Since February 2022, all fans of Netflix documentaries hardly believe that secure online dating exists nowadays. Thanks to Simon Leviev, the so-called Tinder swindler, it became clear how undefended the users of matchmaking platforms actually are. For those who don't know what we are talking about, this good-looking man has scammed women worldwide and got around ten million euros from them. The fact Leviev was arrested after turning his mega fraud and freed after five months in prison hit like a bomb! Unfortunately, not only his homeland Israel is so sympathetic towards fraudsters...
If you now think that males can't be trailed around the finger as easily as females - it's not true. Let us give you an example.
Scammers often choose single, wealthy, and slightly older men. They then act out the scenario with the overwhelming new love found on the Web. The victim is usually totally excited and can hardly believe such a stroke of late luck because that doesn't happen often. Soon enough, the crook starts making plans for the future and even suggests arranging an offline meeting! The one that will never happen, though. The reason is simple: accidentally, the virtual beauty has to travel abroad (or she already lives there). And spoiler: fate is not kind to her. It's definitely not her fault - just a stalemate, an emergency situation. Sometimes it's the credit card that was stolen; sometimes - a relative/pet/she personally is seriously ill. As a rule, the only thing the beloved one can do from far away is to give his dear lady financial support. Love is known to be blind, so the money transfer must be made immediately. Do we need to tell you how the story continues? We guess it's pretty apparent - as soon as the funds are gone, he won't ever hear from this girl again. Most likely, she has never existed...
It doesn't matter whether you search for love through social networks or dating sites - the point is you do it online. But how can you make your experience safer? Is there a way to recognize fake profiles and protect yourself in advance? This article holds all answers.
Facts about online dating
It seems searching for love online has reached its peak of popularity today. This impression is right: according to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, more than 50 million singles in the USA alone have tried matchmaking platforms or apps! However, not everyone who creates a profile on such websites has the right intentions. As stated by the FBI, victims of swindlers lose on average around $85 million per quarter. While the biggest loss per person of all types of Internet fraud is more than $100,000 per month.
That's, for sure, where the question of the safety of online dating comes into play. What else does statistics say in this regard? Find the most interesting facts in this section of our article.
#1. Absolute honestly doesn't exist
Did you know that 70% of male and 80% of female users of dating sites lie in their profile information? The matters that are sugarcoated differ depending on gender. Women tend to be dishonest about their age, while men are untruthful regarding their jobs and salaries. Both sexes often lie concerning their height, weight, and hobbies.
Therefore, do not rush to rejoice if you discover the profile of a lady whose interests and hobbies are similar to yours. Perhaps she is also not a 25 years old brunette from LA. There is no guarantee that at least one word this person has written is correct - be ready for it.
#2. Not only serious plans but also online fun
Not all people sign up to matchmaking platforms to find their soulmate - you should be prepared to face them even on a safe dating website. As you might guess, we are not talking about fraudsters here.
It may happen that the person you liked a lot doesn't have any serious plans. Her only desire could be just to find herself an interlocutor and have some online fun. Statistics say that about 30% of users do not go on offline dates with people they have met online. For some, this is a matter of principle, others are afraid to see the wrong person on the rendezvous, and the rest are very picky.
Anyway, you don't need to worry. Maybe not everything is lost, and your communication still has a chance to grow into something more.
#3. Harsh reality
Do you often get a notification that there are no matches for you today? If not - congratulations, you must be lucky or just... white. Statistics provided from such monsters of the industry as OkCupid and Tinder clearly demonstrate that black women and Asian men are the user groups usually associated with a scam. Thus, they are often ignored.
Understand it right: these famous portals haven't unexpectedly turned into racists. The fact is they collect data on the most common preferences and prejudices of millions of people around the world. That's what causes an uncomfortable reality...
#4. Second opinions
There's nothing wrong with the desire to get a little help from your friends. For this reason, one in fine people who asks a mate to help set up their online dating profile makes no mistake. On the other hand, women are more likely to seek advice on completing the questionnaire. Generally - around 30% of female users ask friends to review what they have written. What about males, then? Well, the number is significantly smaller: only 16% seek a second opinion in this respect.
Can we consider this a sort of cheating? No, of course not - so don't be shy to ask your buddy to check your profile information for grammar and spelling mistakes.
Common signs that hint you are dealing with a romance scammer
Are dating apps safe? Yes and no, since disappointments are unavoidable if you take the whole process lightly. To operate with skill, you undoubtedly need expert knowledge in this regard. And, of course, it makes sense to start with the basics. Let us explain to you who romance scammers are first.
These people are fraudsters who pretend they have fallen in love through the Internet, although these are not their genuine intentions. What do they have in mind, then? Like marriage swindlers (who want to gain financial benefits from a union) - the love fraudsters are mostly only interested in telling lies on the Web and getting money from victims.
