How To Avoid Online Romance Scams | 256 Views
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Posted : Thursday, Nov 18, 2010 - Yvonne Rice
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You don’t have to be dating online to be scammed. People get scammed in the real world too. It’s just easier to get scammed online because you can’t see them face-to-face. Scammers see the singles dating world as a perfect target. So let’s look at how to avoid this.
What you put in your Online Dating Site or Social Networking profile and the photos you display is a great resource for a Romance Scammer. It gives them a really good insight into you and they can use that information to see if they can hook you in. Staying on these sites or chat rooms until you actually meet—and meet as soon as you can—is the best line of defence. The reason I say this, is beause Scammers want you off of the site as soon as possible so that they don't get caught by either the site managers or in the case of Soical Networking sites - someone posts a note or status about their activities to warn everyone else.
However, this is not always possible if you live in a remote area or are contacted by someone who lives overseas. If you live in a remote area, try to meet as soon as possible; it lessens the expectation that can build up with excessive online communication and no real-life contact.
Being contacted by someone who lives in another country
There are many, many genuine overseas people on the Internet looking for a partner and marriage. They are looking to find the one for them and have a happier life in another country that is much better than the one they live in. Who could blame them for that? Un-fortunately, the unsavoury ones are in abundance and ruining it for the genuine ones. So if you are communicating with someone from overseas, that’s fine let’s just make sure they are interested in you and not your money and what they think you have to offer them.
Tip No. 1
Be very wary of anyone who even hints at the fact that they need money for anything. This includes sick relatives, education, an operation, English-speaking lessons, or anything else.
Tip No. 2
If someone asks for your bank details or is looking for your help so they can get a large amount of money out of the country but they need your help financially (in any way, no matter how small it seems at the time), don’t do it. This is a very lucrative scam and is netting millions for these syndicated crime gangs posing on the Internet as someone looking for love. If you are asked to sell some goods for them, don’t do this either. They are usually purchased via stolen credit cards and converted into money from an unsuspecting person who just wants to genuinely help. You are committing an international offence by doing this.
Tip No. 3
Never, ever, ever send money for anything. This includes visa applications, airline tickets or anything else. Once the money is gone . . . it’s gone! If you feel you must pay for a visa, then do it at your end through the embassy of your country. This will increase their chances of getting a visa, and if they don’t show up you have a chance of getting your money back. This also applies to airline tickets. Buy it from your end. If it is not used, you should be able to get some if not all of your money back. Check this with the airline company that you use before you go ahead and buy it.
So no matter what the request is from your foreign friend, do not send money - ever! If they truly love you and want to be with you, they will respect that sending money is tacky! But if you feel the need to, then tell them you are paying for things at your end. Giving those things as a gift is perhaps showing them in a better way how much you care. But if they care for you they wouldn’t even ask.
As I have said before, online dating is a fantastic medium to potentially meet the one for you—the person who makes your heart beat just that little bit faster and lights up your day just by hearing their voice and seeing them smile.
I truly believe that there is the right one for everyone out there, and the Internet really is the best way to find them.
So be safe. Take my advice, use your commonsense, and let your intuition guide you. I look forward to hearing all about your success.
Have your own tips you would like to share?
Smiles to you,
Yvonne Rice
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