Online Dating Scams

We're all aware of online dating, and how in some ways, it has actually helped us out of our depressing world of singlehood. However, several people have in fact experienced the other side, and fallen prey to online dating scams and frauds.

What are Online Dating Scams?

Online dating scams are the result of the increased interaction between people via online dating sites. While you may be genuine about your search for love, others out there are waiting to take advantage of the likes of you. The prime characteristic of a dating scam is the ultimate sob story with the need for money to get out of trouble. Since they work up a good relationship based on trust and love with you, you may easily succumb to their tragedy, and end up suffering from one yourself. Research indicates that such scams mainly originate in the African continent, with countries like Ghana and Nigeria topping the list. In fact, a classic scam in the field of online dating is the Nigerian 419 scam. However, anyone belonging to any place or zone can be the culprit. Before you let your guard down and fall prey to such a situation yourself, understand how to identify an online dating scam.

• The first sign of a scam is a profile picture that is too good to be true. Yes, there are models and very good looking people who exist in this world. But often such pictures are used to lure people who are in search of love, into their trap.
• Such people may show interest in your profile, and ask for your email address for further interaction. They will also provide their own.
• From the beginning the person will keep giving subtle hints about a poor financial situation and other emotional stories, to gain your sympathy and affection.
• They will not encourage conversation on the dating website, but on a private chat or via email. They may also suggest a web-cam conversation, where only they can see you, with an excuse that they don't have one or it's not working. If you have developed a close bond with the person, he might also ask you to get naked for him on the camera, and remember it is very easy to click pictures via a web-cam. They could use this as an effective tool to blackmail you and demand money from you.
• Slowly, as the trust further develops, the person is going to ask you to send him money in the form of money orders and other currency exchange, till you realize you are being conned.

Usually because they claim to belong to one country but actually reside in another, it is difficult to trace these people. As such, it is wiser to stay wary of such persons you may meet on online dating sites or online chat rooms.

How to be Wary of an Online Dating Scam

To be able to determine whether the person you are speaking to online is indeed genuine, try some of these methods.

• Read the emails they send you. Sense the tone and take a good look at the vocabulary used. If you find it to be different, or much better than what they use while chatting online, with the lack of common spelling errors and grammatical mistakes, you have a clue. Those mails are probably copied and pasted from somewhere else. Also look for a link between previous emails and the latest one. It may be vague which is another way of determining the genuineness of the person you are dating online.
• Since online dating frauds begin with a deceptive profile picture, to check if the person in the picture is actually the one you are dating, suggest a video conversation via a web-cam. If the person refuses on the basis of excuses such as the unavailability of one, or a general hurry to leave, you can easily tell that he is not the person he claims to be. Do not, under any circumstance engage in a one-sided web-cam conversation.
• In their online dating profiles, fraudsters also make tall claims about their education and work experience. A good way to find out if this is true, is to question them regarding their areas of expertise. A simple discussion or explanation of the job or field they belong to should ensue, and they should be able to answer basic questions.
• Look up the person online. Several websites and tools help in this regard. You are not being too inquisitive, as this is for your own safety. There is no harm in analyzing whether the person you love and who claims to love you is being true to you or not.

Yes, your soulmate could be out there in the world wide web. However, blind faith has most often led to disappointment. As mentioned earlier, there is no harm in identifying who you are interacting with, and willing to share a bond so special. With the number of online dating scams on the rise, it important that you follow these safety tips; it is always wiser to be safe than sorry.