Their favorite place of work is free-to-use websites that don't require identity verification. Thus, you should always proceed carefully and attentively when dating online. For instance, passing your private photos, bank details, or any other personal data must be restricted.
You need to pay attention to the characteristics of the person you communicate with through your favorite platform. There are signs that hint you are dealing with a marriage swindler or love scammer. Be aware of them to make your love search as safe as possible:
#1. It's never boring with such a person
Of course, life always has its ups and downs. Each of us sometimes experiences crazy adventures, while tragic incidents are unavoidable. The second category includes separations, the death of close relatives, job loss, and so on. And yes, this process is uncontrollable. Therefore, these awful occasions might follow each other in quick succession. But with the romance scammers, it's always part of the game. They want to arouse pity and get the victim even more on their side. On the other hand, constant troubles ought to give victims understanding for cancellations of meetings, telephone calls, and the like. None of this would take place anyway, but they have an excuse.
So, bear in mind that if you want to make your way through online dating safely - be particularly attentive to your match's location. According to experts, mostly, fakes come into distress on a trip to Southeast Europe, Asia, or Africa. Some also say they are in the US and are now in dire need of financial help. The point is to choose a place far away from your town so that spontaneous visits are impossible and a money transfer abroad is understandable.
#2. Instant replies
Tips for safe online dating should certainly contain this one because not every single guy realizes it. The background of the case with instant replies from a gorgeous lady is not as evident as it seems, especially if you are in love.
Never forget: scam is what these bad guys do for a living because it is a pretty lucrative business. So if your online girlfriend is messaging you around the clock - be careful since you might be dealing with a fraudster. You may argue that when captivated by someone, you naturally want to text with this person 24/7. But everyone has to sleep, eat and work from time to time.
Why do swindlers do this? Like everyone else on the Earth, they want to get their "salary" as soon as possible. That's why they quickly shower their victims with emotionally charged, bombastic vows of endless love. No less interesting for them are the life details: friends, children, family, and problems of the dupe.
#3. Charming and simply perfect
Unfortunately, many singles are looking for the ideal match. However, if you care about your online dating safety, it's better not to follow this trend. Everyone has their little flaws - come to peace with this. You ought to be particularly careful, considering that perfection is part of the tactic for romance scammers.
How does it work? Imagine that you have found the girl and everything you learn about her is too good to be true. She is unbelievably perfect - you have never met anyone more intelligent, pretty, and humorous. Sad to say - but excellence, most likely, masks a crook. It's no wonder victims fall for the charm and don't want to let this person go, though.
Your job here is to cope with your emotions and take a sober look at the situation. Does it feel right? Why isn't your conversationalist sincere enough to talk openly about her weaknesses?
#4. Strange pleas connected with material things
What do we mean? If your lady asks for money, visa assistance, getting/sending a parcel, or opening a joint account in a bank - be careful. That's, in fact, the reason to stop communication even on the safest online dating portal.
There are many reasons why she may want you to do this. The point is - if you refuse, other ways will be found.
Pretty routine here are fake checks. No less common are the suggestions to share the cost for the visa to come to your country (which is never applied for, by the way).
The scammers also manage to cleverly misuse the victims for their own purposes, for example, to send letters or packages to third parties. Also, a copy of your ID card could be requested (as well as many other additional private documents). Thus, if you still wonder how to be safe in online dating - don't be too open to someone you have never seen in real life.
Tips for avoiding online dating scams
Yes, there are, for sure, black sheep among the users of matchmaking portals. At the same time, if you don't examine the provider before registering, you can be word-for-word ripped off. As well as led into a cost trap from which you won't be able to get out so quickly. By the way, many such dubious websites have large legal departments that aim for the highest possible income - to the suffering of the members. Thus, safely dating online is impossible without protecting yourself.
Romance scammers are particularly clever on the Internet. Especially on social networks and free apps, they skillfully trick their victims. Fake profiles, stolen photos, made-up names, and fraudulent family tragedies - all these elements are usually presented in disastrous virtual affairs.
For weeks or even months, these people try to win the trust and hearts of their conversationalists. They wait for a perfect moment to ask for money or a small favor. This includes money transfers, check acceptance, or package forwarding. Regrettably, understanding who these sweet ladies are comes often too late.
The financial loss weighs just as heavily as the emotional damage. That's why it makes sense to save yourself from love scams on the Internet in advance. We hope our tips will come in handy.
#1. Investigate your virtual girlfriend
Admittedly, it sounds like playing detective, but this is a vital recommendation concerning how to be safe with online dating.
So remember - if you meet someone on the Web, take a closer look at this person. First and foremost, check the woman's profile: how long does it exist? What are the other facts placed there? Do some of them contradict the others? Google your crush. Trust us, there could be many interesting things in the search results!
