How To Protect Yourself And Steer Off Online Dating Scams

Would you believe it if I tell you dating scams are the second biggest scam in the whole world by the amount loss each year, which is a $3-million-dollar business? Wel, believe it. Dating scams are just behind investment scams by the amount loss and it's probably worse for people in a dating scam because not only do you lose your money, you lose your trust, and your love as well. It really would take everything away from you.

It shouldn't be a strange news to us all when we see on TV that someone gave thousands or even millions of dollars to someone online that they've never even met just to realise that their 'love' disappeared together with their money. You probably laughed at the guy when you saw it on the news, thinking only an idiot would be stupid enough to fall for that. And you would think since it's on the news every time it happens, people should know better. Maybe they should, but the truth is, it's a lot easier to fall into an online dating scam than you'd think. Here're some details about them and how you can avoid them to create a safe environment for yourself.

Scam artists know very well that it takes a longer time to build trust with someone that you've never met. That's why most of them choose to spend months, or even years, to establish trust with the victim so they wouldn't see it coming. Usually after such a long time, people would let their guards down and wouldn't think their online lover is only after their money, that's when they strike.

They would tell you they're travelling but are having issues with their cards, and they're in desperately need of help because they need money to go back home. They will ask you to transfer money to some unknown local offshore account. You will most likely help them just because you trust them. Then they will just use your money for money-laundrying and you're committing a crime without even knowing it.

After you've been talking for a while, maybe they will ask you to join some website, just for fun, usually it's another dating website or some online gaming sites. But in order to join, you will need to disclose all your personal information including your social media accounts. After they have all your personal information, they will ask you to give them money, otherwise they will sell your informtion to other people, or worse, they will use your information to commit crimes.

Now, why do so many people just cave and hand in what's basically a ransom, instead of calling it in? It's because those scam artists know your fears well. They have all your personal information, even where your parents live. They will threaten you with those you love and care about. That's how they get to you. Second, many people are scared of having their information getting used in illegal ways and those criminals seem too itimidating, that's why they choose to pay to keep their mouth shut rather than calling the police.

Know that it's all just psychology. How can they get to you if they don't make you believe they're better than you.

This is very similar to an investment scam, the difference is that they will make you believe you're investing in a future with you two in it. They will say, for example, you two are too far away from each other, the only way to build a proper future is to make money fast and this investment opportunity is perfect. They will make it sound like it's for both of you to make you willing to do it.

They will even describe the kind of future you two can have. A lovely home with two kids and a dog playing in the backyard. It will all sound magical but it's all just a way to get into your head.

This is the number one suspicious sign. They could say they're from a world away on the remote island of Fuji, but when you're excited and ask them to send you picture of themselves or of their country, they find shitloads of crappy reasons to delay or reject it. They may simply say 'oh my internet is not good enough for picture'. Yeh, surely their internet is not good enough for pictures but good enough for bank transfers?

It's always good to listen to people and be the support they need. But sometimes, their problems just seem too big to be sharing on the internet with strangers. If they tell you they're a prince from a small territory in like central Africa that you've never heard of and he is struggling to stay alive and he is being chased after a bunch of assassins, you really should think twice before deciding he is trust-worthy.

There''s a fine line between sharing personal information to get support and sharing too much for your problems to be true. Be rational when you listen to their problems and think whether it can actually be true or not.

Surely they need to know how much money you have in order to take it away from you. They won't even try to scam you if you're a poor college kid living in a 10-person dorm with only $100 in your bank account and tons of student loands waiting for you. It's very true that they often ask their victims to borrow loans from bank to give them the money, but if you're already in debt and unlikely to get another loan again, you're safe from their scams.

If they find out you're in the working class with decent disposable income, they will start asking you how many properties you have, whether it's family money or not. They want to know that so they can adjust their strategy accordingly. Be aware if someone is showing too much interest in your financial situation. That's something not even your best friend should show. Remember, no one should be that interested in your financial situation if they're not after your money. It's okay to ask, but if that has been the centre topic for your every conversation, be smart and see if they want something more from you.

Call your local police immediately to make a file, even if you don't know if the other person is local or not. Everything is a lot easier with a police record. The police may not investigate too much if the scam artist is from overseas, but you can then at least have the police record and claim for insurance if you have any.

Tell the police exactly everything. Don't hold back on soem truths because you're ashamed of it. If you want the bastard caught, you tell the police absolutely everything.

If you find out they're from, say Italy, try to contact the local authorities from their website to make a case, or at least establish contact so they can catch the guy. It's hard dealing with local authorities as they may not care, and language can be an issue because they may not even understand what really happened to you.

Going online and asking for help is very useful. Find an online forum or a Facebook group for expats in that country and explain your situation and ask for help. That has proven to be useful quite many times, there're still more good people in this world than bad.

Maybe you initially met him through Tinder, then you should definitely report it to Tinder as the guy may have left some real traces of him, even though it's usually a fake account. The official owner (Tinder) will have more information about him than you, so reporting the crime to them is a great first step.

Provide them with all the screenshots and what has happened. Also remember to tell them you intend to call the police if you haven't done so, that will usually push up their speed in helping you.

This is another effective way to report the crime. Banks put in a lot of resources in fighting against money-laundrying and they deal with scams a lot. Instead of waiting from the police, just give your bank a call and they can usually help with your situation directly. The important thing is to keep all the documents and screenshots as evidence.

Falling into a scam hurts, falling into a dating one is just heartbreaking because it's like getting betrayed by the one person you once trusted the most. But they were never someone we should trust, all of it was just an act to gain our trust. Listen to your heart if something doesn't sound right and immediately seek help if you think you've been a victim in a scam.

Check out those tips and don't hestitate to ask for help if you think you've been talking to someone suspicious.