Online dating has transformed from being a modest,
underused and ‘hush hush’ concept – with a pinch of embarrassment – to a
mainstream, popular and transformative entity. As a Pew Research Center survey from 2013 revealed, it has “lost
much of its stigma”. Looking for love in the 21st century? It’s possibly a
click and a swipe away. For one in five couples, that’s certainly now the case.
However, for some, not everything is as it seems.
As the Federal Bureau of Investigation has stated, cybercriminals are
on the prowl, “looking to turn the lonely and vulnerable into fast money
through a variety of scams”. While certain individuals are targeted in high
numbers, everyone is at risk.
Still, there is plenty that people can do to
protect themselves from these heartless scammers. In this feature, we highlight
some of the key tactics used by these con artists. Wizening up to these wise
guys will help you stay safe, secure and maybe find true love.
The “wow” profile dreams are made of
Exhibit 1:
Name: Prince Charming
Address: Lives at Number 1, Really Big Castle, Fairytale Road, La La Land.
Likes: Fighting dragons and evil baddies who want to rule the world
Looking for: The Cinderella of My Dreams
Address: Lives at Number 1, Really Big Castle, Fairytale Road, La La Land.
Likes: Fighting dragons and evil baddies who want to rule the world
Looking for: The Cinderella of My Dreams
Above is the totally amazing, larger than life,
take your breath away profile. In this instance, fact versus fiction is rather
obvious. However, this extreme example is intended to highlight the lengths
that fraudsters will go to present themselves as an unbelievable catch.
Tip: Ask yourself if this profile is believable? Do
they sound genuine? Is that glossy magazine profile real? Chances are it’s all
smoke and mirrors, behind which is a very ugly con. Also look out for
professionally written bios, as well as those that have poor grammar and
spelling. These can be very telling indicators.
Behavior that is unpredictable and unusual
Exhibit 2:
Prince Charming: “I saw your profile. I think you
seem really cool. Let me know if you want to chat. I’m busy today. Have to save
the villagers from a dragon.”
Prince Charming: “Sorry, I have to go … the mayor
wants to talk about financing the rebuild of some of the village. He’s keen for
financial assistance. Looks like a great opportunity for investment. Speak soon
x”
If your prospective date appears to be “out of
touch or out of kilter”, as Get Safe Online puts it, there is probably a very good reason
for this. It’s likely to be an indicator that they are not who they say they
are and that they are even making things up as they go along.
Tip: Trust your instinct – that might help. Human
beings are good at picking up on things that don’t quite make sense. So,
question things that seem fanciful, that have come out of the blue, that are
inconsistent to what has previously been said. Sudden changes in behavior are a
warning sign.
Slowly setting up the kill with manipulation
Exhibit 3:
Prince Charming: “I managed to scare the dragon
away. Chatting from a hospital. I’ve lost my credit card. Not sure how I’m
going to pay for the treatment. Anyway, how are you?”
Prince Charming: “You’ve really surprised me, with
your interest in helping put some money into the redevelopment of the village
and the support you’ve shown me over the dragon attack, the skirmish with the
big, bad wolf and the great battle with the Wicked Witch.”
The ability to manipulate victims is one of the key
tools in the arsenal of cybercriminals. Social engineering,
as it is known, is a popular tactic in online dating scams, as it helps
fraudsters build trust. In the above example, Prince Charming mentions he’s in
a hospital because he defeated a dragon and has lost his credit card in the skirmish. He then later lavishly
compliments his prey. This is the slow build up to the kill.
Tip: If a prospective date mentions or infers that
he/she needs money, a request that is heightened by drama, then almost
certainly you’ve bagged yourself a cybercriminal. End the conversation, report
the user and move on. Never agree to pay anyone, however unfortunate their
circumstances appear to be, via an online dating website.
Moving this conversation to a ‘better arena’
Exhibit 4:
Prince Charming: “What say we continue this
conversation elsewhere? Via email or Facebook? It feels a lot securer than on a
dating site, don’t you think? And then we can think about getting a date
sorted. Exciting times ahead!”
Online dating websites are, by and large, safe
platforms where people can chat to one another in an environment where they
have a certain degree of control and protection. This isn’t, of course,
conducive to what a cybercriminal is eager to achieve, hence, very early on,
they will be eager to move the conversation beyond the website. This will often
be framed in a way that suggests the relationship is evolving and becoming more
serious.
Tip: As with sudden declarations of love, swift,
impromptu requests to take the conversation to another platform outside of the
dating website are demonstrative of questionable behavior. There really isn’t a
good enough reason to do this, other than it allows a con artist to direct
their victims to a space where they know they can gain leverage. Vigilance is
essential.
http://www.welivesecurity.com/2016/02/12/prince-charming-valentines-day-scammer/