Do you date on the internet? Here are some guidelines and warning signs to help you identify and avoid online dating scams.
Scams involving online dating are becoming more common, costing unwary victims millions of dollars each year. Cybercriminals are playing the long game to defraud individuals of their money, rather than merely sending phishing emails.
If you're utilizing an online dating site, be on the lookout for warning signals that the person you're speaking with is a fraudster. Continue reading to learn how to prevent being a victim of an online dating scam.
Who are the victims of dating site scams?
Scammers target individuals from all walks of life on every dating site available. This implies that no one is safe from a fraudster, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, or favored platform.
They do, however, prefer to target the elderly. Meanwhile, persons who are weak or alone are the most common candidates for long-term catfishing schemes.
Scams on Plenty of Fish (POF) are particularly common due to the network's size. Scams may be found on dating sites like Ashley Madison, Match.com, and the majority of others.
Netflix's documentary for 2022 The Tinder Swindler also exposed the methods of a common scammer who utilized Tinder to entice his victims.
Scammers are casting a broader net for possible targets thanks to the advent of dating apps, and they're automating much of the process by deploying bots to entice victims into schemes. It's one of the reasons why internet dating is a waste of time.
How to Spot a Scammer in the Dating Scene
If you think you've met an online dating scammer, here's a list of important red flags to look for in a scammer's profile to corroborate your suspicions.
1. Warning Signs in Your Profile
There are a few telltale indications of a phony online dating profile that might help you spot a deception before you interact on the app or website.
The following are some common characteristics of a scammer's profile:
- Despite seeking for singles in your region, they work or reside in another nation.
- Their profiles contain very few photographs or images that appear to be model or glamour stock shots. Many con artists pretend to be serving in the military in another nation.
Scammers and bots will have extremely little profile information on dating apps. They also just have one or two photographs on their profile and do not link it to their Instagram or other social media profiles.
2. They try to move the conversation to an other location.
Scammers on the internet, particularly those that catfish their victims, may invite you to switch to a different form of chat outside of the platform where you met.
This not only allows them to obtain more information about you, but it also allows them to circumvent the safety safeguards put in place by dating apps and websites.
Scammers frequently prefer to contact via social media applications like Facebook or Instagram. They may, however, opt to send you a text message or use an app like WhatsApp to communicate with you. To ensure that no permanent duplicate of your discussions exists, employ a function like WhatsApp's vanishing messages.
Anyone you haven't met who wants to shift the conversation to another platform should be avoided.
3. Early on, your match professes love
When it comes to declaring an emotional connection, online dating fraudsters move rapidly. Within a short amount of time, they may declare that they love you and that they have a strong bond with you.
This is all part of the emotional manipulation that goes on behind the scenes of online dating site frauds. It's also why people who are fragile and solitary are such attractive targets, since they need connection. Early on in your conversation, when you haven't even met, keep an eye out for any matches that are extremely complimentary and overly dedicated.
One of the Tinder Swindler's red flags was moving the relationship along rapidly.
4. They Stay Away From Get-Togethers
One of the most popular lines used by online dating scammers is that they want to meet you, but when the time arrives, something unexpected happens. The fraudster does not want to meet in person since they are not who they claim to be.
This is also why so many con artists pretend to work in another nation or to be on military deployment—it gives them an excuse to avoid meeting up. Many fraudsters, in fact, utilize military and soldier photographs in their accounts.
The inability to meet you might possibly be the reason they try to extort money from a victim in the first place. They may pretend that they require funds to purchase a plane ticket to meet you. They'll sometimes claim that they were held by border authorities and that they require money to be released.
5. They completely avoid video chat.
Phone conversations, audio and video chats may be avoided by scammers. Many people, on the other hand, can imitate accents or voices. A catfish, on the other hand, will not appear in a video chat since they utilize phony profile photographs. If your match refuses to video chat or continuously makes excuses about their camera being damaged, be cautious.
Most smartphones now come with built-in selfie cameras, making video chatting a breeze. Some people may be hesitant to participate in video chat at first due to shyness. However, it's a red sign if someone claims love but refuses to talk to you over video after weeks of correspondence.
6. They make a financial request of you
A catfish or scammer will almost certainly ask for money from you, as this is the ultimate purpose of most fraudsters. They might design a number of circumstances, such as family emergencies, health challenges, or travel issues.
Scammers who are really cunning may even mislead you into paying them money by pretending to ship you a box that demands customs duties. Scammers don't often operate alone, so you can get a call or paperwork from someone pretending to be a third party requesting money.
Some con artists even ask for financial assistance or investment in their fictitious firm. If your suitor makes any type of money request, this is the most telling clue that you've been duped.
Another frequent sort of bait used to entice victims is cryptocurrency and Bitcoin dating scams.
7. They enlist your assistance with financial transactions.
Another online dating scam turns victims into "money mules" rather than asking for money. Instead of attempting to extort money from the victim, these con artists make you a co-conspirator in money laundering.
The fraudster may send money to the victim, who subsequently receives an Amazon gift card or another type of gift card. They may also send you money and ask you to transfer it to a different account for them.
Scammers may persuade a victim to create a bank account on their behalf. If your online suitor invites you to participate in these sorts of money transactions and exchanges, it's possible that they're a con artist attempting to trick you into participating in illegal activities.
8. They Provide You with a Link to a Different Service or Website
Some fraudsters avoid catfishing in favor of more efficient methods of victim exploitation. This is particularly true on dating apps, where bot profiles are common.
When a match offers you a link to an app, game, service, or website that they claim you should try, it's usually a ruse to get you to provide financial information or download malware. Scammers use it as an online dating equivalent of phishing, and it's a common approach on dating applications like Tinder.
How to Avoid Being Conned by a Romance Scammer
You may prevent online dating scams by taking a few steps in addition to detecting a possible scammer. To begin, utilize reverse image searches and sites like Social Catfish's reverse lookup tool to confirm a person's online identity. You should double-check that the same image isn't showing up in many accounts with different names.
You may select to match solely with verified accounts on several dating apps. Tinder, for example, has a background check tool.
You should also be informed about the many sorts of dating scams that are surfacing, particularly those that are tied to the platform you're using. Not all dating scams entail long-term catfishing, and certain mobile dating app scams differ from online dating scams.
Finally, never give out too much personal information to someone you've never met. Your financial status and if you're susceptible will be used by a catfish to decide whether you're an excellent target.
Don't react if you receive too nice introductory emails or messages on an online dating service. Matching with dubious accounts on mobile dating apps is a no-no.
Furthermore, never submit personal photos of yourself to an internet acquaintance—scammers are increasingly employing these sorts of photos in blackmail and extortion operations. Finally, if you see warning indicators and are unable to verify the person's identity, stop communicating with them right once.
Keep Yourself Safe When Dating Online
Protecting your privacy is one of the most important things to remember when dating online. This can protect you not just from scammers, but also from creeps and cyberstalkers. Make sure you don't provide too much information, and don't be hesitant to trust your instincts if anything doesn't feel right.