These days, dating apps are becoming more popular and can be an excellent way to find a new relationship. Some studies show that around 30% of the American adult population has used a dating application at some point in their life. In fact, 11% of the population has found a committed partner through a dating app. However, while they can be helpful in some aspects, they are also one way to get scammed. Learn more about these scams so that you can keep yourself safe while online dating.
Money Scammers
One of the easiest ways to get scammed is by sending gift cards, mainly because it’s hard to determine whether you’re getting scammed or helping someone out. For this scam, someone would ask you to send them a gift card to help pay expenses. No matter the reason they’re asking for money, they’re most likely trying to scam you.
Since gift cards are an untraceable form of payment, scammers find them to be the most effective way to scam people. Most people probably feel more comfortable sending gift cards rather than cash, so scammers take advantage of it and end up selling the gift card for money anyway.
Romance Scammers
If you use online dating apps frequently, then you may have heard or experienced “romance scams”. Romance scams typically consist of someone pretending to build a meaningful relationship with you to get as much money out of you as possible. Their goal is to become vulnerable with you to feel more comfortable sending them money.
This issue is becoming more prevalent in the online dating world today. One way to combat this is never to send money over the internet to someone that you haven’t met in person. After all, staying safe while using dating apps is extremely important.
Give priority to dating apps that have strong security features in your selection process. Look for platforms that verify user profiles and provide guidelines on safe online interactions. By searching for security terms like “Is Ashley Madison legit?” or “Bumble privacy policy”, you can check for verification processes and security features. This will help you find platforms with more solid reputations where your personal information and emotional well-being are better protected.
Exchanging Information Too Quickly
Usually, after two people talk for a while over an online dating app, they eventually exchange phone numbers. However, you shouldn’t be too quick to share your personal cell phone number with just anyone. If someone asks for your number straight away, it could be a sign that they’re trying to move to a harder-to-track form of communication.
If you haven’t met the person or spent enough time talking with them regularly, avoid giving them your phone number or personal information, like your address. The more you talk with a person, the more you’ll know if they’re trying to scam you.
Catfishing
Another dating scam that people use to get money is catfishing. With this scam, someone pretends to be somebody else. They have a fake name, fake identity, and a made-up life story. Typically, their profile photo is a random one that is taken off the internet. With this made-up persona, they build fake relationships with people on the internet.
There are quite a few ways to determine if someone is catfishing. For example, you can use an online search tool such as PeopleFinders. Here, you can do a people search to find information on a person.
Final Thoughts
Dating apps can be a great way to find a lifelong partner, but they can also be a way for you to get scammed. If you plan on using a dating app, read up on these scams and do your best to avoid them at all costs.
