Source: Supplied
- Users warned to carefully check profile information
- Many online dating sites already have some protection
- Related: Online renting scam
AUSTRALIANS seeking a soulmate are being scammed out of millions of dollars by dating site fraudsters who target lonely singles.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is acting on online dating scams after receiving more than 2100 complaints in 2011.
Australians were cheated out of $21 million by online dating scams last year, up from $15 million in 2010.
The ACCC has released guidelines that call on dating websites to clearly issue warnings and information about fraudsters as well as publishing examples of scams.
Sites should improve their vetting and checking and also respond quickly to complaints.
Telltale signs of a possible scam profile include "a prevalence of spelling/grammatical errors" and common names.
Users should also be on the lookout for telltale scam signs such as someone professing their love too soon or asking for money.
Online daters should also be cautious of a person they meet who "does not match their profile" or claims "to be stationed in or travel frequently to Africa".
ACCC deputy chairman Dr Michael Schaper says dating and romance scams are "often the work of international criminal networks and cause significant harm".
"These scams often see a genuine user of a dating website being contacted by a potential admirer who is a scammer in disguise," Dr Schaper said.
"After forming a relationship with the victim, the scammer plays on emotional triggers to get the victim to provide money, gifts or personal details."
Dr Schaper said many dating websites had already put protection measures in place.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/technology/online-dating-scams/story-e6frfro0-1226272530981?from=public_rss
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