One of the main reasons people avoid online dating is because it seems to be an unsafe method of meeting that special someone.  You don’t get to see anything more than their picture and you can’t be sure anything they say is true.

Consequently, a lot of people are staying off line, but are also staying single.

The idea of background checks has become a popular selling point for sites like True.com.  By screening all of their singles, members of the site feel safer knowing that they are talking to the ‘real’ person they think they are talking to.

Or are they?

There’s a lot of discussion right now as to whether these background checks are actually all that effective.  After all, thieves and con artists thwart them in other situations, why is it so difficult to believe that they can’t slip past them here too?

Some people are crying ‘foul’ for these background checks as they generally are only a cursory check that doesn’t usually spot the liars.

But with potential new legislation making background checks necessary for online dating, is this combination of events setting up the online dating system for a fall?

If this legislation is enacted, more singles might come online, thinking that online dating is safer.  But since the checks are often meaningless, this might actually increase the dangers of getting online – more people = more problems.

In the next few years, this question is going to be something that people consider before searching for love online.  For if the checks in place aren’t really helping, then what’s the benefit to them?

Happy Valentine’s Day?

News & Views, Personal Profiles Background Checks, Profile, Risks, Trust, Truth

When you’re dating online, the last thing that you’re thinking about is your identity. Well, maybe you are. But it’s not in the same way as everyone else on the Internet might be thinking of it.

There are thieves out there. Lots of them. On the Internet, where everyone can be an anonymous as they want to be, you are taking a risk when you go online to meet people.

And I’m not just talking about basic online safety either or trying to prevent meeting up with stalkers or violent criminals.

Identity theft is becoming more and more common on dating sites. When you’re giving our your personal information, many people are able to see it, see your picture, and see how they can use this information to get into your credit cards, bank accounts, and more.

But what can you do? You can’t lie about who you are because that defeats the whole purpose. You would have to head back to the bars to date again. Sigh.

Here are some quick tips for staying safe and staying online:

• Don’t list last names that are visible to the public
• Change your birthday slightly – like the year, for example
• Don’t identify where you work or where you went to school

In short, don’t have a profile that’s filled with personal information. You can even list your address as near to the city that you actually live in, then reveal the real location when you are comfortable. Read more about dating safely.

Safety Bars, Identity, Meet People, Online Safety, Risks, Stalking, Violence