Online dating can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be as scary as it used to be. Now that there are so many dating sites, apps, and sites to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin. This can be especially true for people who have had bad experiences in the past.
However, there is plenty of great stuff to find on the Internet as well. If you take the time to do your research and find the right sites, you can find love. This article is going to discuss some of the best ways to avoid getting scammed on Facebook dating. When you understand how Scammers operate, you can protect yourself and find love instead of getting ripped off.
What Scammers Look Like
There are a ton of scammers on Facebook, but one of the best ways to avoid getting scammed is to be aware of what they look like. This will help you avoid them when you’re flying solo.
Here are some of the most common scammer types you need to be on the lookout for:
People who pose as fellow students or recent graduates. This is by far the most frequent scam. As a result, it’s also one of the most easily avoided. If a person is asking you to send money or obtain any kind of financial assistance before you’ve even met, RUN. This is one of the strongest indicators of a scam.
People who tell you they are looking for love on Facebook. This is also a common scam. In fact, it’s so common that Facebook actually has a tool just for it. Facebook uses artificial intelligence to help users recognize and avoid potential scams. You can find more about this in the article above.
People who are aggressively trying to contact you. If a person is overly persistent and keeps asking you to message them after you’ve told them you are done, RUN. This is another common scammer trait.
What Scammers Do
As we’ve covered, there are a number of things to watch out for when you’re looking for love online. One of the best ways to avoid getting scammed is to be aware of what kind of people you’re dealing with. This will help you avoid getting scammed on Facebook dating by keeping you from falling for their scams.
Here are some of the most popular scams that people try to pull on dating sites:
Fake Pay-to-Meet-Services
A lot of the dating sites and apps out there today offer a free version. As the name suggests, this version is meant to help you meet people. However, a lot of the time, the people you meet are scammers looking for your money. These scammers will tell you that they can help you meet people in person, but they will only do so if you pay them.
There are a couple of things you need to be on the lookout for when it comes to meeting people through these services:
Make sure the people you’re communicating with know that you’re using a free service. This is one of the best ways to avoid getting scammed. As soon as someone finds out that you’re dating online without paying, they will try to take advantage of you.
Make sure you’re only communicating with the people who you intend to meet in person. Pay-to-Meet-Service scammers will often pose as someone they’re not.
Don’t send money to people you’ve met online. This goes for both the free and paid versions of the sites.
How To Avoid Getting Scammed On Facebook Dating
Like we mentioned before, a lot of the dating sites and apps out there today offer a free version. This is meant for people who are looking for love. However, when you use these sites, you need to be careful.
Here are some of the ways you can avoid getting scammed on Facebook dating:
Only Join Dating Sites and Apps That Offer a Free Trial
A lot of dating sites and apps will give you a free trial before you have to pay. This is great, right? Unfortunately, there are also a lot of scammers who take advantage of this feature.
When you join a dating site or app that requires you to sign up before you can view any profiles, it’s usually a red flag. These are often the same sites that will try to charge you a lot of money after you’ve been approved.
Only View the Profiles You intend on Contacting
This one is crucial. You need to only view the profiles that you intend on contacting. If you only look at the public information, you are neglecting to protect your privacy. This can make it a lot easier for someone to take advantage of you.
Only Keep Your dating Site and App Updates to a Certain Level
This one is related to the above. You need to make sure that you are only seeing information from your dating app and site that you need to see. As soon as you allow more information in than you need to, you are opening yourself up to getting scammed.
Avoiding Scams When Meeting in Person
This is the best way to avoid getting scammed on Facebook dating. If you are meeting in person, there is a much lower chance that something fraudulent is going on.
In fact, there are only a few things that you need to watch out for when you’re meeting in person:
Making Sure the Other Person Is who They Claim to Be
This one is essential. When you’re meeting in person, it’s easy to get someone’s name wrong. It’s also easy to assume that someone is who they say they are based on their picture. The thing to watch out for here is getting the other person’s name wrong.
However, if they keep accidentally getting your name wrong, or if they are not who they say they are, this is a huge red flag. Imagine being in a potentially dangerous situation because someone is pretending to be someone else. That is a scary thought.
Making Sure Everyone Is Using Protection
This is also a must. When you are meeting in person, it is vital that everyone uses protection. If one person in a relationship does not use protection, but the other partner does, it can open the door for infection.
How to Avoid Getting Scammed on Facebook
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely eliminate the risk of getting scammed on Facebook dating. This is because there are so many bad apples out there.
However, there are some things you can do to help minimize your risk and increase your chances of finding love on Facebook.
Start by creating a dating profile that is as detailed as possible. Include your age, height, weight, education, and employment details. You should also upload a photo of yourself to help potential matches get a better idea of who you are.
Next, make sure that you are only communicating with the people who you intend on meeting in person. Don’t send friend requests or exchange messages with people who you haven’t met in real life. If a person is sending you messages that you did not request, or is asking for money, take notice and report them.
Conclusion
Facebook dating can be a great way to meet new people. However, it’s important to be careful when you’re on these sites. There are a lot of bad apples out there, so it’s important to be cautious.
Keep these tips in mind, and you should be able to avoid getting scammed on Facebook dating.