INDIANA (Newsradio 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA) – Pennsylvania troopers want to remind residents of the dangerous side of online dating, including romance scams, identify theft, stalking, and sexual assault.
Troopers remind Pennsylvanians to be cautious when meeting someone you met online. They advise you to meet in a public place or a group setting with friends and family, and to let someone know where you are meeting the online date and when you should be home.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “scammers know millions of people use online dating sites. They are there, too, hiding behind fake profiles.”
The FTC reports the following as common signs of online dating scams:
“Professes love quickly”
“Claims to be overseas for business or military purpose”
“Asks for money, and lures you off the dating site”
“Claims to need money – for emergencies, hospital bills, or travel”
“Plans to visit, but can’t because of an emergency”
If you are going to use an online dating app or platform, SafeWise encourages users to do the following:
“Use a trustworthy site.”
“Keep your contact information private.”
Verify the identity of potential suitors.
“Be smart about face-to-face meetings.”
“Don’t be afraid to report someone.”