Online Dating Scams

Online dating is very popular and accounts for a great deal of internet activity; therefore, one must exercise proper caution when dating online similar to how one uses caution in the online purchases of goods and services.  There are very different safety and security considerations to be made when "putting yourself out there" via online dating and they are these: most times, you will eventually use your actual name, you may post an actual photograph of yourself, you may eventually share your actual contact information (telephone number, address); in other words, online dating may encourage greater and greater personal revelations, revelations which may make you vulnerable to online fraudsters/scammers.  The goal of these online dating scams is the same for all scams since time began: fraudulently gain a victim's confidence and/or affection to manipulate the victim to do things she or he would not ordinarily do, such as give access to one's bank accounts or credit cards.  Use caution when talking to people online you don't know because you never know their true intentions.


Be suspicious of the following:
  • The scammer tries to gain your trust
  • The scammer might send you flowers and other gifts
  • The scammer wants to immediately meet in person
  • The scammer claims to immediately love you, wants to marry right away, etc.
  • The scammer claims to be from the U.S but is traveling abroad
  • The scammer might say s/he is out of the country on business or some other excuse
  • The scammer either directly or indirectly asks for money or inquires about your financial history
  • Always trust your instincts--if s/he seems to good to be true, then s/he is to be avoided
Here are other things to keep in mind:
  • Never give a stranger your bank card numbers,  PINs, or any other personal information that may be fraudulently used
  • If you think you have provided bank account information to a stranger, let your bank know immediately and file a police report
  • Be careful when going to physically meet a person you've spoken with online--always let a friend or family member know where you're going, with whom you'll meet, and where you may be found