Protect Yourself Against Online Relationship Scams by Joe Tracy, Publisher
Searching for romance over the Internet has become more and more popular over the years. Online dating is nearly a billion dollar industry and scammers are cashing in on the trend, taking advantage of unsuspecting men and women.
Every day, scammers target hundreds of online daters, and many have fallen prey to scams that cost online daters, on average, of more than $3,000. They do it by posing as women overseas and send you a note through an online dating service. They pretend to be interested in you and provide their "email address" so that you can continue communicating offline.
Scammers use email to try and build an online relationship with you and they eventually profess their love. Once you do too, the scam kicks into high gear. An "emergency" (mother hospitalized, surgery needed) suddenly arises and they ask for money. Or they say they want to meet you, but need money to apply for a VISA to come see you. Little does the victim know that he's talking to professional con artists and has likely been communicating with another man, not a woman! The scams can get quite complex, including men hiring a girl to call you and pose as your online love interest.
You can avoid being a victim of online relationship scams by taking note of these warning signs:
Being Asked for Money This is the most telltale sign of a scam. No matter what you think or what other people might say, it just isnt a normal behavior to ask for money if you've never met someone in person. Scammers are quite creative they will ask you to help with airfare so they can come and visit, cash a check, help out with an emergency for you to send a money order and so on. Some will ask for money fairly quick and others will show patience while trying to build a relationship with you, getting you to fall for the imaginary person in the profile they set up.
Initiating First Contact Scammers virtually always are the first to initiate contact with you. If you get an email (or wink) from someone overseas, it's best not to respond.
Wanting to Communicate via Email An online scammer will want to take your communications to email as soon as possible because they know their profile may soon be deleted when an online dating service notices their pattern of emailing people. So many times in the very first or second email they will give you an email address and ask you to email them.
Fake Pictures Some scammers will cut or scan photos from magazines. Trust your instincts. If you feel the photo is suspicious, chances are its probably a fake. But that's not always the case, as many scammers will actually steal someone else's photo and post it. Photos are usually of a very beautiful woman. Don't fall for it.
Unwillingness to Share Information The person you are talking to showers you with attention and he seems to be overly interested in everything about you, yet doesnt share a lot of information about themselves. If they are avoiding your questions like a seasoned politician, then run..
Messages Vary If you are exchanging emails with someone overseas, watch out for inconsistencies like a variation in the style of the email, language differences, repetitive statements, etc.. The scammer who initiated the communication with you may not always be the same one that carries it through. If something doesn't seem right about the emails you are receiving, then its not right.
Besides looking out for red flags you can take other measures to further protect yourself:
1) Be the one always initiating communication via online dating services.
2) Guard your privacy.
3) Communicate with people locally, not overseas.
4) Trust your gut instinct from the start.
5) Never reply to communications from someone who sends you a note and immediately includes their email address for you to continue the communication.
Many people have fallen prey to online relationship scams. In one case, two men showed up at the same airport to meet a girl from overseas that they had sent money to for her "flight". Both were left holding flowers at the airport staring at each other. They had apparently been duped by the same scammer.
Any experiences with any types of the problems below?
Protect Yourself Against Online Relationship Scams by Joe Tracy, Publisher
Searching for romance over the Internet has become more and more popular over the years. Online dating is nearly a billion dollar industry and scammers are cashing in on the trend, taking advantage of unsuspecting men and women.
Every day, scammers target hundreds of online daters, and many have fallen prey to scams that cost online daters, on average, of more than $3,000. They do it by posing as women overseas and send you a note through an online dating service. They pretend to be interested in you and provide their "email address" so that you can continue communicating offline.
Scammers use email to try and build an online relationship with you and they eventually profess their love. Once you do too, the scam kicks into high gear. An "emergency" (mother hospitalized, surgery needed) suddenly arises and they ask for money. Or they say they want to meet you, but need money to apply for a VISA to come see you. Little does the victim know that he's talking to professional con artists and has likely been communicating with another man, not a woman! The scams can get quite complex, including men hiring a girl to call you and pose as your online love interest.
You can avoid being a victim of online relationship scams by taking note of these warning signs:
Being Asked for Money This is the most telltale sign of a scam. No matter what you think or what other people might say, it just isnt a normal behavior to ask for money if you've never met someone in person. Scammers are quite creative they will ask you to help with airfare so they can come and visit, cash a check, help out with an emergency for you to send a money order and so on. Some will ask for money fairly quick and others will show patience while trying to build a relationship with you, getting you to fall for the imaginary person in the profile they set up.
Initiating First Contact Scammers virtually always are the first to initiate contact with you. If you get an email (or wink) from someone overseas, it's best not to respond.
Wanting to Communicate via Email An online scammer will want to take your communications to email as soon as possible because they know their profile may soon be deleted when an online dating service notices their pattern of emailing people. So many times in the very first or second email they will give you an email address and ask you to email them.
Fake Pictures Some scammers will cut or scan photos from magazines. Trust your instincts. If you feel the photo is suspicious, chances are its probably a fake. But that's not always the case, as many scammers will actually steal someone else's photo and post it. Photos are usually of a very beautiful woman. Don't fall for it.
