Online dating has been around since the mid-1990s, when Match.com officially became the first website for dating online. We’ve come a long way since then. Not only can you use a website like Match.com to meet potential dating partners, but you can also download an app where simply swiping left or right on your smartphone can match you with someone. It can be fun to “play the field” digitally, and many long-lasting, meaningful relationships have started online. But the world of online dating is also full of scammers trying to take advantage of vulnerable people looking for love. You don’t have to avoid online dating completely, but if you don’t want to fall victim to an online dating scam , it’s best to keep your guard up. You can practice these few simple safety measures. Scammers on online dating sites and apps may take months to build a “relationship” with an unwitting victim. When they’ve gained your trust, they’ll ask for money, gifts, banking info, or some other personal info that they can use against you. Whenever someone you’ve never met in person asks you for some sort of monetary benefit, it’s likely a scam. Even if you’ve been chatting online with this person for months on end, and feel like you’ve really connected with them, asking for money is always a red flag. Online dating scams can come in different forms. The most common include: If you notice any of the following “telltale signs” of a dating scam on the profile of the person you’re speaking with, realize it might be a scam: How can you protect yourself from online dating scams? In addition to looking out for common signs of fake profiles and scam artists, stick to these tips when communicating with someone on dating sites and apps: Not everyone who uses dating websites and apps is a scam artist, so you shouldn’t avoid using these platforms for this reason. As long as you’re careful and prudent about who you speak with and how much information you share on a dating site, you should be able to protect yourself from a scam. If you want to learn more about online dating scams, listen to some of our Easy Prey podcast episodes on the subject:
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