Protecting yourself from online romance scams

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You may have noticed several women talking in the media lately about their nightmate dating experiences online.  Although many successful relationships have begun online, women need to be aware that online dating websites have become the latest hunting ground for the unscupulous con man.

A Brisbane widow is the latest victim to be conned out of thousands of dollars by one of these ‘online romeos’.  These guys sign-up as members of one or more of the online dating sites for one pupose only, to romance lonely women out of their life savings. 

Most of these scams originate from Nigeria, a country which is notorious for scamming individuals on the Internet.  But women should be weary of anyone who makes a request for money online, no matter where in the world their online romeo is from.  People on the Internet can misrepresent themselves in a variety of ways.  So hold off on giving your heart, or anything else to a virtual love interest.

Online romances can also feel very real to those involved, but it must be remembered that many of these ‘virtual romances’ fall apart when the two people involved try to date in the real world.  Therefore, women need to very careful about giving their heart to someone they’ve never met.

SCAM Watch, a website set up by the federal government to alert consumers to scams operating in Australia has this advice for both women and men contemplating a romance online:

Warning Signs

• You are addressed by the wrong name or the email is not personally addressed at all.
• You receive a photograph of a potential date and you can’t believe your luck.
• Your potential date tells you that they love or desire you after only a few letters or emails.
• The email is poorly written, vague or repeats itself.
• You are asked for your bank account details or for gifts or money.
• The emails become more desperate or direct if you do not send money straight away.

Thank you to all the brave Australian women who have sacrificed their own privacy to warn other women about these online romance scams.