Digitization has largely impacted the communication preferences of modern-day society. Likewise, online dating is the trending talk among social media freaks in the current times.
Taking a smart step toward your future relationship is naturally exciting. However, there are some points of caution too. Technology has its merits and downsides, and the latter can bring undesired results.
Online scams and frauds are common issues in cyber security. The following article talks about simple ways to avoid these problems during online dating.
Intelligent Tips to Avoid Scams During Online Dating
Online dating platforms are easy targets for scammers to fool people. The impacts can be anything between a casual nuisance and a significant loss. Cases like fake identities and fraud user profiles are topping the crime charts.
As a result, safety while using dating platforms assumes prime importance. Let us have a look at some smart tricks and tips to escape the hassle in what follows next:
1. Trust Your Instincts
However odd it may sound, instincts are your best guides. Paying attention to them is the simplest way to avoid being trapped in online scams. Learn to use your power of judgment. Let your gut feeling help you in making the right decision. Remember, your instincts are powerful psychic tools to analyze people.
Observe the behavior and online activities of the user profile you are interested in. If something feels awkward and uncanny, chances are that it is. Don’t ignore these psychological signs. If you feel uncomfortable with anything, block and report the profile immediately.
2. Check the Photos and Profile Information
It is common to feel interested in some profiles at first look. Hold on and think a little before giving the green signal. Visit the user profile to verify the added information and uploaded photos. Scammers often have the habit of posting fake images.
In such a case, you can use reverse image search to test the originality of the uploaded photos. If the user’s profile picture is present on some other account, chances are quite high that the profile is fake. You can unfriend, block, and report such profiles for online safety. Visiting websites that verify if dating apps are scams or not is also a good idea. The Absolute Dater does a great job of detecting bad dating apps and websites.
3. Be Inquisitive about Your Potential Match
When interacting with your potential match, try to gather some personal information on a genuine level. Avoid being too clingy, but asking a few general questions does no harm. Observe the answers for a quick analysis of personality, preferences, and traits.
Do the answers seem genuine, or are there inconsistencies in facts? Is your match putting up stories or giving vague answers to specific questions? If these queries have a positive reply, you could be on the verge of being trapped in a scam. It would be wise to report such users to escape unwanted situations.
4. Pay Attention to Your Public Posts
Be very careful while posting any personal information on your social media and dating profiles. This information can be a welcome source for scammers to target you easily. They can use your details to know you better and victimize you in fraud. Leaking of your data can cause emotional and financial damage at a later stage.
Make sure you don’t share personal details like contact information, home or office address, etc., on public interaction platforms. Posting news about family and friends should also be avoided.
Never share your recent plans and daily routine with dating matches and social media peers. Trackers can use it to harm you physically.
5. Avoid Financial Transfers to Online Matches
Most online scams are devised to steal money and cause financial damage. Cyber cells advise internet users to avoid sharing their financial information on online platforms. You should never extend monetary help or inform social media peers about your bank details.
Avoid sharing bank account information, wire transfer details, credit card credentials, etc., with someone you meet on a dating site. Your social and personal identification numbers are also not meant to be made public on such platforms. This can lead to cyber theft and account breaches that incur huge monetary losses. If you want to stay safe on the internet, you should check out this article where we present the top online scams used by cyber criminals.
Online dating is a preferred form of connecting with people across the internet. The facility helps you know someone better for a new relationship. However, taking some precautions is necessary to avoid getting scammed on these platforms.
