How to avoid becoming a victim of an online dating scam
Many of us dedicate a great deal of our energy to making a romantic connection to last a lifetime. Sometimes, that happens early and sticks until the end of the road. Other times, however, our journey with our partner can come to an unexpected end, leaving us searching once more for that special connection.
Once you’ve reached a certain age, that search can become more daunting for any number of reasons, not least of which is that one of the most common forms of meeting people just plain didn’t exist when you first waded into the dating pool: online dating. There are many benefits of giving online dating a go – you can make connections with people who are looking for the same kinds of things as you, whether it be a type of relationship or a friend with similar interests; and you can take at least the first tentative steps from the comfort of your own home.
Despite the positives, online dating does have its own drawbacks, and there’s one that affects people over 50 almost uniquely – scammers. There’s always someone who ruins it for the rest of us, right? Well, in this case, it’s a small group of people (usually, but not always, men) who prey on more vulnerable people. In the online dating world, the less experience you have with the internet, the more likely it is you’ll fall prey to a scammer trying to con you out of money or gifts. So let’s look at some things to remember so that you can avoid being a victim.
1. Pics please
Always make sure whoever you’re talking to has uploaded a set of photos to their profile. Take time to closely examine the photos so you can spot anything out of the ordinary – if the pictures look suspiciously like stock photos, they probably are. If it’s too difficult to figure out if it’s the same person in each picture, it’s very possible it isn’t.
Some people will say that they don’t like publishing their photo online, in which case you should ask them to send a selection directly to you via the site’s email system. Don’t accept excuses – if this person has access to the internet, they have access to a camera as well.
2. Don’t overshare
If you begin communicating with someone, there are many things you shouldn’t be sharing with them right away (or at all). These include:
- Your address
- Your phone number
- Your full name
- Your parents’ names (useful information for identity thieves)
3. Read the fine print
It will only take you a few minutes, but reading the terms and conditions of the dating website will help you feel a little more confident about their attitude towards/tolerance of online scammers. Newer sites may not have experience weeding out undesirables, so take note of their procedures when it comes to verifying accounts.
4. Watch their words
Very poorly written messages or profiles that contain many spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors can be a simple red flag to indicate someone who could be trying to scam you.
Have you ever suspected you were being scammed while dating online? Share your story with us in the comments below.