The Perfect Internet Dating Scams
Online dating scams are big business!Don't worry. All the "stuff" you need to know is here. We'll:
First Things First: Identifying Online Dating Scams The U. S. Government produces an inter-agency website managed by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U. S. Dept. of State. It reports info on safety and security through the "Overseas Security Advisory Council" or "OSAC" (osac.gov). I mention this because it is believed that most online dating scams originate from overseas...but this does not lessen the threat from inside the U.S. Dating websites are very popular in the U.S. with monthly clicks approaching 18 million and growing fast. The bright spot here is that singles have great opportunities to meet other singles. The dark spot is, that some large and popular dating sites, with the individuals anonymity protected (and no background checks on site memberships), criminals may take advantage of unsuspecting persons who are good people and sincerely looking for a solid relationship with another single. All fraudulent relationships revolve around money. This is the root of all Internet dating scams. The worst Internet dating scams come from Nigeria and from Ghana, both countries in Africa. (We'll explore Nigerian Internet dating scams later.) Ghana, as we'll see, leads the pack in use of Internet dating scams. The OSAC now receives as many as 15 requests per "week" from Americans all over the U.S. who have lost anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000 sending money to a fiancé, girlfriend, boyfriend or just a friend in Ghana who they have met over the Internet. In a Nut Shell: The Plot People who are using online dating sites originally think they are corresponding with a person in the U.S. However, Americans meet Ghanaians on all or nearly all of these dating websites and many of the more specialized chat rooms. Only after a relationship is formed do the Correspondents inform the American that they are from Ghana. NOTE: Sometime a client of an Internet dating site can be fooled into visiting a "second party" website owned by someone who he/she encountered. (This is a very popular way to start Internet dating scams.) Personal and financial info will be asked of the unsuspecting person. Having this info can lead robbery or worse. To continue. In general, relationship building can take 2 to 3 months, as the criminal doesn't want to rush things. Then the Ghanaian will ask for $$. There are several generic "tall-tails" which are used to extract these dollars. The Ghanaian needs money because of
Regardless of the reason, the unsuspecting American, who now is so involved in the relationship, that (usually a male) sends money on the first request. At this point, relationships have usually advanced from e-mails to phone calls...they will call you. You are now hooked on one of many variations of internet dating scams. Many times the Ghanaian wants you to come to Ghana to "bring me to America because I'm afraid to come by myself." Don't do it! Contact the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana (http://www. accra.usembassy.gov) who will advise you. The next and most lucrative step in online dating scams comes when the Ghanaian tells you they are leaving tomorrow for your city in the U.S. The next day, after they are ostensibly leaving Ghana, you receive an e-mail from the Ghanaian's friend saying that your girlfriend, let's say, has been picked up by Ghanaian immigration authorities and is now in prison. They then ask you to wire money so officials can be bribed to facilitate your girlfriend's release. The OSAC reports that they have had several cases where a fake customs officer has called the American directly. At some point the American gets serious doubts about what is happening and will contact the U.S Embassy in Accra. The OSAC reports that they are only contacted after the American's friend has ostensibly been "arrested" at customs and embassy assistance is sought. Remember the U.S. Embassy in Ghana is receiving as many as 15 requests for help "per week" from Americans. The OSAC reports that the usual outcome is this:
So...the moral of the story is "ANYTIME any online dating site customer asks you for $$$ for ANYTHING, report this action to the site owners and block this person from further contacting you!" Prevent Internet dating scams! Ghana is used above to illustrate how widespread Internet dating scams are. But these scams can occur from any country, even within the U.S. Good everyday practical smarts can save you a lot of heartache and many dollars to boot. Remember, any online dating site has open access. It will be used by good honest people and by spammers alike. The key is to learn how to distinguish between who is sincere about relationship development and who is not. How do I spot Internet Dating Scams? Spammers who run Internet dating scams are professional. That is, they have done it so often that they know what works. And, they will try anything to get you hooked. A spammer operating from any country including the U.S. is dealing with many people (usually men) seeking relationships. Each “contact” is in various stages of the scam and the spammer must juggle all these activities in a very short period of time to keep the contact hooked. Much e-mail, therefore, must be answered and sent ASAP. They do not have the capacity nor do they want to answer e-mails individually. Therefore, they tend to have “on file” a number of standard e-mails, which they use on their contacts. So, here are the first clues. Most e-mails from a source will be flat or generic. They often recall “what I did today” and “what I ate today.” Any questions you asked in your previous e-mail may be answered in the last part of the responding e-mail or as a P.S., if at all. Your first name may be in the e-mail, but it is doubtful, as this takes time, which the spammer does not have. But your correspondence will include a few honeys, darlings and /or my sweet friend, etc. There will be typos, bad grammar and words incorrectly spelled…not just a few, but lots. The e-mails you receive will contain content stressing “trust” on the girl’s (spammers) part. This will convey she is trustworthy and that she trusts you. Gradually, the e-mails will still seem impersonal but warmer with “love phrases” or even “marriage” words thrown in here or there. (Remember, a spammer can’t give personal attention to correspondence because of the volume.) From this point on, the e-mails will play out some scenarios identified above, e.g. family illness, etc. and $$$ will be asked for. General Date “know-how” to keep you safe” Here are some easy, practical rules to avoid Internet dating scams. Yes rules.
Yes, the above are rules for personal safety. You are cautioned to follow them. Scams are not always just online. Conduct a Personal Profile and Background Check It pays to be smart and safe. Information is the key before investing yourself, your money, your time and your heart. Going through life is hard enough. Get some insurance. You can have a company check out your dating prospect for a small fee prior to agreeing to meet. Please go online to “whoishe.com” or “whoisshe.com.” An ounce of prevention does not cost much considering your safety and peace of mind. Recommended Internet Dating Sites There are five big Internet dating sites. In the order of the most monthly visited they are:
 All of these sites give some protection against Internet dating scams. All the sites agree that protection of your personal identity is paramount. What you should look for from a dating website:
With lots of singles using online dating sites and then deciding to meet up with virtual strangers, one must take extra precautions to be safe. Avoiding Internet dating scams is smart and your gut and common sense can go a long way to keep you safe. Hope you have found the “Internet Dating Scams” site useful.
Are you looking for experiences, both good or not so good, that others have had with a specific dating website? Do you want "real person" experiences of others who have used a specific dating website and have been exploited by an online dating scam? Do you want to know what to look out for or to avoid in an online dating site? Have you had disappointing results from a specific dating website you have used and you want to help others by sharing your experiences? If so, please take the time to share now. We all benefit by
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