In France, among the nine to ten million single people over the age of 50 are looking for a soul mate on a dating site or application. Beware of scammers!
Dating sites: beware of fake accounts
Nos Belles Années, Facebook, Bumble, Passions, Tinder, Disons Demain… There is no shortage of dating sites and apps. Also, scammers are storming these tools! Indeed, according to Arkose Labs, specialist in cybercrime… More than four million scams were carried out in 2021 via these digital platforms!
We knew the talkers well, who claim to love sport when in reality they are suspicious and rather beer and TV. But dating sites are also full of fake profiles. Accounts created only to extract money from us.
The photos of a person are blurred or on the contrary perfect? Find the photo on Google Images (images.google.com). You will then see if it is indeed the cliché of a celebrity or another Internet user.
Michael’s bio is almost empty, and his profile only shows five friends? Ignore it immediately! Pascal writes to you a millisecond after selecting his profile? Mistrust ! Only “bots” (malicious robot profiles) are as fast.
Sentiment scam!
After weeks of discussions on a site or a dating application, Jean-Philippe asks you for money to pay for the plane ticket to come and see you? Offer to join him instead.
If this is not possible, then move on. He suggests sending her a prepaid card to deal with a one-time problem: sick mother or an object stuck at customs? Flee at the very word “prepaid card”. Now it’s the preferred payment method for scammers. Since money cannot be traced.
Ditto if Jack offers you an unbeatable investment: according to Interpol, “sentimental” scammers very often involve false investments.
Do not leave the site or application!
If your virtual friend suggests you click on a link, don’t! In fact, malware could infect your computer, smartphone or tablet.
Does your lover want to chat outside of the app? If it’s for a coffee, why not! However, if he wants to exchange via Skype or WhatsApp, beware. The latter could therefore record your exchanges and then try to blackmail you with dubious montages!
Dating sites and apps: victim, what do I do?
Going to the police station bothers you? Report the fraud to the site concerned and then to the authorities via Internet-signalement.gouv.fr.
In fact, the victim support service of the Ministry of Justice (France Victimes, 116 006, free call from 9 am to 7 pm, 7 days a week) also offers psychological support and advice.
Advice from the expert!
“Never send intimate photos to a site or an application and choose distant shots, without close-ups. Victim of blackmail, refuse to pay and file a complaint. Don’t be intimidated: some scammers even pretend to be the parents of a minor who has been sent messages. »Warn Arkose Labs, specialist in cybercrime.