Online Dating

As with most things in life, some precautionary measures are advised if one is considering signing up with an online dating service. Tales abound of fraudsters and predators maliciously using personal details gleaned from dating websites. A recent study found that 'there was a false degree of safety assumed by women looking for love on the Internet, exposing them to stalking, fraud, and sexual violence. Some online dating sites conduct background checks on their members in an attempt to avoid problems of this nature.'

Sometimes the peril lies in a misrepresentation of a person's looks, etc. Many online dating agencies, it seems, show as “active” profiles that haven't been on the site in years. Other websites, such as those aimed at people interested in finding matrimonial bliss, tend to contain more accurate portrayals 'than on 'casual dating' sites. Casual dating sites are often geared more towards short term (and implicitly sexual) relationships.'

And sometimes the peril comes from the website itself, particularly the arcane billing practises of many firms. People are left confused as to how a “trial membership” became a “full” one without them expressly deciding to make it so. Enter virtual credit card numbers. These are defensive tools offered by many credit card providers to help combat shifty online billing practises.

Some sites are themselves guilty of false advertising, as one observer remarks. 'On other services, some profiles are not actually real people, but "bait" that has been placed there by the site owners to attract new paying members. Both Yahoo Personals and Match.com have received several complaints of using this tactic.'

So, despite the ease of operation, individuals must still keep their wits about them to ensure that they don't get scammed.