Starting out on a new dating site is like going
out to explore the vast cosmic space. Even though this flight will
definitely open up a new and amazing world for you, you should know
about potential threats to your safety and take some precautions before
launching into the open space. Armed with a little knowledge about
internet scammers you can protect your privacy and security online.
Most
dating sites allow people exchange messages with strangers in a safe
manner. For most internet users this type of communication is addictive
and fun. But since people's real identity is not displayed, dating site
members can put on a virtual mask and pretend to be someone else, or
even use a scam to take money from naive people.
Let's learn how to see a potential scammer on a dating site and protect yourself.
Think before you write:
When writing to someone on a dating site, guard your personal
information and identity as carefully as you can. You don't need to
provide all your data, fill out all the fields in your profile or give
someone your home address for any reason. Always remember that a
friendly person that you met on a dating site can actually be a
scammer, stalker or even a pervert.
Don't be too naive:
Scammers are usually good at psychology and can predict what you
want or are looking for. That is why you should beware of those who are
too family-oriented, too sweet, always agree with anything you say and
declare that they like/love you too soon. Remember that if it's real,
then on the other side of the screen there is a person just like you
who also needs time to trust you and start a relationship with you. A
scammer is more likely to be too affectionate and understanding.
Do a search:
There are many scammer lists with pictures online now. If you know
the persons name or you want to check a particular site online, simply
Google this information: put the person's full name in quotes (if you
put it in quotes it will give you results for this particular name the
way you put it), also type Scam or Scammers next to it and hit search.
If there are any scam reports related to this name they will pop up
right away.
Show your concern:
If you suspect the person you're corresponding to in scamming, show
that you are concerned. Deeper questioning and a request to provide
more information will scare away most scammers. Make them a little
nervous. And never regret if after that they stopped writing to you.
No, it does not mean they lost interest for you. In most cases it means
they decided that no money is coming from that cautious player and
that's just what you needed.
Don't trust every dating site:
Even if it's a dating agency, it doesn't mean it's totally
legitimate. Sometimes even a whole dating site can be a scam. Stay away
from sites that make you buy translation for your letters that you send
to your date on the same site. Such sites sometimes hire girls to write
letters to their clients so that they could offer translation for
letters and make more money on it. In this case it is better and
cheaper to translate letters into a foreign language by yourself, but
if you feel that translation software doesn't do this right, find cheap
translation for dating purposes. It this case you will control the
whole process and will be sure that the dating site doesn't profit from
your letters.
Use audio-video aids:
Many scammers don't want you to see them because they use someone
else's pictures and identities. Ask them to chat with you online in any
instant messaging program. Use a web camera. If the woman or the man
you met online is really interested in you, she or he will take time to
install a program and buy a camera which is pretty inexpensive in most
countries. If a video chat is still something they cannot do, ask them
to take a particular picture for you with their mom or a friend they
mentioned in their letter, so you can see it is a recent picture. Or at
least ask for a phone number.
Don't fall for such lame excuses,
as "I don't have a phone", "I don't have a camera", "I don't have an
email" or "I don't trust you". Can you really believe that in our world
of high tech someone might not have a phone or an email? Ok, one might
not have a camera, but most modern cell phones have built-in cameras
nowadays. If they cannot trust you, there is not much motive for you to
trust them. Although efforts are made to improve the reliability of
dating sites and online dating, one should always be careful. Be sure
to follow suggestions in this article to feel protected and
knowledgeable while meeting new people online.
