The days leading up to Valentine’s Day and the days following it constitute one of the busiest times of the year for online dating.  It is also one of the busiest times of the year for criminals looking to take advantage of individuals seeking love and companionship.  A lot of people tend to get desperate, anxious and frustrated this time of year, and online fraudsters see this as a big opportunity to use their emotions against them.  Here are a few tips to make sure you don’t become a victim:

1. Get to know the person, not the profile, and ask plenty of questions – don’t rush into an online relationship.

2. Check to make sure the person is genuine by putting their name, profile pictures or any repeatedly-used phrases and the term ‘dating scam’ into a search engine (this is a cheap, easy way of doing a background check).

3. Talk to your friends and family about your dating choices. Be wary of anyone who tells you not to tell others about them.

4. Never send money to someone you have met online, no matter what reason they give or how long you have been speaking with them.

5. Don’t move the conversation off the dating site messenger until you are confident the person is who they say they are.

6. Be wary of new “friends” who want to know all about you but reveal little of themselves.

7. Watch out for bad use of English – many scams originate from abroad and their messages can show little regard for spelling and punctuation.

8. Are they pushing too hard, too fast?  It can take time for genuine love to develop but a fraudster is on the clock and will try to rush you.

9. They want to meet up but can’t afford it and want you to pay their fare.

10. Common reasons to ask for money include not having access to their bank accounts, having to pay medical bills, or using a hard luck story involving a child.

Happy Valentine’s Day!