It might seem a bit cold to see dating as a win or lose situation or a competition, but online dating requires a lot of rational thinking, analyzing data and evaluating how beneficial the situation is for you.  With more Russian scammers using online dating sites, the honest users of the service need to be more cautious and more rational about the do´s and the don´ts.  It is a game where being cautious and being persistent can pay off.  For those unaware of the risk, trouble often looms.

Online dating is not a tournament where the goal is to date the most or have the greatest amount of friends or contacts. Most of the people are just trying to meet someone with whom they can potentially establish a relationship, so the goal is really to find someone who matches your interests and is real. But there are some things to know before entering the online dating game.

The below tips can keep you safe from online dating scams in Russia.

Be skeptical.  Online dating is most of the time not about honesty. Be skeptical and prepare yourself for many lies. Russian dating sites and Russian lady profiles are amongst the most popular online.   And, you can expect many of the people you meet to say they are a Russian lady, and they will show a picture of a stunning beauty. Scammers know how attracted men tend to be to Russian beauties, so you can expect that profiles of girls that seem too good to be true are probably deceptive.  Remember the real person behind the profile may be something completely different, say investigators.

Don´t delay verifying. If you have found someone you like, the best policy is to invest some money and time in checking if the person is really who she says she is. Waiting until the last minute –or after you’ve become emotionally and financially involved – is not a good idea. Once you have selected someone that seems interesting enough to dedicate time to her and get to know better, then that´s the right time to get a dating background check. This information will help you decide whether you want to go forward or if moving on is a better idea.  Dating background checks give you evidence.

Dating online is like a lottery. Do not expect to be the only person the other party is dating; you might yourself have several options open too. Users of online dating believe that the more people they meet, the better chances they´ll have to get lucky and win the prize! Knowing this and understanding it will not only make things easier for you, but it will also keep you from feeling bad about your date “seeing” other people. The levels of commitment are very different in the online dating world, so be prepared for this also.  Remember to mingle, but protect your personal data and privacy.

Keep the mystery. This is not about looking cooler, it is about protecting your data. Russian romance scammers are many times connected to the same mafia that does the hacking and phishing in the world. It is better to keep your personal information to a minimum, and to avoid any links that may look suspicious. Online criminals use dating sites to make a contact with their future victims of other types of fraud. Some of the cases include implanting malware that can steal information from your computer or asking for enough details that can give them access to your accounts. Russian investigators have even seen cases of people who have –without even knowing- helped criminals with money laundering schemes. Being too naïve can also be very costly!  Never give out your date of birth or address, and never send money to anyone you’ve never met.  Be safe and verify, then decide.

Don´t forget that it is always better to be one step ahead. Pay attention to what people have to say about their life. Usually scammers leave many loose ends and being able to recognize the red flags is the first step into avoiding fraud.   When in doubt, contact Russia PI for expert advice.

C. Wright
© 2014 Russia PI™

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