How to Avoid Senior Date Scams

With more and older men and women seeking girlfriend ( søker kjæreste ) and boyfriends online, senior date scams have become an unfortunate reality.

The rising popularity of online dating among all sections of the population has led to the creation of a number of websites that target particular demographic segments. Christian dating, Native American dating, teen dating…each age group, religion, race and interests now has its own dedicated dating websites and/or forums. So there is little wonder then that senior date sites are so common these days.

However, many of the individuals seeking girlfriend ( søker kjæreste ) (or boyfriends) on these websites are not too comfortable or familiar with the virtual domain and this makes it easier for fraudsters and con artists to trick them.

Some common online dating scams include phishing, personal data theft and appeals for money. With phishing, scammers use the dating websites to collect email addresses that they then exploit for spamming about various products. The best way to avoid your inbox getting spammed is to create a separate email id for your online dating needs. Not only does this ensure that your main email remains spam free, it also helps protect your personal data.

Personal data theft is similar to phishing though it has more serious implications than the latter. Scammers can use your personal details to commit identity theft or to compromise your bank accounts and credit card security. Identity theft is especially serious in today’s world. Protect yourself by being extremely careful about the kind of information you reveal online. Never mention your full home address, phone number or anything related to your finances.

There are also several danger signals that generally tend to signal a fraud. One such red flag is when a person you meet online tries to get too close too quickly. While this might just mean a flattering eagerness, it is unfortunately quite likely that the person might actually be a con man trying to fool you into trusting them with your finances.

Another potential sign of danger is when the person you are talking to seems to be your ‘dream date’. One of the more dangerous quirks of online interaction is that it allows people to be whoever they wish to be in a way they cannot when chatting face to face. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.