The increased potential to meet new people online is being used by scammers to gain trust and con people out of their money, warns the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) as part of its Scams Awareness month.
Scammers target singles columns and dating websites to search for potential victims. They create fictitious online profiles or send out unsolicited emails or letters, often with fake photographs.
Scammers use the trust gained to persuade victims to part with large sums, with some frauds going on for years. This typically involves saying they would like to meet you but are stranded and don't have money to travel or cover visa costs. They may also say that they or a family member require urgent treatment for an illness.
The Serious Organised Crime Agency is working globally to target criminal groups responsible for some of these scams. In one recent case a British national was kidnapped after travelling to West Africa believing they would be met by someone with whom they had established an online friendship.
“The Internet is now an established way to meet and connect with new people, but those meeting on dating and other sites need to be on their guard against potential dating scams,” said Heather Clayton, Senior Director of the Office of Fair Trading's Consumer group.
“All fraud is destructive but dating scammers are particularly ruthless as they abuse the emotional trust and attachments that people invest when looking to meet someone.”
OFT-managed advice service Consumer Direct offers the following advice to make using Internet dating websites safer:
* Know what you are paying for and what the agency promises to provide in return.
* If you receive any requests for money, be suspicious, even if you have known the person for a number of weeks.
* Be sceptical and ask yourself simple questions, for example, “why am I the only person who can help them, when I have just met them?”
* If you meet somebody unknown to you, always meet in a public place and, if you are unsure, take a friend with you for support.
