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If your new online date seems to good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately, everyday Internet scammers still manage to lure people into a web of lies to gain personal financial information that will cost the victims a lot of money. Some criminals target the sites, gain the confidence of a potential partner and then proceed to try to cheat them out of their money. Online dating sites are a great way to meet a wide variety of great people, but you need to be able to trust the service and use your wits at all times. We at 50plus-club check all new member profiles very closely - actually that is something that only a few dating site do - but we are still not immune to scammers. There is just one rule you should follow: never ever send any money to anyone, you've met on the internet. Read on to learn how to better protect your heart and your wallet.
Stay Alert
If you connect with someone who seems appealing and may even seem to be a soul mate, remain wary for a time. You can help protect yourself against scams by critically examining all information you are given. Does their photo make them look like a movie star? Some scammers will photo-shop photos, use stock photos or professional photos of others instead of their own image. Most scammers are organized criminals scamming from West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast ..) So behind that 55 year old white army generals photo there is most likely a 20 year old ambitious young black man from Ghana.
Do other details fit? For example, if your potential date says they have a PhD or an other academic profession, but can't spell, the details don't quite match. Perhaps your Internet date says he is a local resident, but his grammar, idioms and spelling are consistently awkward or incorrect. You can assume he is not a native speaker and is trying to deceive you. Look at the small details in his description: Is his favorite author Shakespeare (and he can't even spell it) ? Is he more romantic than your 14 year old daughter? Is he going on and on about how honest he is? Think twice.
Hold Onto Your Cash
Suppose you have been corresponding for months with a nice romantic engineer or army official, creating an emotional bond that you believe is built to last. One day, he writes to say that while traveling in the third world, he has been robbed and he needs some instant cash to get home. Would you be willing to help him with a loan so he can get back home? This scam, and others originating in Nigeria and other countries, have become common. Scammers use tales of sick mothers, fatal illnesses, and emergencies that require plane tickets to trick people into parting with their money. Scammers will spend months cultivating a relationship and gaining your confidence so that you will feel comfortable enough to wire them money to solve their "problem".
But honesty, would you ever ask your new online date for money? Most people would be ashamed. Successful engineers and army officials would ask their families and friends and professional networks first, if there would be a real emergency.
If your new online date asks you for money, stop for a moment. Talk to a friend or relative and tell them about the whole story. Make sure to remove all your feelings from the facts! So once again, there is only one rule: you should never ever send any money or credit card information to anyone you have just met online. Report all suspicious or unsolicited emails to support@50plus-club.com.
There are several good websites that provide you information on Internet Dating and Romance Scams.
Virtual Identity
Remember at all times that there is no way you can be certain that someone you meet over the web is who they say they are. The Internet offers a veil of anonymity that protects a criminal's identity. You don't know for certain that your contact is providing accurate information about his name, age, location or even his gender. Focus on meeting new people from your area. If you really like them, meet up with them as soon as you feel comfortable (make sure you meet in a public place like a restaurant or a coffee place).
Don't Eat The Phish
Phishing is an Internet ploy that asks you to respond to an email or sign into a fake website. Phishing requests personal details from you such as your full name, address, phone number and other information that makes it easier for the person sending the email to gain access to your credit card or bank information in order to gain access to funds and commit fraud. The best advice is to never offer personal financial information or other personal details to anyone you don't know, even someone you have corresponded with on a dating site.
Foto: © ArtFamily - Fotolia.com
Editor, 03/12/2015
