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By 
2/11/2011
Online dating websites are booming, and gay internet dating websites are also growing rapidly. Mainstream match-making sites like eHarmony and Match.com offer gay online dating, and other sites are entirely devoted to helping gays and lesbians find their perfect match. Many gays are also finding their partner or friend on social networking sites like Facebook. The bottom line is that many homosexuals are now pairing up online, and scammers have taken notice. Criminals have been targeting online dating website members for some time, and have recently expanded their target to include gay and lesbian dating sites and members.
International private investigators and law enforcement agencies such as the FBI report that complaints and reports of internet dating scams are on the rise, and have become a serious problem. These scams are a real risk for online dating members and users of social networking sites. With millions of users worldwide, criminals are now using these platforms as their hunting ground, posing to be Mr. or Ms. Perfect on gay and lesbian sites. Match.com's response to a recent NBC News story was that the website tries to educate its members, but screening all the members for fraud is currently not possible. In the dating scam video, the victim contacts Wymoo® International and has the individiual verified, only to learn that the person was a fraud, and that everything he had said was a lie. Experts emphasize getting a background check early in order to minimize the risk.
Law enforcement officials warn that scams and advance fee fraud are becoming increasingly complex. Criminals are now using convincing methods, and slowly building trust with their victims. One they gain your trust, they go for your money or personal data. If they can gather enough information, criminals can often steal your identity. Online dating members often unknowingly reveal all the information crooks need, such as your address, date of birth, full name, etc. Private investigators advise never to reveal your personal data to anyone over the internet. If you feel the relationship has potential, consult a professional private investigator to have the person verified. If he or she lives or works in a foreign country, there is an increased risk, so be sure to contact a professional international background check firm for assistance. The sooner the individual is verified, the better.
1) Be skeptical of anyone who falls in love over night.
2) Requests for financial assistance is a red flag.
3) Be skeptical of model like photos and "too good to be true."
4) Never share your DOB, address or credit card data.
5) If there is real potential , get a background check.
The trend in online dating and dating scams is expected to continue, and with the increased risk, the demand for dating background checks should also remain high. A true background check should verify if the person is who he or she claims to be, and is much more than checking criminal records. The discreet service usually includes verifying education and employment, address verification, ID or passport verification, travel records, civil and public records, fraud screening, etc. Consult a professional background check firm to verify, and play it safe.
All the Best,
S. Birch
© 2011 S. Birch
Posts
I suddenly seem to get a flood of emails from members on gaydating.com when my subscription expires and an encouragement to re-subscribe from the service... but very few emails when my subscription's active. I'm in my late 40's, and probably 95% of these emails claim to be looking for guys 18-25. They also don't write actual emails... gaydating.com allows members to send each other manufactured one-liners the service has created, like "It would be nice to have a beverage of some sort." Once I've paid to resubscribe and have written them back, I never get a reply of any kind. This has happened several times. I don't recommend this site, there's something obviously funny going on. It's hard enough to be single and looking for someone... the sites that capitlize on this need to be shut down.
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