The perils and pitfalls of online dating: how to protect yourself”

With more than 40 million adults using online dating and perhaps one in five of all romantic relationships beginning online, it pays to be mindful of red flags when seeking love over the internet. The stigma of dating and seeking love online has largely evaporated as millions of people have formed healthy relationships that began online. Research by the Pew Research Center suggests that five percent of all existing marriages and long-term relationships began online. Nearly three in five people say going online is a good way to find a relationship, up by more than 30 percent in the last ten years. Stories abound of people who claim to be single and available but are actually married or in a committed relationship and using a bogus profile. In addition, dating sites are full of warnings and disclaimers about scammers who prey on the romantic aspirations of others for financial gain.

That may come as no surprise since tens of millions of U. In fact, the Identity Theft Resource Center, which I lead, has received calls from victims of online dating scams. In one instance, a male victim met someone through an online dating service. Here are two of the highest profile scams that have directly affected online dating participants:.

Fifteen years ago, it was almost unthinkable for a relationship to begin on the internet. Today, however, the popularity of online dating is undeniable, and it continues to grow every year. A recent study suggests that a third of relationships that start today begin online. To date, there has been very little research done on whether relationships that begin online enjoy the same success rate as traditional offline relationships. That is the question this article will attempt to address: Do couples who meet online report higher levels of happiness and satisfaction than those who meet in a traditional offline setting?

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