(Online Dating Industry Journal) As part of their month-long scam awareness campaign, the UK's Office of Fair Trading has issued a public warning against online dating scams. The OFT defines an online dating scam as "when a scammer, male or female, creates a false personal profile and makes contact with you via an online dating agency or even a specialised chat room. The scammer says that they are seeking romance or a soul mate but are really out to steal not only your heart but your cash too."
The OFT warns that if a victim of an online dating scammer has already lost money there is little hope of getting it back and the only steps one can take are to report the scam to the dating agency as well as get advice from Consumer Direct.
Other scams examined include lottery scams, pyramid selling, and phishing, among others. You can read the full warning on Online Dating Magazine or view the entire scams section on the OFT website.
Kim's Comments:
This is a sad but true downside to the wonderful world of online dating. Even though this warning can cause some to be turned off to or scared of online dating, I still applaud the OFT for helping to bring the issue into public view. Singles need to know that these scams exist so that a big red flag is raised anytime an online contact asks for money.
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