in their profile and pictures. Without asking them for any personal details you could ask them where a profile picture was taken or where they bought the clothes they are wearing, for example.

No scammer would be willing or able to maintain a charade under such detailed inquiries, but a person who is honest and sincere would be happy to share such information with someone who is showing interest in finding out more about them.