In two years, the total amount people have been scammed for through dating apps has more than doubled. Where does this come from and more importantly, how do you avoid becoming a victim of dating fraud yourself?
Dating Fraud: An Growing Problem
Figures from the Fraud Help Desk (requested by NU.nl) shows that the Dutch were defrauded for a total of almost four million euros in 2019. With ‘only’ 639 reports, this means that an average victim of dating fraud was defrauded for 14.5 thousand euros. Naturally, all cases of dating fraud that have not been reported to the helpdesk are not included.
This would be because this is a scam that often lasts for months or even years. Different cases of dating fraud often show similarities with each other. A victim gets to know someone through a dating app and is then deceived for a long period of time.
After a period of sweet messages and presents, the person temporarily needs money. If the victim transfers this, he or she often never gets it back. The person is often abroad and is anonymous, making it difficult to identify the culprit. Many victims are over 45 years old and in a vulnerable situation. For example, they have just divorced or their partner has died.
Of course it is better to anticipate this situation and discover early signs that it is a possible fraud case. iPhoned gives seven tips to outsmart dating fraudsters.
1. Attempts to meet up or make a (video) call go wrong again and again
In chat conversations, the person is very nice, but as soon as you propose to call or video call, there is always something that prevents this from happening. Attempts to meet up somewhere and therefore really meet each other always fail. After all, a fraudster cannot reveal his identity to you and will always try to prevent this.
2. Know the frequently used excuses and stories
Dozens of stories circulate online about the ways in which people have been conned in this way. Do you have doubts? Then check online and you will come across stories about so-called soldiers, doctors who work internationally and people on an oil platform. If the story of the person you are talking to has an awful lot in common, then your suspicion is probably justified.
3. Never transfer money to someone you have never seen
This tip speaks for itself, but it is still important to mention: the end goal of the fraudster is to make money from you. Making a commitment to never transfer money to someone you don’t know will help protect yourself against dating fraud.
4. Never accept to receive items
Another well-known tactic is the person’s proposal to send valuables to you. For this you just have to transfer money, so that these goods can be sent safely and insured. Of course you will never receive a package in this case.
5. Do a search on his or her profile picture
Do you have serious suspicions that the person you are talking to is not who he or she is? Then try dragging the profile picture into Google Images. Google then does a reverse search and shows which other websites this photo ended up on. If you suddenly see that the profile photo of the person you are talking to, for example, comes from a database of models, then that is an obvious indication that something is wrong.
6. Talk about it with people you trust
Is something uncomfortable or are you in doubt about something? Then always have a conversation about it with people you trust. If someone takes a fresh look at the situation, you are guaranteed to get valuable insights that you might not have thought of yourself.
7. Be honest with yourself: is it too good to be true?
In the ‘easier said than done’ category, being honest with yourself is a great way to outsmart fraudsters. Is the person you are talking to too good to be true? With an excellent salary, good job, big house, beautiful appearance and hardly any problems or negatives? Then it could be that this person pretends to be someone who does not exist.
Still a victim of dating fraud? Then do the following
Have you become a victim of dating fraud anyway? Then it is important to contact your bank immediately. Maybe they can do something about the money you recently transferred. Also, don’t forget to report the person to the dating app so he or she can’t make another victim with that profile. Finally, you can contact the fraud help desk for tips and help with your situation.
Also read: Guide: The 6 Best Dating Apps for a Safe Date