Love Dating and Romance Tips

Trust your instincts; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Use your head and not your heart when searching for love online. Internet dating no longer holds the stigma of the past as more people discover this convenient way to seek companionship or find romance. However, placing your trust in a stranger can make you vulnerable. The Internet provides the anonymity necessary for fraudsters to find their next victim. If you are blinded by infatuation, you will overlook the red flags and become a prime target for con artists after money, your identity or a United States permanent resident card.

Difficulty:

 

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. • 1
     Fraudsters are adept at finding your weak spot.

     Read dating site correspondence with an investigator's eye. Fraud artists set up fake profiles accompanied by photographs of an attractive man or woman. Don't let a photograph lull you into believing they are genuine. Many dating site scams originate in Africa, especially Nigeria. These are the same individuals responsible for the infamous Nigerian letter scams. Russian bride scams involve women looking for husbands in America. They may ask for money for travel costs and never arrive.

   • 2
     The Internet makes it possible to defraud people around the globe.

     Ask questions. If the person you are corresponding with does not appear to know proper English or American terms, they may be a new immigrant or may be sitting in front of a computer in Ghana or the Ivory Coast. Scammers are familiar with landmarks and tourist attractions from the Internet, but they may not be familiar with common aspects of American culture, such as current hit music or television programs.

   • 3
     Take it slow and feel someone out before you give away too much information.

     Relax. If someone is legitimately interested in you, they will not rush you into commitments of any kind. Scammers often ask for an email address to correspond outside the confines of the dating site. They may use Web-based email accounts, such as Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail. Many legitimate people use these accounts, but accounts provided by Internet service providers are easier to verify.

   • 4
     Protect your assets and identity.

     Keep your wallet shut. A fraudster may ask you to cash a money order and send the money overseas because they lost their identification or are having problems with visas or travel arrangements. Never send money in any form to a stranger, no matter how endearing they are or how tragic their tale. Some fraudsters claim to have relatives who are dying or need an operation.

   • 5
     Social networking sites can provide more information about your correspondent.

     Research. Most people who are familiar enough with the Internet to use a dating site, probably have another presence on the Internet. Search Google, Facebook, My Space or Twitter for any profiles or information.

   • 6
     Contact authorities if you believe you have been a victim of cyber crime.

     Report fraudulent Internet activity to The Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3. This organization is a partnership between the National White Collar Crime Center, the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Cyber crimes are often international in scope, and your local police service does not have the resources for this type of investigation.