Here’s a news story from NBC12 warning people of the dangers of online dating scams. The problem identified in this news story can be fixed by dating sites running background checks on their clients, or by the clients running these background checks themselves.
The article begins:
Online dating is fertile ground for con artists, and romance scams costs Americans more than $230 million a year.
The FBI says the number is likely much higher since many victims may not report it.
It continues:
If you’re on a dating site or app, here are some things to look out for.
The scam usually involves a con artist building trust through emails, texts or calls over weeks or even months. Once trust has been established, the scammer purports to have some kind of emergency, such as a family member’s medical or legal bills.
The victim then wires money to the scammer and communication stops.
Most dating sites do not check members’ profiles for potentially fraudulent activity, and a little skepticism goes a long way to keep yourself and your money safe.
One good tool for verifying that a potential suitor is who they claim to be is through a Google image search.
By the way, a professional background check is a much more useful tool than a Google image search for mitigating against online dating scams.
The article continues:
Take the profile image used on the account, or any other pictures they may have sent, and see where else that image shows up online.
There’s also a site called Scamalytics that has a list of scammers who use phony photos.
It also doesn’t hurt to ask for details like the supposed sick aunt’s name and hometown, and the hospital where she’s been admitted. That information can help you do a little old-fashioned sleuthing. And if they aren’t forthcoming with that information, or it can’t be verified, don’t believe their story.
If you receive any requests for money over a dating site or app, report the user. You can also contact the Federal Trade Commission.
This article made a few good points. However, the bottom line here is that background checks can be done cheaply, accurately and efficiently, so there is no reason for there to be so many people falling victims to online dating scams.
For more information on conducting a background check call 1-800-348-0511 or click here to request a free quote.