Scams on online dating sites are widespread. Anyone can be a victim. You don't have to be rich or stupid. You just have to be in search of love, a search that leads you to be more vulnerable than usual. And love is the tool used by scammers to break into your bank account and rob you. By learning to spot a scammer, you can protect yourself.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Identifying Discrepancies
Step 1. Note any age differences where you are the older one
Online scammers often target older people. In the case of male scammers, they often target middle-aged women between 50 and 60. They think these are the ideal victims as they are usually richer and more vulnerable.
Step 2. Look for the following descriptions in his profile:
- freelance (eg engineer) overseas.
- widow / or with children.
- claims to live near you, in your country, at the moment out of town but soon back.
Step 3. Check the photo
Save a copy of his profile photo. Use Google Image Search. Check the results. Are you already flagged as a scammer or do the results have something weird anyway? Report it to the dating site by providing proof, including any links.
Step 4. Check other photos you receive
Look for signs that don't seem to conform to the person they claim to be. For example, check the background, landscapes and even clocks or calendars. Can you distinguish identifying features that do not correspond to the identikit drawn by your interlocutor?
Part 2 of 3: Read or listen between the lines
Step 1. Take a good look at the emails he sends you
The scammer will send you an email full of inconsistent points, often with your name and your name wrong. It will be misspelled and will repeat itself. Watch out for these signs too:
- His command of your language worsens over time.
- He makes mistakes, in the sense that his "history" begins to contradict itself here and there.
- Name things that seem completely unrelated to the profile he passed off as his own, or that seem too revealing and even unbelievable.
Step 2. Talk
Telephone conversations can often unmask a fake. When you hear this person on the phone, notice any strange accents or phrases; if his accent doesn't match his story, be wary. Ask probing questions and trust your instincts about the validity of the answers.
- On the phone, be wary of an area code that does not correspond to the area in which he claims to live. It often means that the person is not even in the same state as you. Compare the number and area code with those of the state or province where you claim to live.
- If you notice a discrepancy in the numbers, be wary of justifications. She may tell you she just moved or hasn't fixed her number yet when she did because it would be too difficult to contact friends with a new number.
Part 3 of 3: Be wary of speed
Step 1. Be wary of rushing people
If the person proposes to switch the communication to telephone and SMS as soon as possible, he remains alert. Then, if the calls and messages quickly turn into expressions of love and passion, and within 5-6 weeks she tells you that she is in love with you, be very scared.
Excessive expressions of feelings towards you even though you have not yet met you are a clear alarm bell
Step 2. Beware of the trap
When he thinks he has hooked you, he will try to catch you. He will tell you that he is about to go home to start your life together. But then suddenly he will have an economic emergency. He will ask you for some money to send immediately to resolve the situation. If you do not send money or insist on guarantees, he will use the trust card, saying: "where there is no trust, there can be no relationship". It is the signal to escape for good.
Think about why this person has plenty of time to write to you but is unable to see you in person. It is one of the signs that reveal a scam
Advice
- Never provide private information, as it could be used for identity theft.
- Ask for a meeting. If you can't meet a potential partner, chances are they don't exist.
- Do not provide additional pictures of yourself or your family as they could be used by the scammer against someone else.
- In the first interaction, they want to know what you do to make a living. It serves to understand if you are a good potential victim from an economic point of view. Never disclose detailed economic information.
- If you suspect that you are a victim of scam, stop the communication immediately and report the scammer to the authorities (https://www.commissariatodips.it/).
Warnings
- Watch out for the telephone prefixes of any numbers that the scammer provides you (also applies to paid websites). 899 and 892 are toll numbers.
- Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't!
