Online dating can be an easy way to meet potential partners and with an estimated 91 million people worldwide using dating sites and apps, you certainly won’t be stuck for choice of potential suitors. But as with everything online, this type of dating doesn’t come without its risks and the problems of online dating continue to affect thousands of unsuspecting users.
In fact, an extensive report from Kaspersky found that a staggering 55% of people who have tried online dating have experienced some form of threat or problem, ranging from a security incident to meeting with someone who lied about their identity. You may have even fallen victim to an online dating scam yourself.
Below we outline five of the biggest problems with online dating and how to spot the signs
1. Scammers prey on vulnerable individuals
Sadly, there will always be scammers andfraudsters out there looking to exploit trusting, vulnerable individuals whoare just looking for love. These might be people hoping to steal your identity,extract money from you or gain access to your personal, sensitive information.
This can be done through a range of tactics buta common one is asking seemingly harmless questions to gather as much informationabout you as possible. In fact, the same study found that over one in 8 (13%)of those who use dating sites have been tricked into sharing sensitiveinformation with a fraudster.
Remember, if you’re talking to someone genuinethey should never ask you to part with your money or give away any sensitiveinformation like your address or bank details. So be careful not to share toomuch and sadly, if someone seems too good to be true, it’s probably becausethey are.
2. People lie
A whopping 57% of people that use online datingsites confess to lying on their profiles. This can range from white lies likeadding a few inches to their height, to lying about their marital status, nameor even who they are altogether.
This is one of the biggest problems with online dating. Anyone can create a profile and say whatever they want about themselves – true or not! This has become known as ‘catfishing’ – the practice of creating fake online personas to trick people into forming romantic relationships.
3. Hackers can access your information
Those that use dating websites are twice aslikely (41% compared to 20%) to fall victim to a cybersecurity incident thanthose who don’t. This is because cybercriminals can use the apps to gain accessto their devices or to infect their devices with viruses. This can lead to themaccessing or tampering with sensitive, personal information stored within – forexample, accessing bank details or your home address through a smartphone
4. You could be putting yourself in danger
It’s a sad reality that there will always beunsavoury people out there and some of them choose to use online dating as away to prey on unsuspecting individuals. This means when setting a date with astranger you met online, you could be meeting quite literally anyone and youcould be placing yourself in real danger.
If you choose to meet with someone you found onan online dating site, be sure to always meet in a public place and think abouttaking someone with you in the first instance to ensure your date is who theysay they are.
5. Dating scams can be extremely costly
The BBC revealed that scams rose by over64% in 2019. In fact, between January and June of last year, as much as £7.9million was lost to dating scams, with only £500,000 of that being returned tothe victims.
These staggering figures show the extent ofonline dating fraud and sadly, while we all like to think we’re sensible,criminals are always finding new ways to steal money from unsuspectingindividuals. This could be by asking for money to sign up to their dating site,or perhaps users of the dating site who you’ve formed a relationship with thenasking for money for a visa or as insurance on a date.
Whatever the scam, it’s clear that many peopleare still losing out to these callous schemes.
The alternative: Choose dating agenciesinstead
If you’re looking for a partner but you want asafer way to do it, dating agencies can be the perfect answer. They will ensurepotential suitors have been properly checked and verified to make sure they arewho they say they are. Plus, dating agencies don’t require extensive profilesfull of your personal information and they reduce the likelihood of you fallingvictim to a security breach or scam.
At Ignite Dating, we offer a safe environment for you to meet single, like-minded people. Our service is confidential, offering complete discretion and there’s no need for you to create an online profile. If you want to avoid the perils of online dating, find out how we can help by getting in touch
