Online dating has become a dangerous place. With predators and scammers lurking around every corner, it can be hard to stay safe.
Every day, thousands of people sign up for dating sites, looking for love and companionship. But what happens when that person you’re chatting with turns out to be a predator or a dangerous criminal? Should you be worried about meeting them?
With thousands of people on a single website, it’s only a matter of minutes before a predator or scammer finds you. Fraudsters will try to steal your money, belittle you to make you feel unworthy or blackmail you with intimate photographs.
With most of the world’s population living in urban areas, safety is even more crucial when meeting people online. It is important to be cautious before engaging in any activity that could lead to physical contact.
This article will help you avoid common online dating scams, cyber stalkers, and other threats of the digital age. It will give online daters the skills they need to protect themselves while creating lasting relationships
What is an Online Dating Site & How Does it Work?
Online dating sites are websites or applications which allow people to find other people for the purposes of dating, friendship, and possibly marriage.
Online dating sites work by connecting you to other singles who are looking for someone like you. You can search through profiles, find matches based on your preferences, send messages, and talk in chat rooms.
These sites are usually free and offer a large number of members. Most dating sites do not allow the exchange of money, and some provide additional services such as matchmaking.
The Dangers of Online Dating
Online dating has become a common way to meet people. But it is not without its dangers. The most common danger is that someone may slip a date rape drug into your drink without you knowing it.
Dating apps like Tinder are also vulnerable to scams, where the person on the other end may be using fake photos or they could be trying to steal your personal information.
The most common, and most dangerous, form of date rape drug is Rohypnol or its equivalent. The drug can be taken with alcohol and makes it easy for the perpetrator to take control of their victim.
It has a long-lasting effect on the body, so it does not leave any traces in the body that can be detected by law enforcement — meaning that it is hard to track who was the perpetrator and who was the victim. Dating is usually a personal choice that should be made with caution and care.
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How to Deal with Unsolicited Messages on a Dating Site
It’s not uncommon to receive unwanted messages on dating apps. However, it is important to know how to deal with them in order to avoid any harassment or awkwardness.
– If you are uncomfortable with a message, you can block the user.
– You can also report inappropriate messages to the app’s moderators.
– It is also possible to ignore the message and never reply back.
How to Avoid Being Scammed When it Comes to Online Dating
Online dating scams are on the rise. Scammers will use a variety of methods to get their victims to fall for them and then ask for money. They might pretend to be someone they’re not, or they might ask for money outright.
There are many things you can do to protect yourself from online dating scams:
– Always be aware of your surroundings when meeting new people online.
– Never give out any personal information until you know who you’re talking to.
– Ask them questions that they wouldn’t know the answer to if they weren’t who they say they are.
– If something seems off, don’t continue talking with them or meet up with them in person.
– If you are meeting someone you see online for the first time in person, don’t go alone.
How to Spot a Dangerous Profile in the Form of a Woman or Man on Dating Apps
There are a lot of people that use dating apps to find their potential partners. However, there are also some dangerous profiles on dating apps that you should be aware of.
First of all, if you see a profile with no photo or one that is not recent, it is better to avoid it.
Second, if the person has no friends and doesn’t want to chat with strangers on the app, this is another warning sign. It would help if you also are careful when meeting someone in person because they could pretend they are someone else.
There are also some signs that you should look out for if a person is trying to meet up with you. These include:
– They are always available and send texts when they say they will but don’t show up
– They want to meet at a place that is not public, like your house
– Their first message is long, detailed, and very personal in a way that would make a good first message to someone they are interested in
– They mention they have a lot of free time, but when you reach out to them, they cannot make plans for the immediate future
– They want you to ask them questions about themselves before you meet up.
-The app is only for chatting and dating. If someone starts asking for money or other assistance, please report them.
How do you get help?
If you see someone being exploited, we encourage you to contact a support team member or report it to the police. Support team members are listed in the left hand navigation on the app and can be reached from within your profile settings.
Photo by Jack Sloop on Unsplash
Top 12 Tips for Safer Online Dating
The Internet is a wonderful place to meet new people and find love. But it also has its dangers. Here are 10 tips to help you stay safe online:
1) Always use strong passwords, and make sure they are unique for each account.
2) Never give out your address, phone number or personal details to someone you don’t know. This includes your email address, full name, age or location.
3) Don’t share personal information with organizations or individuals unless you know a lot about them and feel comfortable asking to be connected with someone in their company.
4) Keep your computer, phone, and social media accounts secure with strong passwords and updated software or apps to make sure you stay protected from online phishing scams, viruses, and other spyware.
5) Follow the Facebook “Help Center” and Twitter “Safety Tips”
6) Share more personal information with people you know and trust.
7) Stay off social media if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
8) Go to safe websites when you need to shop, make purchases or check your email in case anything suspicious happens.
9) Avoid receiving unsolicited phone calls, texts or emails from people you don’t know. If someone is trying to get in touch with you and they’re not on your contact list, it’s probably a scam.
10) Don’t trust anything on the Internet. If you’re not sure if something is true or not, don’t share it with anyone.
11) Don’t post too much information about yourself on social media sites or other websites such as blogs.
12) Before sending any money in response to a request for help from someone you don’t know, research the organization that is asking for help and its reputation.
The Bottom Line
Online dating has become increasingly popular in recent years, which means there are more opportunities for predators and scammers to target people looking for love. Online dating is an amazing way to meet new people, but it comes with its own set of risks.
Scammers are lurking everywhere and you can’t always tell who is real from who is fake. Online dating is best done with protection and safety measures in place to keep the user safe from any potential harm.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Photo credit: Madrona Rose on Unsplash