Have you ever seen those pop-up ads saying Jennifer or John found love on XYZ dating site? Are those sites real or just scams? Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell. Unless it’s a blatant “Molly123luv from Cali wants to chat with you” kind of scam, you’re rolling the dice when it comes to online dating.
But you’re in luck, we’re here to tell you how to spot and avoid being scammed when using dating sites. We’ll be damned if we let you be the victim of an online dating scammer.
Who Do Dating Site Scams Target?
Most dating site scams are targeted at older, more vulnerable members of society. They’re looking for people who might be lonely or desperate to find love and so might be willing to overlook the warning signs that the person they’re talking to is a scammer.
That being said, it can happen to anyone using an online dating site. Scammers don’t have a particular type, they’re just looking for easy targets. Younger people who are new to the works of online dating are also at risk for romance scams, as they may not know what to look for.
How Do Online Dating Scams Work?
Typically, romance scammers use a few different methods to carry out their scams. First and foremost, they’ll try to gain your trust by crafting a false identity for themselves. They might do this by telling you stories about their life or sending pictures of themselves that don’t match what they look like in person.
The scammers also often use fake profiles on dating apps or sites, pretending to be real people to build trust with their victims. Once they have your trust, they’ll ask for money and you won’t know it’s a scam until it’s too late.
We see this happening a lot on sugar daddy sites, where older men are looking for younger women to have online relationships with. The scammers will create a fake identity of a young, attractive woman and offer to meet up with the men for money. In reality, it’s just an elaborate online dating scam to get money out of them.
In some cases, scammers might even threaten victims if they don’t pay up. If they’ve been talking for a while, they might use inappropriate photos and the private information they’ve gathered against the victim.
How To Spot A Scammer?
With all of this in mind, you must know how to spot a scammer when using dating apps. Here are some warning signs to watch out for:
- They start asking for money early on in the relationship.
- They make excuses for why they can’t meet up with you yet.
- They avoid showing their face in pictures or using video chat.
- They use stock photos or photos that don’t match up with their identity.
- They use poor grammar and spelling, which indicate they’re not who they say they are.
- They are not on social media.
- They ask for personal information like credit card details or bank details.
- They make up stories about why they need money.
It’s scary to think that someone could be trying to scam you, but it’s important to stay aware and watch out for these red flags. If something seems too good to be true, trust your gut and run for the hills! It’s a romance scam!
Common Scams To Watch Out For
So, what are some of the most common scams you need to look out for?
Catfishing (fake profiles)
This is by far the most common scam, where scammers create fake profiles using stolen pictures and then pretending to be someone else. They’ll build a relationship with you over time and then ask for money or private information.
A lot of people have lost money due to their online love interest who turned out to be a dating site scammer. This is why it’s important to be aware and cautious when talking to someone online, even if it seems genuine.
You’ll often also find catfish on apps like Tinder and Bumble.
Asking for money
With regular online dating, there’s no reason for you to put out some money unless you’re going out on a date. But with online dating scams, it’s a romance fraud if you’re asked for money upfront. This can include asking for money to pay for medical bills or travel expenses.
If someone you’re talking to asks for money, it’s a huge red flag and should be avoided at all costs. A genuine person won’t ask for money and will want to build a relationship with you first. Take it as a huge red flag if someone you don’t know asks for money.
Investment scams
This type of scam is becoming increasingly prevalent, with scammers targeting older or wealthier individuals who may be more likely to fall for it. They’ll usually target someone on a dating site that they think would be interested in investing money in some sort of scheme.
The scammer will then promise huge returns and ask for an upfront investment first. Of course, this is a scam and you should never fall for it unless you’re sure it’s legitimate.
Extortion and threatening to post your info online
This is why you should never send intimate photos or personal information to someone you don’t know. Scammers will use this against you and threaten to post it online or send it to your friends and family if you don’t pay them money.
Money mule romance scams
This is a type of scam where the scammer will use someone else to transfer money for them. They usually target younger people who are willing to do anything for love, and they might even convince them that they’re helping out their partner in need.
They’ll ask the person to transfer money or receive payments on their behalf, without realizing they’re being used as a money mule. It’s important to report this type of scam to the authorities if you think it’s happening.
Inheritance scams
Scammers are getting creative, aren’t they? This type of scam revolves around an inheritance, where the scammer will claim they have a large sum of money and need your help to transfer it. If you agree, the scammer will ask for your bank details to transfer the money.
Of course, this is a scam and no money exists. If anyone contacts you claiming they have an inheritance they need help transferring, it’s best to ignore them and report them as soon as possible.
They try to send you to another website
This is one of the more common online dating scams that can be seen on dating sites and apps. The scammer will try to get you to click on a link or go to another website, where they’ll then ask for more information or money.
It’s important to never click on any links sent by people you don’t know, as it could lead to your personal information such as your bank account being stolen. Identity theft is usually the goal of these scams, so be wary when dating online.
SMS two-factor authentication scam
This is a type of scam where scammers will use SMS two-factor authentication to gain access to your account and steal your money. They’ll usually start by asking for personal information, such as your phone number or email address. Once they have this information, they’ll send you an SMS with a code that they can then use to access your account.
Scammers are everywhere these days. Whether it’s online or offline, it’s important to be aware of the scams that are out there and keep yourself safe on online dating apps.
Always be careful when giving out personal information, never send money to someone you don’t know, and always report any suspicious activity. By following these simple tips, you can help keep yourself safe from scammers and avoid online dating scams.