Unwillingness to Share Information The person you are talking to showers you with attention and he seems to be overly interested in everything about you, yet doesnt share a lot of information about themselves. If they are avoiding your questions like a seasoned politician, then run..
Messages Vary If you are exchanging emails with someone overseas, watch out for inconsistencies like a variation in the style of the email, language differences, repetitive statements, etc.. The scammer who initiated the communication with you may not always be the same one that carries it through. If something doesn't seem right about the emails you are receiving, then its not right.
Besides looking out for red flags you can take other measures to further protect yourself:
1) Be the one always initiating communication via online dating services.
2) Guard your privacy.
3) Communicate with people locally, not overseas.
4) Trust your gut instinct from the start.
5) Never reply to communications from someone who sends you a note and immediately includes their email address for you to continue the communication.
Many people have fallen prey to online relationship scams. In one case, two men showed up at the same airport to meet a girl from overseas that they had sent money to for her "flight". Both were left holding flowers at the airport staring at each other. They had apparently been duped by the same scammer.
Yes they do, also whenever one of them gives you their number, hit 00 on your phone; this will connect you to an international operator and she can tell you the true origin of that number!
Yes they do, also whenever one of them gives you their number, hit 00 on your phone; this will connect you to an international operator and she can tell you the true origin of that number!
Oh yes M1918, they were using that on us women also, all over the net. lol. I too had loads of fun with those losers. One of them actually came out and admitted that he was in some call center in Ghana. He told me after I exposed him, He gave me his phone # telling me he is from London, well I know he was lying as I have friends and family in London and I know the country code! I told a friend about him and show her his number and she told me he is in Ghana, how did she know? She is from Ghana! lol.
Oh yes M1918, they were using that on us women also, all over the net. lol. I too had loads of fun with those losers. One of them actually came out and admitted that he was in some call center in Ghana. He told me after I exposed him, He gave me his phone # telling me he is from London, well I know he was lying as I have friends and family in London and I know the country code! I told a friend about him and show her his number and she told me he is in Ghana, how did she know? She is from Ghana! lol.
I have been FLOODED with HUNDREDS of these but never fallen pray to any of them as I know about this kind of thing and it has been going on for years. I was recent contacted by a man from turkey looking for a 'international booty call' say, he coming to the states for about a month on business and will be in Los Angeles for about a week and want to hook up! No way! no hooking up over here. Since I would like to be married again someday, hooking up is NOT an option.
I have been FLOODED with HUNDREDS of these but never fallen pray to any of them as I know about this kind of thing and it has been going on for years. I was recent contacted by a man from turkey looking for a 'international booty call' say, he coming to the states for about a month on business and will be in Los Angeles for about a week and want to hook up! No way! no hooking up over here. Since I would like to be married again someday, hooking up is NOT an option.
Wow, thank you for those points. They were right on target. I have encountered some, if not all of those schemes. From the initial email with an email address already provided, to the very young engineer who is widowed with a child (seems like most of them are widowed). And oh, let's not forget the drop dead gorgeous model photos that they lifted off a modeling agency site. These people will stop at nothing to scam! And then there's the terrible grammar!
Wow, thank you for those points. They were right on target. I have encountered some, if not all of those schemes. From the initial email with an email address already provided, to the very young engineer who is widowed with a child (seems like most of them are widowed). And oh, let's not forget the drop dead gorgeous model photos that they lifted off a modeling agency site. These people will stop at nothing to scam! And then there's the terrible grammar!
That's great! Also, watch out for the stock/model photos and broken english/bad typing. I am amazed that people don't know that there are law enforcement squads dedicated to them, yet they continue. When you chat or email, ask what their favorite music/songs/groups are. Ask what they watch on TV. If it is all the stuff from the 80s (Saved By the Bell, Backstreet Boys...) you know.
That's great! Also, watch out for the stock/model photos and broken english/bad typing. I am amazed that people don't know that there are law enforcement squads dedicated to them, yet they continue. When you chat or email, ask what their favorite music/songs/groups are. Ask what they watch on TV. If it is all the stuff from the 80s (Saved By the Bell, Backstreet Boys...) you know.
Don't forget last years most common scam...The "women" from Ghana that list a US address so your "forigner filter" won't catch them. When they finally admit they are in Ghana and you question the US address they used, the most common response is "it was a mistake". My all time favorite is the Nigerians that tell you they are American citizens trapped in a hotel room in Lagos. They got robbed and the hotel clerk is holding their passport hostage until they pay the hotel bill. I have had LOTS of fun with this one. *Sigh*....too bad they don't use this one anymore. It was good for at least 5 days worth of entertainment.
Don't forget last years most common scam...The "women" from Ghana that list a US address so your "forigner filter" won't catch them. When they finally admit they are in Ghana and you question the US address they used, the most common response is "it was a mistake". My all time favorite is the Nigerians that tell you they are American citizens trapped in a hotel room in Lagos. They got robbed and the hotel clerk is holding their passport hostage until they pay the hotel bill. I have had LOTS of fun with this one. *Sigh*....too bad they don't use this one anymore. It was good for at least 5 days worth of entertainment.
