Watch Out For These Internet Dating Scams!

The internet is a marvelous creation. In fact, I can't imagine life without it. How did we live without it for so long? The best thing about the internet is that you can find just about anything online - including romance. Unfortunately, you can also find con artists who are looking to rip you off or harm you physically, especially in the world of online dating. Here are a few creeps you should be on the lookout for if you decide to date online. There are many other types of scams, but these three are the most common types of internet dating scams.

The Respectable Businessman

This scam involves the rapist posing as a respectable businessman. He tells you that he is in town for business and is looking to meet someone "special" to take back home with him. He is looking to settle down after meeting that special someone. "Back home" is usually some nice sounding place like Paris or Italy. He tells you that he is staying at a very upscale hotel. He usually is because he wants to seem as credible as possible. He asks to meet you for drinks at a nice restaurant. You meet at the restaurant and he looks normal. After dinner he invites you to his hotel room. The woman, thinking he's sincere, goes up to the room with him. This is when she finds out that he's got a warrant out on him in several states because he's a serial rapist!

The Shy Helpless Man

This scam involves the murderer looking for revenge on women because his last girlfriend broke up with him. He comes across as sweet sincere and needy. He's well educated, well spoken, well groomed and articulate. He describes himself as "shy" around women. He also proceeds to tell you online how you are the first woman to make him "open up." Naturally you feel elated. He offers to pick you up in his car for a first date. You think because he seems so shy and sweet, what harm could there be in getting into this complete stranger's car? Unfortunately for you, he turns out to be another Ted Bundy and you end up in his trunk!

The Financial Officer

This scam artist claims to be out of the country on business. He is a "financial officer" with some major firm. Usually he's stationed in Nigeria. After several friendly emails, the emails start to get hot and heavy. This takes place after he convinces you that you are "special" and after he has sent you a few gifts. Because of the distance, it's easier for him to drag out your email exchange. So they drag the email exchanges out for about 3 months. Three months is typically the amount of time it takes for him to gain the victim's trust. Once he has the victim's trust, he explains to her that he needs her to deposit a money order in her account because his company will only pay him through money orders. He then tells you to give him the "balance" of the check once you've cashed it. The reality is the money order has been altered. Once you've deposited it, cashed it, and then sent him the "remaining" funds, the bank calls you to tell you that the money order is counterfeit!

Use common sense when you go online and watch out for these and other types of internet dating scams.

By: Dave M.

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