Experts warn of online dating scams following Valentine’s Day surge

IF you were planning on joining a dating site to be less lonely this Valentine’s Day, there is some bad news.

Oh I am so happy you had a great Valentine’s Day with your partner, now excuse me while I continue to swipe right.

IF being alone on Valentine’s Day wasn’t already painful enough, singles have just been given another kick in guts.

With the annual faux-holiday set to be responsible for a surge in online dating, singles are being told to be cautious of scammers looking to capitalise on their loneliness.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claim more than $25 million was stolen by romance scammers last year — the largest amount lost to any scam in 2016.

ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said the consumer watchdog received a record 4100 complaints of dating and romance scams last year alone.

“Reports of dating and romance scams increased by more than a third in 2016 and, sadly, the amount of money reported lost has also increased by about $3 million compared to 2015,” the ACCC wrote.

Ms Rickard said romance scammers are getting increasingly manipulative on dating websites.

“Scammers create very believable profiles, including stealing the identities of real, trusted people such as military personnel,” she said.

“If you meet someone who seems too good to be true, do some research to see if they’re the real deal.”

Ms Rickard added singles should be wary of people expressing strong feelings very quickly after first contact.

“A scammer’s currency is ‘love at first type’ — they will use your emotions against you and leave you devastated financially and emotionally,” she said.

“Perhaps the biggest warning sign is when a scammer asks you for money.

“Don’t fall for their con — look after yourself when online and don’t be afraid to cut off contact if something doesn’t feel right to you.”

OK, it’s fine to spend tonight on Tinder, but be wary if someone declares undying love when you first contact them.

Leading cyber security company Norton by Symantec echoed the sentiments of the ACCC, issuing a fresh warning to singles heading to online dating platforms this Valentine’s Day.

Norton business unit senior director Melissa Dempsey said in addition to scammers asking for money, people could have their device infected by malware after clicking on website links.

“Whether you’re in the physical or online world, people should never share images or personal information before they are sure they can trust the person on the receiving end,” she said.

“Sometimes people in the online world aren’t always what they seem, and while there are many legitimate daters on these sites, it’s important that people are vigilant so they can enjoy online dating without placing themselves in a vulnerable position.”

Ms Dempsey said a recent online dating survey from Norton discovered one in five users had sent compromising photos or videos to strangers, which could also have dire consequences.

“Not only could your intimate photos and videos be republished online without your permission, they could be used to blackmail you for money to stop this from happening,” she said.

NORTON’S TIPS FOR ONLINE DATING

• Create a username and password that you have not used on any other accounts — this will make it harder for scammers to search for other accounts linked to that information.

• Be sure to choose a reputable, well-known service — dating sites required users to pay to communicate are more likely to attract more legitimate daters and fewer scammers.

• If someone is asking you for money, block them and report them to the service you are using .

• Asking users for more photos than what is on their profile can help weed out the fakes — if they protest or makes excuses as to why they can’t provide a photo, it is best to err on the side of caution.

• Be especially careful about your behaviour on webcam chat as the video sessions can be easily recorded.

• Keep an eye out for fake profiles that are run by programs called bots, which used predetermined “canned” responses — if the person isn’t answering your questions directly, it’s likely a bot.

Have you been caught out by dating scammers? Continue the conversation in the comments below or with Matthew Dunn on Twitter or Facebook.