Internet dating has certainly changed the way singles meet other people in search of their potential partners. Because of online dating, looking for love has become more fun and less stressful. However, if one wasn’t careful, he or she can become a victim of the many scammers in cyberspace. Criminals take advantage of the popularity of Internet dating to fool people, and more often than not they are successful in doing so. To prevent yourself from an unfortunate fate while dating online, check out these warning signs you should keep an eye out for:

1. Fake pictures - How would you know if the photos are fake? If you think the people in the images are too good to be true, you’re probably right. Don’t be fooled by the stunning women in the pictures featured in the online dating profiles. Scammers in Internet dating hide behind stolen photos of sexy and beautiful models to draw their victims, so watch out.

 

2. Different email addresses – In Internet dating, people often don’t pay as much attention to email addresses, but you should. When you’re corresponding with someone online, check the email address they use. If you receive emails from multiple email addresses, you know something fishy is going on.

 

3. Financial requests – The moment you receive a request for money from someone you met through Internet dating, stop correspondence. Most scams include financial pleas because of an “emergency.” The situation comes in various forms: the scammer or his/her friend/relative had an accident, there is a need for an emergency visa, the scammer owes someone money, etc. Whatever excuse that person gives, don’t respond and stop the conversation immediately.

 

4. Premature love declarations – It takes time to create and establish a romantic relationship in cyberspace. If your online interest suddenly says “I Love You!” after only a few short weeks of correspondence, you’d know the other person is trouble. In Internet dating, the sudden utterance of these three magic words are often just a ploy to get your personal information, so don’t fall for it.