Also, most of the time, scammers use pictures of attractive people. Such fake profiles of females who can work as models are very captivating for men. The point is that the photos are professionally made - everyday situations are rarely seen there. Be, therefore, very attentive to what you see: watch out for details.
#2. Be skeptical
How to date online safely? Well, only with the fundamental principle that you should never trust strangers on the Internet. Instead, you must always assume that every message you get could be a scam attempt. Unfortunately, the dangerous situation can be provoked by someone you might have already known for a while.
The same rule applies to other ways of staying in touch outside the dating website. Fraudsters who operate on trustworthy platforms try to move communication somewhere else. For instance, emails, social networks, and cell phone messages can be unsafe.
Pay particular attention to any inconsistencies regarding the sender and the letter's content. If in doubt, delete the message without opening it. Better safe than sorry, don't you think so?
#3. Protect your private data
Be cautious when publishing your personal data, even if the dating sites' safety is not in doubt. The most serious matters are your home address, social security number, and phone number. Information about the company you work for and your current projects might also be risky to share. Romance scammers, for example, want to know all details about your life to get leverage and trick you faster.
On the other hand, when talking about the safety of dating apps - always consider general content distribution rules. Basically, before you post anything - think twice. Ask yourself whether strangers really need to know that much about you. The more people on the Web know about you, the more likely someone will try to press on you with genuinely sensitive information. Blackmailers usually like to take advantage of so-called sexting and 18+ pictures.
#4. Pay attention to conversation topics
This one should definitely be mentioned when highlighting the main online dating safety tips. Be very attentive to conversation topics your potential girlfriend chooses. For example, if one of the first questions she asks is about your job position, salary, or other personal information - be alarmed. In fact, you shouldn't ignore it - so immediately report this user to the platform's administration. Bear in mind: if the direction of a conversation becomes uncomfortable, it should end immediately.
Do we need to mention, once again, that obvious rip-offs (help me out, it's an emergency) must be left without the answer?
Ultimately, the number one cybersecurity measure for people dating online is to be vigilant and aware of the dangers. It's nice when love takes you over, but who said you can forget about reasonable self-protection?
#5. Follow the date-in-a-public-place rule
Even if you are sure that dating sites are safe, sooner or later, all relationships must achieve the next level. We talk about the offline date, of course. For this reason, here is the critical rule to follow: never suggest your internet crush to spend an initial rendezvous at your or her home!
Despite all the familiarity, one should not forget that the real person can also be very different from the online flirt partner. Thus, if you want to meet, arrange it in a public place. In this way, you avoid unnecessary risks and don't show your accommodation to a stranger.
Also, let friends know where and when you are out and activate your mobile phone location if necessary.
FAQ
How safe is online dating? Is online dating dangerous?
Instead of visiting parties or other events for singles (as in the past) - more and more people go online. Not only because of the numerous Corona limitations during the last few years, though. Dating sites experience a real boom because of their convenience. But how safe are these platforms? Experts have a clear opinion in this respect.
The world's most famous specialists in online security conducted research. They examined various websites that operate for different audiences (such as Tinder, Bumble, AnastasiaDate, GoldenBride, OkCupid, eHarmony, etc.). Later, the results were compared to the analysis made in 2017. And according to them, nowadays, providers are more secure from a technical point of view. The majority of imperfections specified five years ago were fixed.
Is it safe to use dating apps?
If you follow the safe-online dating tips - yes.
Nevertheless, the use of such apps still endangers your privacy. Because with most applications, it is possible to register with existing accounts for social networks such as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. This link automatically adds a lot of information from your user page in the dating profile, including photos. In addition, you will be asked to disclose your place of study or work.
With all that information in hand, it is easy to find the rest of your social media accounts. Accurately what romance scammers need.
Are paid dating sites better?
It's a follow-up to the how to date online safely question. Because - yes, dating platforms with paid membership are definitely more secure. The reason is simple - they have enough staff and money to track down scammers. By way of illustration, they make users go through the verification process - therefore, stolen identities are no-goes there. You need to try and see it in your own eyes, though.
What are the red flags with online dating?
Is online dating safe? Sure, it is. However, everyone looking for great love on the Web should be prepared to face love scammers operating through fake profiles. The fraudsters can be recognized by the following indicators:
- The profile has only been existing for a few days. You can request such information from the site administration.
- Suspicious profile pictures. The lady's photos are extremely enchanting: no snapshots or something hinting at her daily routine.
- Swindlers are charming and understanding. Sure, otherwise, you wouldn't be taken in by them so quickly...
- She has an exciting life with many strokes of fate. The scammer tries to arouse empathy and pity.
- The girl wants to know everything about you: hobbies, previous relationships, etc. - pretending to have a sincere interest in you.
