The idea that anyone can meet their love interest online can be fun and exciting. You probably know someone that met their significant other online. Online dating is a popular way to meet a potential partner, whether for a casual date or a long-term relationship. But it can also be dangerous.
The dating game is full of surprises. For example, going on an in-person date can reveal that someone claiming to be 6ft 2 can only manage that when wearing six-inch heels. However, while those deceptions may be forgivable if you get along with your date, there are some cons you can’t forgive and forget.
Love scammers use online dating services to commit crimes against unsuspecting victims. If you’re looking for a partner, the last thing you want to find is a scammer, but dangerous scams can occur when surfing the internet for “The One.” Here are the top two to be cautious of in 2023.
Love Interests Asking for Money
Being duped into sending private financial information or money is one of the most common and dangerous aspects of online dating. Most love scammers want you to send them money, gift cards, or information they can then use to drain your bank accounts.
These vicious financial scams occur on sites where most people are looking for a long-term relationship, such as the popular ones covered in ExpressVPN’s article. Tinder, Bumble, Badoo, Hinge, and other dating apps are at the top of this list, and it’s no surprise that February, Valentine’s month of love, sees an increase in the use of these apps. The regular pattern goes like this: after the fraudster gains your trust, an emergency arises, and they ask for your assistance. This assistance is usually a request for help with medical bills but could be minor costs like paying for Starbucks – and all in the name of “proving your love.”
Here are more financial red flags to watch out for:
- Their lives resemble a soap opera and they always need more money to deal with the unexpected emergencies that arise.
- They express their feelings quickly and ask numerous personal questions without disclosing much about themselves.
Catfishing (i.e. Fake Online Dating Profiles)
According to WebMD, a “Catfish” goes online and pretends to be someone else. A catfish uses fake photos and, in some cases, a false persona to find online friends or romantic partners. Catfishing scams are one of the most dangerous because even when they feel too good to be true, most victims avoid the red flags hoping they have finally found their “perfect match.”
Unfortunately, that “perfect match” often begins to request sensitive information, photos, or money. The easiest way to confirm if your Tinder match is using a fake profile is to perform a reverse image search on Google using one of their profile pics. If these photos are connected to other social media accounts or magazines, there’s your first sign it’s a fraudster.
Other catfishing red flags to look out for are:
- When the profile pictures are super-model or magazine photoshoot quality. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
- You can’t find enough photos. Don’t buy the maintaining a “low profile” story, especially when they’re crossing boundaries early.
- There’s always an excuse to avoid video calls. Either their space is dimly lit, a relative needs their attention, the webcam is “broken,” etc.
Be Careful Out There…
Aura reports that over $900 million was lost to online dating scams in 2021. It makes one wonder if meeting someone in a club or bar might be safer. However, with most people being on dating apps these days, it’s safer to take warning signs seriously. You don’t want to be on the list of millions of people searching for love but end up with an empty wallet and a broken heart.