Main Methods of Fraud on Dating Services

Every day, thousands of people around the world meet online, each pursuing his own goal: some are there just to spend their free time, some expect meet ups without obligations, but the majority hope to meet a loved one and build a lasting relationship. Unfortunately, there are lonely people who most often become victims of fraudsters.

Despite the fact that all the Promenad profiles are manually moderated and verified, we cannot guarantee the purity of each of our users’ intentions. But as the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed.

We offer our readers to familiarize themselves with the basic schemes used by scammers on dating sites.

Spammers

The victims of spammers are most often men who are looking for a one-night relationship or just want to have fun. After a brief conversation, a girl sends a link to a site with her 18+ photos and where it is much more convenient to communicate. You will have to pay for access to the site, but neither photos nor communication will follow.

We do not recommend clicking on the links. They may also contain viruses, intrusive ads and other unpleasant things.

Small Scammers

Most often, they use fake women profiles and “hit men up” for small amounts of money. If the girl with whom you are chatting refuses to send fresh photos and does not make direct contact, but regularly asks you to top up her mobile phone account, tells you she needs money for a taxi, or says she is a student and she has nothing to eat — this is a serious red flag. Insist on personal contact, and if it does not happen, we advise you to stop communicating and report this person.

Blackmailers

Both men and women may become victims of blackmail. The main principle of their work is the collection of compromising information, through which they extort money for silence.

Usually, blackmailers come across users who are married or in a serious relationship. They give you details of their life bit by bit, ask for links to accounts on social networks, fresh photos, often the conversation goes to a sexual place. After the extortioner has done all the preparatory work, he begins to threaten that he will spread incriminating evidence among your relatives and friends, and demands a round sum for his silence. Once having paid the blackmailer, you risk becoming his cash cow for a long time.

Do not send your intimate photos to people you just met on the Internet. Best of all, never to anyone.

Scammers

This category of online fraudsters has a serious game: they earn the trust of the victim, process it for a long time, write ardent letters, get you to fall in love with them, and then leave you with a broken heart and no money.

Often, distrustful people hide under the appearance of a rich and successful foreigner or entrepreneur. Ask to send fresh photos and insist on personal contact. If you are plagued by doubts, google the photo and check its source. Do not be surprised if the photo belongs to a completely different person who has a family and has never registered on the dating service. Pay attention to whether you are called by name, your questions are answered or whether all the messages are templates about how he or she is in love with you.

The Most Common Schemes to Defraud Money:

Expensive gift

One day you may receive a message from a potential match saying that he bought you a gift and sent it by courier. For some reason, he could not pay for the delivery, but he put money inside it, so you won’t lose anything. After the delivery is paid, the fraudster will evaporate and the victim will receive neither love nor a gift.

Long-awaited meeting

Another case is when the scammer offers to come to visit, to go to bed together. However, he must pay for the tickets or hotel reservation right now, or else the amazing offer will be lost. As luck would have it, he has no money now, but he promises to compensate for everything when he sees you. The site is then fake and all communication with him will cease as soon as you’ve paid.

Difficult situation

When a victim falls in love, the most cruel and sophisticated ways of luring money can be used. After the rapid development of an online relationship, the fraudster insists on a personal meeting; he may even buy plane tickets. But at the very last moment, he has some kind of great misfortune: his bag with money and documents was stolen, he was fired from work, he or someone from his relatives is seriously ill, and a large money amount was urgently needed. The victim tries to collect money in order to keep her lover out of trouble, but after sending money the fraudster disappears from the woman’s life.

In conclusion, we would like to remind you that online dating is no more or less dangerous than offline dating. Be careful, check the information your given and do not send your personal data or funds to anyone.