The perils of online dating, it could be a scam

ACCORDING to Urban Dictionary, a catfish is someone who pretends to be someone they are not using Tinder and other social media. They do this to create false identities, particularly to pursue deceptive online romances.

Catfish dating is dangerous for many involved and those who meet online are not what they appear. Sometimes they even lie about their gender. Catfish dating has resulted in many disappointments and dangerous situations for those attempting to date online.

When dating online, there are certain precautions that should be taken, including an insistence that communication is carried out via cell phone or using a chat website such as Skype so that both individuals can determine who they are actually talking to.

Those seeking to date online should also check their date’s identity through the use of a web search. Checking out the individual on sites such as Twitter or Facebook can help determine whether the individual’s identity is real or if they are faking it. People conceal their identities online for many reasons and one involves financial scams.

Such was the case that happened in Malaysia in 2016, where Malaysian women lost RM71mil to love scammers. These women topped the list of victims who lost a total of RM1bil in online scams.

So how can you tell if someone if dealing with fraud? Obviously, the general rule must be that if you meet anyone online, and for some reason they cannot meet in person and requests money, there is a very high probability that it is a fraud.

Many victims are reluctant to file a complaint. However, this may help prevent someone else from being defrauded because most fraudsters have many victims. Making a police report would help to deter this kind of crime in Malaysia.

So to all people out there, especially women, do not give a stranger your details even if when you meet a hot new romantic prospect online or in person. Please take care of yourself. SYAZANA JOHAR Sungai Pelek, Selangor