The Tinder Scammer: How to Avoid Being Scammed Online

Dating apps have become normal for most Internet users.

In search of love, friendship or just meet people, some may inevitably run into a scammer not only of their “heart”, but of their own finances as well.

Conversation regarding scammers hiding on dating apps has trended again after the premiere of the documentary “The Tinder Scammer”in which the perpetrator, Simon, showed off his lavish lifestyle to the women on the app, hoping to gain their trust and affection.

Tinder Closed Tinder Scammer Simon Leviev’s Account, Other Dating Apps Ban His Profile

Once he hooked them, he convinced them to “lend” money for his diamond business before disappear with your money and without leaving a trace.

How can I protect myself?

According to data from GlobalWebindex, in Latin America In the US and the Asia-Pacific region, dating apps and sites have an acceptance of between 45% and 46%, while in the United States and Europe the figure is between 28% and 29%.

However, despite the difference that exists in terms of acceptance in the different regions of the world, in countries such as the United States, 30% of Internet users between 18 and 29 years old use an app or dating website.

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In view of this, it is almost impossible to eliminate or radicalize this type of dating, which in other situations, are tools to match people who they seemed to be predestined to be together.

Here are a few guidelines for avoid being a victim of these types of criminals and quickly identify them, according to the expert portal WeLiveSecurity:

• If you know someone who after a few contacts begins to express very deep feelings about you and asking to continue chatting outside of the app or the site, beware. The fact of wanting to leave the platform in which they met should be enough to be alert.

• Be suspicious if you notice certain inconsistencies between what counts and what is seen on their social network profiles.
• It is common that after some time (weeks or months) and after having established a certain trust, the person you knows tell you a very well elaborated story that ends with a request for money, the sending of a gift or something similar. Remember to never send money to someone you have not met personally.

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• suspicious of someone who always they have an excuse not to see each other personally.
• Perform web searches of the images it sends you or that you use in your account to verify that you are who you say you are. This way you can verify if the photos are legitimate or if they were taken from the Internet. You can use Google Images or TinEye for that.

• Never share with the person you are meeting, especially if you do not know them personally, information that may compromise you, such as photos or videos.

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• If you decide to meet up with someone you’ve met online, it never hurts to let him know someone to keep an eye on. (F)