Bad romance: Signs of an online dating scam

With the popularity of social networking and dating sites came the rise of romance and online dating scams that have grown in number, variety, and level of sophistication.  In this form of deception, scammers connect with unsuspecting victims on legitimate apps and sites and stake fake intentions to gain trust and eventually get money.  Here are some signs that it’s not real love, but a scam in full bloom.

They move things along quickly:  Scammers are charming and would use their charm to their full advantage to say all the right and tempting things.  They’ll talk about how perfect you are in the first few weeks.  Afterward, they will ask you to communicate outside of the dating app or social site you’re on.

They evade basic questions:  Normally you’d ask questions about their work, height, and their family.  If the person you’re talking to is practically avoiding these basic inquiries, then it should be a red flag.  The courtship or getting-to-know-you stage naturally involves these things, so start getting suspicious.

They have communication issues:  A significant chunk of these online dating scammers come from non-English-speaking countries, so be on the lookout for communicative markers indicating something wrong with your supposed suitor.  They are likely to have notably lousy grammar and fare poorly during times when they need to come up with answers spontaneously.

They play the sympathy card:   They list their relationship status as widowed, especially with a child, self-employed, or working overseas.  They try to invite sympathy with sob stories that simply don’t add up.

They look for something serious right away:   These scammers want to jump into a long-term relationship almost immediately. 

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