You’ve probably heard over and over again about the huge number of internet scams out there, and if you’re like most people you think it could never happen to you. Unfortunately, though, it most certainly CAN happen to you. More and more people are falling victim to scams involving online dating, so I think it’s worth taking a few moments to let you know about a couple of the most common scams out there right now.

Mobile Online Dating – I wrote a previous blog entry about the huge growth in online dating applications for your mobile phone, which of course means there are plenty of scammers out there who want to take advantage of this surge in popularity for their own dark purposes. One of the scams we’re seeing more and more often is scammers who are aggressively promoting mobile online dating applications that serve only to trick you into entering personal information in the application.

If you’re interested in using your mobile phone for online dating functions, be sure to check out available applications ahead of time using your regular computer. Look for apps that are put out by reputable online dating sites only, and only download those apps directly from the legitimate web site of those companies.

Phony Online Dating Web Sites – There are lots of phishing scams floating around out there right now, particularly in the area of online dating sites. The same rules apply to this type of scam as to any other phishing scam; never respond to an email and give out your personal information, and remember that no legitimate online dating web sites will ever send you an email asking you to confirm your password, credit card, phone number, or other vital information. If you receive a phishing email like this delete it right away, without clicking on any links or responding to the sender in any way.

Safety Mobile, Phishing, Phony, Scams

You’ve got to love technology! Add to the hundreds and hundreds of useful (and sometimes not so useful) applications for your iPhone a brand new one that lets you do a fast background check on someone with just a few clicks. Called DateCheck, this ingenious little piece of software lets you put in a person’s name, phone number, or email address, and it will search a variety of web resources to quickly give you a snapshot of the person’s background and life.

DateCheck does this by using the information you plug into it to conduct a web search of multiple sources such as social networking sites, public records, and the like. And boy, does it ever come back with plenty of information! From criminal records to property assets to allowing you to submit ratings for a particular person, DateCheck makes it easy to, well, check someone out.

I really like the way DateCheck categorizes the information it finds, too. The first category is the Sleaze Detector, which is where you will find information about DUIs, sexual offenses, or other criminal issues. Next up is Compatibility, matching their zodiac sign to yours (okay, this one is not very scientific), followed by Net Worth, Living Situation, and Interests. It’s so effective at checking out these categories that if a person owns a home, for instance, you stand a decent chance of being able to tell its number of bedrooms and square footage.

Unfortunately, DateCheck is only available for the iPhone right now, so if you have another kind of mobile phone you’re out of luck. But look on the bright side – if you’ve been looking for an excuse to buy an iPhone this neat little application might just be the reason you need!

Dating Essentials Background Checks, Crime, iPhone, Mobile, Online Safety