A year ago I investigated the growing number of scam artists preying on members of online dating sites.
The problem has grown to be so widespread...that for 2007, the dating sites are fighting back.... trying to protect their members from the heartbreak of a lifetime.
Cindy --who asked me not to use her last name -- thought she met the man of her dreams on a dating website.
"An attractive man started talking with me. He was in Africa on business, and would be moving to the United States."
But as Cindy told me last summer, her globe trotting businessman turned out to be a con man.
After weeks of romantic emails, he dropped the bomb: Could you cash some checks for me? "I have some money orders, but they wont let me cash them."
But before she agreed, she did some searching...And found the same man on other dating sites, under different names!
Others have not been so lucky, according to the group Romance Scams.org.
"We have had people who lost their houses, their cars, their jobs. Because they are so into this person they would do anything."
Now, dating sites are finally taking action.
--eHarmony.com and Match.com, now list warning signs that a romeo may be a con artist. Memorize them!
--Another site, True.com, now conducts background checks on all members.
--Or check sites that list people to avoid: Among the best: "RomanceScams. org" and "Don't Date Him Girl.com." Click the links above for more.
Even with extra fraud protection, you need to be diligent and suspicious of anyone who comes on aggressively at a dating site.
And if they claim they are outside the us, or short on cash, that should be an immediate red flag...So you dont waste your money.
By John Matarese.
|