Finding the love of your life – many Austrians dream of that. According to a survey conducted in 2019, mainly men use online dating portals for this purpose. Due to the high level of competition, it is difficult here too to find the right match. A few simple tips and tricks make it easier to get started with looking for a partner online.
What should you keep in mind when taking your first steps in online dating?
The number of couples who have met and fallen in love online seems to be growing steadily. Many singles also long for this happy twist of fate and search online for the man or woman of their dreams. To help them avoid fraudsters, these basic online dating tips are recommended:
- Choice of platform: Free online dating portals are a tempting option for budget-conscious singles. However, the same applies to fraudsters, who can reach their victims here without any financial outlay. By contrast, reputable, paid dating sites offer the chance to verify yourself using an ID card. This verification reduces the risk of coming across a “fake profile.”
- Choice of profile picture: After successfully registering on the online dating portal, users set up their profile. This includes choosing a profile picture that shows them from their best side. Ideally, they should add several attractive snapshots to their account. If users of the portal stick to just one photo, this could arouse suspicion among profile visitors. The reason: Many fraudsters limit themselves to one (usually stolen) profile picture.
- Choice of personal details: To get to know their dream partner, users of online dating portals reveal a lot of information about themselves. This includes age, body type, profession, and hobbies. Truthful information is relevant to dating success. Nevertheless, users should be sparing with information about themselves. If too much data is publicly visible, it attracts fraudsters. If users of the online dating portal publish their name, date of birth, and email address, they unintentionally pave the way for identity theft.
Choosing a dating site and creating a profile are the first steps in looking for a partner online. They then begin to review the profiles of potential partners. With just a few glances, it is possible to separate the wheat from the chaff. Based on profile information and pictures, users of an online dating portal sort out uninteresting partner suggestions.
If a supposed dream partner sparks visual interest, it is advisable to perform a reverse image search before making first contact. This trick reveals whether the photos come from the person themselves or from other websites.
How can you protect yourself from dating fraud?
The desire to meet their true love makes some people careless when online dating. Fraudsters know this and, in their “love scams”, have for years increasingly focused on users of such platforms. Posing as a supposed dream partner, they build a trusting relationship with their victims. But instead of being interested in their affection, they are interested in their data and their money.
Using dating apps such as Tinder, Lovoo, Bumble, and similar ones is generally accepted today. According to a 2019 study by Bitkom, 33% of people now look for love on the internet. Despite the growing popularity of online dating, it is important to consider the negative aspects in order to protect yourself from fraudsters and other risks.
A popular scam in online dating involves sending phishing links. This happens immediately after a match or after the fraudsters have exchanged the first messages with their potential victim. To get the victim to open the link, people with fraudulent intentions claim that it contains:
- a funny video
- a beautiful song
- a romantic poem
- information important for the future relationship
Believing that their future dream partner wants to pleasantly surprise them, careless users click on the link. It asks for their personal data or installs malware on their smartphone or PC without their knowledge.
Conclusion: Online dating carries a risk
When singles plunge into the wide world of online dating, a broken heart is not the only risk. When searching for their dream partner, fraudsters make life difficult for users of online dating portals. They pose as potential partners and play with the feelings of those affected. To prevent them from gaining access to their data or money, people looking for true love on the internet should exercise caution.
