Online dating has become the new normal for millions of people. What once seemed strange has morphed a socially acceptable way of meeting a new person. Online dating has become so mainstream that one third of all 2012 marriages within the United States started online. Online dating still has it’s risks, one of which is creating more than broken hearts. In the last year, over 1000 Canadians found fraud instead of true love they were hoping for.
The CBC reports that online dating scams cost more money than any other type in the nation. These scams are when crooks impersonate an average online dating member and begin to strike up a relationship via email. After a period of time something terrible befalls their fake identity in which they need financial support. After convincing the victim to send a money order the false paramour disappears and the money becomes nearly impossible to find as most are routed overseas. These scams are often run by large crime rings. They even go as far as having different people play the same admirer on multiple telephone calls. According to the CBC both men and women have fallen victim to these scams.
While interacting with people you have meet online it is important to remain alert. You grow to like and even trust this person but remember that you have no way of confirming that this person is who they purport to be. A “catfish” is the slang term for “someone who pretends to be someone they’re not using Facebook or other social media to create false identities, particularly to pursue deceptive online romances”. One of the most infamous examples of “catfishing” is the Notre Dame star football player Manti Te’o. Te’o was often quoted talking about his recently deceased girlfriend who turned out never even existed. Weather Te’o was purely a victim of a catfishing or if other motives were involved is unclear. Nevertheless, the story brought catfishing greater media attention and reminded everyone to be wary of who they meet online.
Do you feel confident about the people you meet online? Do you believe that you need to meet someone person before you can create a trusting friendship?
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