Online Dating Scams

ONLINE DATING SCAMS The amount of users on dating sites has increased tremendously in the last decade. With an increase in dating site users, unfortunately comes a rise in scammers and people who want to take advantage of users. Online dating scams come in every form, and the best defense is awareness and an ability to recognize the warning signs. |THE WORLD OF ONLINE DATING 61% In the US between 2007 and 2009 of same-sex couples met online 21% of heterosexual couples met online Only about 1% of Americans 1% met through personal ads 1990's 2007 - 2009 $$ 48% 58% Out monetizing the porn industry, and is now a billion dollar a year industry Of men in the US use online dating services. Of women in the US use online dating services. 40% Men are 40% more likely to initiate contact with a woman after viewing her profile than a woman is to after viewing a man's profile Men view 3x more profiles than women do Online dating has become the second most common way for couples to meet behind only meeting through friends. ROMANCE SCAMS The typical Romance Scam: Step-by-Step 3 love Fraudster will try to gain Scammer find his target and sends a message trust through false displays of affection. The scammer will claim to be from the U.S. but travels a lot to foreign countries Very often the scammer will express a desire to visit, but can't afford the trip The scam is successful when the two decide to meet and the fraudster has convinced the victim to send money to Cover the trip An unforeseen event pre- vents the fraudster from making the trip SOME POPULAR EXCUSES 8 Fraudster lands in the hospital, now the victim's money is being used to cover medical expenses. X? Fraudster's brother has been kidnapped and the money is being used to get him back. They were mugged on their way to the airport and now has no money at all. The Fraudster always needs more money for something. and keeps trying to visit but gets held up. The round of false promises continues until the victim loses patience and stops sending money SCAM FACTS $4,000 lost $5,500 cost 150% fraud women +40 scam FBI estimates that Romance scams cost individual vic- tims an average of $5,500 per incident Online dating fraud rose by 150% in Targets are usually women over age 40 that are divorced, widowed, elderly or disabled. more than $4,000 is lost every hour 2011 to romance scams HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF Warning Signs Much love? Weird talking? Too personal? Traveling a lot? hi ? Uses the word "love in early stages of communicating People whose vocabu- lary and way of talking doesn't match where they are from/their picture. The person wants to leave the dating site immediately and use personal email or tel- ephone, where they are not monitored by the dating site They say they're from the US but are traveling overseas See warning signs? Here's what to do Google Search for the email address Run a Background Check If you are no longer communicating through the dating site, run a quick Google search for the email or use a service like EmailFinder.com to make Do a background check to make sure they are who they claim to be, and are not a criminal sure the address isn't fradulent. SOURCES http://mashable.com/2012/02/10/online-dating-fraud/ http://www.businessinsider.com/10-online-dating-scams-thatl-break-the-bank-2012-2 http://romancescams.org/WhatisARomanceScam.html http://www.match.com http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110215150142.htm http://blog.iovation.com/2012/02/10/dating-sites-on-high-alert-and-ready-for-romance-scammers-this-valentines-day/ ONLINE DATING SCAMS The amount of users on dating sites has increased tremendously in the last decade. With an increase in dating site users, unfortunately comes a rise in scammers and people who want to take advantage of users. Online dating scams come in every form, and the best defense is awareness and an ability to recognize the warning signs. |THE WORLD OF ONLINE DATING 61% In the US between 2007 and 2009 of same-sex couples met online 21% of heterosexual couples met online Only about 1% of Americans 1% met through personal ads 1990's 2007 - 2009 $$ 48% 58% Out monetizing the porn industry, and is now a billion dollar a year industry Of men in the US use online dating services. Of women in the US use online dating services. 40% Men are 40% more likely to initiate contact with a woman after viewing her profile than a woman is to after viewing a man's profile Men view 3x more profiles than women do Online dating has become the second most common way for couples to meet behind only meeting through friends. ROMANCE SCAMS The typical Romance Scam: Step-by-Step 3 love Fraudster will try to gain Scammer find his target and sends a message trust through false displays of affection. The scammer will claim to be from the U.S. but travels a lot to foreign countries Very often the scammer will express a desire to visit, but can't afford the trip The scam is successful when the two decide to meet and the fraudster has convinced the victim to send money to Cover the trip An unforeseen event pre- vents the fraudster from making the trip SOME POPULAR EXCUSES 8 Fraudster lands in the hospital, now the victim's money is being used to cover medical expenses. X? Fraudster's brother has been kidnapped and the money is being used to get him back. They were mugged on their way to the airport and now has no money at all. The Fraudster always needs more money for something. and keeps trying to visit but gets held up. The round of false promises continues until the victim loses patience and stops sending money SCAM FACTS $4,000 lost $5,500 cost 150% fraud women +40 scam FBI estimates that Romance scams cost individual vic- tims an average of $5,500 per incident Online dating fraud rose by 150% in Targets are usually women over age 40 that are divorced, widowed, elderly or disabled. more than $4,000 is lost every hour 2011 to romance scams HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF Warning Signs Much love? Weird talking? Too personal? Traveling a lot? hi ? Uses the word "love in early stages of communicating People whose vocabu- lary and way of talking doesn't match where they are from/their picture. The person wants to leave the dating site immediately and use personal email or tel- ephone, where they are not monitored by the dating site They say they're from the US but are traveling overseas See warning signs? Here's what to do Google Search for the email address Run a Background Check If you are no longer communicating through the dating site, run a quick Google search for the email or use a service like EmailFinder.com to make Do a background check to make sure they are who they claim to be, and are not a criminal sure the address isn't fradulent. SOURCES http://mashable.com/2012/02/10/online-dating-fraud/ http://www.businessinsider.com/10-online-dating-scams-thatl-break-the-bank-2012-2 http://romancescams.org/WhatisARomanceScam.html http://www.match.com http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110215150142.htm http://blog.iovation.com/2012/02/10/dating-sites-on-high-alert-and-ready-for-romance-scammers-this-valentines-day/