Rosalind's Dating Site Reviews:Online Safety
Are you worried about meeting someone online? You don’t need to be if you use proper security measures and services. This section covers ways to protect your identity, do background checks, reverse phone lookups and more…
Latest Entries in the Online Safety Category
Internet Dating Scam: Fake Soldiers
I just came across a post on “A Soldier’s Perspective” discussing a rather disgusting and disturbing trend that has guys posing as soldiers on Internet dating sites. Here’s the quote from CJ’s:
The latest trend involves trolling internet dating sites and convincing women that they are honorable Soldiers who have fallen in love and would do anything to communicate with the object of their affection. But, because they are deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq, they need you to sign up for an expensive telecommunications service like “Military TELEX” in order to make that happen. They profess unending love as their motivator and, unfortunately, many women have fallen for it.
The BIG red flag here is that the guy is asking for money. NEVER fall for that con.
If you come across anyone on a dating site who is asking you for money, regardless of the reason; block them immediately from further contact and then report them to the internet dating service.
To read specific details about about one incident, read CJ’s post “The New Military Dating Scam“.
Don’t Waste Your Time Responding to Fake Singles Profiles
OK, I thought you should see this. It’s a flagrant example of the real problem with free dating sites and brand-new dating services.
This is a request made by a project developer through Elance.com, which provides outsourcing services for freelance programmers, web & logo designers, copywriters, illustrators and consultants.
Need 500 unique dating profiles included. English must be readable and understandable. Include age, interests, and what your looking for in a date. 3-8 sentences. Sample profile included.
Here’s that sample profile.
Looking for a casual date or a new friend to hang out with from time to time. Cuban female 22/5?6/Cute..wait… very cute. Im serious about meeting for some drinks or a date guys. Dont wanna make my ad long so email me and I’ll tell you a bit more about my self. If your looking for dating please dont be gay or married! Or married and gay LOL!!
Now why would a dating site developer want someone to create 500 fake singles profiles? Well, they want to ‘pad’ their database with fake profiles to make it look like there are a lot more singles active on the site than there really are.
The point is that you should stick with the tried and true services that don’t need to pull such stunts.
Good examples include those listed under my 5-Star Dating Services.
New Friends Online? Check Them Out Before Getting Too Close
The Internet has become one of the latest places to meet people. Whether you are looking for a casual friend or a romantic interlude, it can all be found on the worldwide web. Places like Facebook and Myspace give you a forum to express yourself to others, and the number of matchmaker sites these days is overwhelming.
If you have ever spent any time meeting and greeting on the web, you know that most people are not exactly what they make themselves out to be. Some of them have gone so far as to create an entire alternate identity.
Despite the dangers, the rewards of meeting online can be great. You have the opportunity to get to know others from all over the world. You make new and interesting friends from places you may never have visited. It provides an excellent opportunity for us to share our cultures and open our minds to new possibilities.
Who is really behind that screen name?
Should I Get a Background Check?
OK, so you’ve read “Trust Your Intuition!“, rejected all the phoney-baloney types, but are wondering if or when you should get a background check.
The answer is easy!
You ALWAYS want to check someone’s background before you meet someone.
Here are a couple suggestions to help you out.
Trust Your Intuition!
It is often kinder not to respond to someone you know isn’t your type, than to cultivate an online relationship out of politeness and later let them down.
If your online correspondent doesn’t answer questions directly, or omits essential information, trust your better instincts and find someone you can trust.
If you suspect someone is lying to you,you are probably correct. Don’t waste time trying to elicit the truth from them. Accept that they are dishonest, and not likely to change.
Drop correspondence with those who do not accept or question your feelings.
Do not reply to mean-spirited and nasty email. With luck, ignoring the sender will send them and their desperate attempts for attention elsewhere. If not, save their emails and forward them to your ISP or their ISP and ask them for help to get the person to cease and desist. If you’ve released no identifying information about yourself to this person, use a mail filter to send their trash, to the trash.
Relationships are built on honesty, respect and acceptance.
Don’t settle for anything less!