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.