Millions of people use online dating sites every year, but not all of them are looking for love. Many are looking for money.
Scam artists are delivering heartbreak and fraud to people who let their guard down.
"They are after money," said Eva Velasquez with the Identity Theft Resource Center. Many con artists pretend to be people looking for companionship, but they create phone profiles and pictures to take advantage of others
"Interacting online removes that face-to-face conversation," said Velasquez. "You have to rely on what they are telling you and what their profile site says."
So how can you avoid scam artists using dating sites?
Be skeptical of fast replies. If your emails are answered too quickly, it could be a sign they have been picked up by someone who gets paid to develop online relationships for fraud.
Repetitive content can be a sign that multiple people are answering your messages.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Strange or poor language and grammar may be a sign that you are dealing with someone in a foreign country.
Requests for money is a definite sign that something is not right. No matter how long you've been chatting, no matter how many emails you've exchanged and no matter how well you think you know this person, if they ask for money, it is not legitimate.
"The successful con artists don't hit you with a money request right off the bat," said Velasquez. "They are playing the long game, so they will interact and engage with you over a period of time to build your trust."
The request for money is often tied to some sort of travel need or to help with a medical emergency. And if they are not asking for money, they could be asking for personal information that could be used for identity theft.
