Sunday 11 May 2008

Beware of online dating scams

Unfortunately, dating sites have become a target for con-artists and scammers. There are actual rackets that specialize in 'milking money' from genuine lonely people. However, there are other genuine lonely people who are in financial need. So how do you distinguish one from the other?

First of all, don't be too quick to trust. Ask for pictures of your date WITH his/her family. Or pictures of them when they were young (Fakes usually send catalogue photos, creating an illusion that you are chatting to a beautiful person who loves you). Take careful notice of the things that your date says to you, checking for discrepancies. (example: He/She told you that they were born September 14th 1980, then they tell you it's their birthday this coming june 25th).

A date asking for money DOES NOT always mean that you're part of an online dating scam. You may be one of the lucky few who are blessed to live in a wealthy country. Your date however, may be from a poverty stricken country. Use the methods mentioned above to get an idea on whether your date is genuine or not.

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