“Divya seemed to be very funny and interesting. I started feeling attracted towards her. But something was off. Though I couldn’t point my finger at it then,” says Abhinav. It turns out Divya is a part of a huge nexus that dupes young boys and girls with the promises of romance. Dating apps have become a common tool to swipe people of their money, which can land you in a financial storm. Abhinav shares his ordeal, “Anytime I would ask her to meet me, she would make some lousy excuse. Then started the demands for money. That’s when I realised what was going on and snapped. When I told her that I don’t want to talk to her anymore, she started verbal abuse, and eventually, I blocked her. Thankfully, I realized before it was too late.” Notably, Abhinav’s case is not one of a kind. There is a rise in such cases particularly around Valentine’s day. Dating apps like Tinder, OkCupid, Bumble, etc. become the hunting ground for scammers. Targeting singles become a bit easier in the ‘month of love. Though most of such cases end up in financial fraud, there have been cases where even more heinous crimes were committed. So, does that mean you should stay away from all these apps? Well, of course not. However, it is strongly advised to be on your guard at all times. Though many people have surely ended up finding their soulmates via these apps, it is still important that you are continuously vigilant.
Tips to prevent financial fraud on dating apps
Here are some tips for you which you should keep in mind to save yourself from becoming a target.
Never give away your phone number or address in the first few conversations. Do not even share your office address with a potential ‘date’. Try to converse via the app only. If you choose to share your information and the other person is making excuses for sharing theirs, this could be a red flag. Scammers often send their victims gifts to make themselves more believable. Do not fall for such traps unless you have reasons to believe them.This is the most important tip. Do not ever share your bank account details. Scammers may come up with crazy believable stories. Often, the stories are made to make you feel extremely sorry for their condition. In such cases also do not make any monetary transactions online. If you plan to meet the person, make sure you have the meeting in a public place. Never call someone you met on a dating site to your home or an isolated place.If possible, let your friends or family know where you are going to meet that person. And let them know that you will inform them when you are back.
The world of online dating can be a trick if not navigated properly. Stay safe but don’t be shy of love. Enjoy the process of dating till you find your life mate.
