How to Identify & Avoid Scammers in Dating Websites and Apps

It’s very easy to determine if a dating site member is real or not, most dating site members nowadays are using a fake name and photo to attract their potential victim’s emotion and scam them. If you want to find a date online you should definitely learn how these scam artists work and avoid them before they victimize you.

It’s important to remember that anyone can be targeted and be victimized by scammers. You don’t have to be rich, and you don’t have to be stupid to fall prey to these scams. Always be vigilant when you start communication with a stranger on dating sites, and consider the possibility of the other person not being who they say they are.

Being a victim of scammer activity can be both emotionally and financially distressing. Having as much information as possible can help prevent you or even someone you know, from becoming a victim.

How to Know if a Person you met from a Dating Site is Real

I know It’s hard to determine if a member is real just by his or her name and photo, but if he or she starts asking money there’s a 99% chance that he/she is trying to scam you. NEVER ever send money to some random person you just met in an online dating website or app. If a person you met from a dating website or app starts asking you for money stop talking to them immediately and block them from your contacts. It should be obvious that people go to “dating” sites to find a “date” not money.

This article is regularly updated by DatingSecurityAdvisor experts to keep you informed with and for you to avoid the newest kinds of online dating scams.

Most Common Types of Dating and Romance Scams:

  • “Charity” scam: Some scammers will try to appeal to your sense of generosity by saying they need funding to help with their ministry, money for food or urgent operation, help getting out of their country, this new approach the scammers are using to target Christians.
  • Love scam: Scammers only want money, after talking to you for a specific period of time and if they feel that they’ve gained your trust they will begin asking you to send them money. They will ask you to send it via Wire Transfer, Western Union, MoneyGram or any other money transfer service.  These criminals will tell you that they need money for their bills, hospital or emergency expenses, travel money to meet you, etc. Those are just lies to make you fall for the scam. Some scammers are a little tougher to find. They will express their deep love for you (even though they’ve never met you) and will soon discuss wanting to meet you in person. They will often say they’ve singled out your profile. More often than not the letter looks like it’s generic (ie. a form letter designed for anyone). They will be vague about their profession but will almost always mention that they travel extensively.

    Scammers are mostly from South Africa Nigeria, Ghana, India, Russia.

    The next step is to get you to send them money for some dire cause (mother is sick and needs an operation; can’t pay a bill; stuck in a hotel with no money; need money desperately to save a business deal, etc.). Likewise, they may claim they wish to meet you and need you to purchase a plane ticket so they can visit you. They will often mention that “age is just a number” or “distance is no barrier to love”.

  • Sextortion/Blackmail: Another Method of Scammers to get Money from you is by Extortion. This is the reason why you should never send nude pics or videos of yourself to any person you met in an online dating site or app, they can use these to extort you. These scammers will threaten you that if you don’t send them money they will upload your pics and videos publicly or send them to your family members and friends.
  • Phishing Attacks: If you encounter someone from a dating website and he/she sends you a link that leads to a login page whether it’s a twitter, email, bank or any kind of page that asks you to login your online accounts, always check if the link is is real and not a fake website to steal your login details.

Here’s an example of a phishing/fake Facebook login page:

You can notice that the website URL or web address is not facebook.com. If you enter your email and password in this fake FB login page it will be sent directly to the scammer/hacker.

  • Softwares that can control your computer: If a person asks you to install a program on your computer, never do it specially if do not know the person personally. Some computer softwares allow other people to control your computer and do anything they want! Here are examples of remote desktop access programs: TeamViewer, Windows Remote Desktop Connection, Real VNC, Join.me, Splashtop, Logmein Pro, Chrome Remote Desktop. There are many kinds of programs like this, so just beware of the people that asks you to install programs that you don’t know anything about. Take note that Remote access programs are not illegal unless someone uses them wrongfully, for example using the program to steal information from other people’s computers.
  • Computer Viruses: Scammers can also trick you to install a computer virus that can steal your information like email address and passwords, we highly advise you to install an anti-virus software on your pc to protect you from viruses. If you already have an anti-virus software make sure to keep it updated.

Are there Male Scammers too?

Yes of course 100%, scammers can’t only be female accounts. That means if you’re a woman trying to find a date or a partner online then you can also find male members from dating sites who are using fake names and photos to victimize lonely women. Scams from female profiles often target members 15-40 years their senior; scams from male profiles tend to target women 50+

What Should I do if I encounter a Scammer from a Dating Site

If you ever met a dating site or app member that is trying to ask you for money or who is trying to blackmail you, block them immediately from your contacts. Report his/her profile to the dating site or app where you met him/her, that way they can investigate on that account and the dating site moderators will be the one to decide if the account is a real person or not.

Even if you’re not that 100% sure that the person you are talking to is a scammer or not, it’s best for you to stop talking to them once you felt like they are trying to scam you. Better be safe than sorry!

Be sure to share this to your friends and make them aware before they get scammed in dating sites!



3 thoughts on “How to Identify & Avoid Scammers in Dating Websites and Apps”

  1. this is a very informative article regarding online dating scams, much thanks to the author! you should add social media share buttons like facebook share button for us to share it easily to our friends 🙂

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: Content is protected by DMCA