Romance Scam - how to protect your heart and your wallet

Jul 20
10:57

2009

Steve J Nickson

Steve J Nickson

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The internet has become a very popular way to meet people due to the cost effectiveness of being able to reach so many people from around the country or around the world. Sadly however, there is a dark side to online dating. Be aware of what this means.

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A dating scam is predominantly found on the internet where
you are looking to meet people and possibly develop a
relationship.

The internet has become a very popular way to meet people
due to the cost effectiveness of being able to reach so
many people from around the country or around the world.
Sadly however,Romance Scam - how to protect your heart and your wallet Articles there is a dark side to online dating.

If you place a personal advertisement on the internet you
are a potential victim for professional con artists and
internet predators who entice unsuspecting hearts into a
web of deception.

The internet offers you the opportunity to be anonymous
when looking to meet people, however that also offers
online predators the opportunity to be a wolf in sheep's
clothing! They can use any photo they wish in their
profile, and use all the appropriate words to come across
as a wonderful catch.

Their goal is your money, but by the time they get that,
they have your heart also, so the loss is not just
financial - it is usually heartbreak as well!

How Does a Dating Scam Work?

A person registers on an online dating site and then
creates a profile and may also include a photo. A scammer
contacts the person and expresses an interest in getting to
know them better.

The victim and scammer correspond and usually the scammer
encourages the victim to move off the dating site contact
system and continue via email so that the dating site can't
monitor the scammer.

The scammer builds up trust with the victim and photos are
exchanged. The scammer will have stolen photos from other
internet sites or modelling sites so the photos the victims
sees are not that of the scammer.

Once the relationship has been progressing a few weeks
[usually 2-6 weeks] the scammer will 'fall in love' with
the victim and shortly after that the scammer will ask for
money for a variety of reasons: passport, visa, air tickets
and travel insurance, or emergency medical expenses for her
or her family due to illness or accidents or perhaps for
Internet cafe expenses and a cell phone.

If the victim sends money, the scammer will continue to
invent reasons for more money until the victim has no more
money, or realizes what is going on and stops
communicating. The scammer then deletes the email address
used with the victim and continues with their other victims
they are stringing along at the same time.

A variation to the internet dating scams occurs when the
scammer sets up a profile and waits for the victims to
contact them. They usually use a photo of a very attractive
young woman as it is guaranteed to get hundreds of replies
from men!

The scammers also stalk chat rooms and begin a conversation
there.  

What to do for a Dating Scam.

Once the scammer has asked for money, stop further
communications with them and report them to the dating
site. Remember no matter how trustworthy they may seem, DO
NOT SEND THEM MONEY.

If you have sent them money, your chances of getting it
back are really zero, but you should report it to the
Police, Western Union [if it was used] or Moneygram [if it
was used].