Is it possible to find your soulmate somewhere in the online world? Maybe, maybe not. What you’ll more than likely run into —while swiping and sifting through dozens of online dating profiles—are scams, which range from small and petty to downright theft. Here are some of the most common online dating scams and what you can do to avoid them.
Catfish
Like ‘traditional’ or face-to-face dating, singles online try to make themselves as impressionable as possible. But online dating has the advantage as people are able to hide behind a screen, making room for a lot more ‘flexibility’. This flexibility gives birth to Catfishing, which is to lure (someone) into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona. For example, someone has a fake picture, either overly edited to look ‘better’ or completely not of them, as their profile pic. Such an unpleasant surprise can often feel like a scam, and it undoubtedly becomes one when these victims get their money drained from their accounts. As if that wasn’t enough, these poor souls not only lose their money but also get their heart broken! If you’re worried about them looking different in person compared to their online profile, ask for a recent photo.
Note: that “recent” picture they send may not be so recent; it may not even be a picture of them at all. At this point, it’s best to meet in person, but brace yourself, hope for the best and expect the worst.
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