If you want to avoid falling victim to Facebook dating scams, you need to learn how to spot the signs that the man you have met is actually a love rat.
Many emotional con men deliberately target women over 40through social networking sites but a few simple precautions can ensure you don’t end up falling into their clutches.
The golden rule to bear in mind is that if someone appears to be too good to be true, it usually is.
Many men will often totally reinvent themselves on Facebook before entering the dating scene.
David Klotz, a 49-year-old homeless man from Toledo, Ohio, created a profile that portrayed himself as a hugely successful CEO, too busy with work to look for love but living a dream life he was eager to share.
As human beings we are pre-programmed to expect honesty from those around us.
Unless someone makes utterly outlandish claims – a man with the build of Danny Devito claiming to be a top basketball star – we tend to believe what we are told.
David Klotz took full advantage of this.
He posted pictures of what he claimed was his Ferrari convertible but told the women he arranged to meet that they would have to pick him up because he had just been carjacked and his wallet and ID had been stolen.
Women not only believed him but they lent him thousands of dollars which, of course, they never saw again.
No one wants to begin a potential long-term relationship under a cloud of mistrust or skepticism but it is perfectly reasonable to take a few precautions before you find yourself in a vulnerable position with someone you barely know.
The key is to learn how to meet single men on Facebook without being conned.
Be wary of anyone who has very few details in their profile, no history and only a handful of friends. These are signs of profiles that have been put together in a hurry purely in order to support a dating scam.
Be particularly cautious if every time you speak or meet with your new man you are immediately presented with a tragic hard luck story that requires you to dip into your purse.
Also watch out if he makes excuses about why you can’t have his home telephone number or his address or his official work email.
If only one photograph has been posted, ask for more, preferably taken in specific places or at specific times.
This can easily be disguised as an innocent request – ‘I’d love to see a picture of you in your kitchen, it sounds amazing’ or something similar.
If fake photographs are being used – David Klotz posted snaps of a hunky Wisconsin bodybuilder – they will not be able to fulfill these kinds of requests.
While men attempting to pull off Facebook dating scams are lurking everywhere, once you know what to look out for and learn how to meet single men on Facebook that you can truly trust, you can ensure you never become one of their victims.
