Are You Falling For A Scam, Or Falling In Love?

Victims of Nasser included women he had met through online dating whilst posing as an imposter. He gained the trust of his now victims by presenting as an advisor to the then president of America, George W. Bush. Nassar also made up other fictitious identities, which included impersonating a Department of Defense official. After establishing trust with vulnerable women he would then make up stories pertaining to financial difficulties resulting from legal disputes, and later on would mislead his victims to hand over money.

Thankfully, the arrest of Nassar has shut down his Internet dating scam; he is currently serving a seven-year jail term.

This story and others just like it has seen many tragic stories unfold and numerous people have been financially and emotionally scarred as a result. The Internet is a very useful matchmaking alternative, however it means having to let your guard down at some point. Most subscription dating sites or free dating websites do not have verification procedures nor do they perform background checks. The industry itself is virtually unregulated therefore it's up to the individual online dater to take out their own protective measures. 

Here are four of the most common scams to watch out for.

1. Telephone calls that cost a fortune. Dial with precaution. Phoning particular telephone numbers will result in hundreds of dollars being charged to your next telephone invoice. Don't use phone numbers with country codes you do not recognize – as a safer option – use an IM service such as Skye or MSN and keep your home telephone number private. 2. Counterfeit profiles. Stay away from profiles using suggestive and sexually graphic profile pictures, usernames and profile content. Rest assured that these profiles are usually from sex workers who are not looking for someone compatible for a genuine relationship but are instead drumming up business.

3. Lying about long-distance romance. Given that the Internet reaches into all parts of the world, it makes it a dangerous option to meet new people. Scammers from overseas nations usually establish rapport with victims before asking for funds for an airplane ticket in order to meet their “dates” offline. Don't pay for somebody’s traveling costs - you can be pretty sure they will cease all communication once the electronic funds transfer is complete.

4. The most notorious online dating scam of all - the Nigerian scam. Also referred to as the 419 fraud, this is a very typical web-based hustle that effects almost any dating site. It comes in numerous forms, but distinctive reflections of the scam imply an individual impersonating a government or bank member of staff asking for the following requests:

• Requesting to transmit a large amount of money into your savings account.• Volunteering to compensate you to cash their checks then wire them the funds.• Reaching out to you to help a person who's sick or dying.

Don't ever send money overseas to someone you've met through online dating, regardless of the situation. Take measures to guard your broken heart in order to avoid falling victim to an online scam.