How to recognise, and outsmart, an online dating service
fraudster.
Valentine's Day is almost upon us again but unwary romantics
could end up losing more than their hearts if they are unlucky
enough to become the target of a dating service scam.
Internet and phone introduction services have grown in
popularity and have become widely accepted tools for meeting
people.
According to researcher Nielsen-NetRatings NetView about 1.3
million Australians used internet dating services last year, an
increase of 24 per cent over the previous year.
The increasing popularity has been matched by a steady stream of
complaints to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission,
about one a week, from users of these services who have attracted
the attention of fraudsters.
In several cases reported to the ACCC recently victims have lost
thousands of dollars and one person was preparing to send nearly
$100,000 overseas in what was almost certainly an elaborate dating
hoax.
One notable feature of dating service scams is the time some
criminals take to cultivate their victims, sometimes stringing them
along for more than a year in an attempt to build trust before
reeling them in.
The tactics range from variations on the well-known Nigerian
scam through to mobile text services that charge huge fees.
A common strategy used to access wallets is to respond to
personal profiles posted by singles on reputable dating sites.
The response, often accompanied by a photo of a beautiful woman,
begins innocently enough. Some weeks or months later, once a
relationship is established, a request arrives for money to help a
sick relative or to pay for air fares so the two parties can meet
face to face.
The ACCC has also heard from victims who have been asked to pay
up to $5000 for background checks allegedly required by the
prospective date's home country before they are allowed to
travel.
Other variations include slowly drawing personal details out of
the victim until the scammer has enough information to drain bank
accounts or assume the identity of the victim and run up huge bills
in their name.
Text message services come with their own traps. Unscrupulous
operators require users to dial expensive premium numbers and
attempt to draw out conversations or SMS exchanges in order to
generate the most revenue. Some text responses may in fact not even
be from a real person and are generated instead by a computer.
This sounds like bad news for the lonely but there are ways to
avoid trouble.
Time-wasters who deliberately put off or make excuses for
avoiding personal contact may be more interested in running up your
phone bill or siphoning funds from your bank account than getting
to know you.
Check services carefully before relying on them, read all terms
and conditions carefully and ensure you understand all the costs
involved. Most legitimate sites carry advice on protecting yourself
and avoiding scammers.
Be wary of those who ask too many questions about your financial
status, such as whether you own a house or ask your income. Be
especially careful not to divulge details such as bank account
numbers or PINs.
Don't rely on documents sent by a prospective partner. Where
possible check any claims, such as references from an Australian
employer, independently of the details passed on.
Be wary of phone numbers that start with 190. These are premium
services, charged at much higher rates than standard calls or SMS
services. However, they are covered by industry codes and schemes
can be shut down quickly if they are found to be duping
customers.
Complaints about premium telephone services can be directed to
the Telephone Information Service Standards Council at www.190complaints.com.au.
The ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502 and its SCAMwatch website,
www.scamwatch.gov.au, can
also provide information and assistance.
Most importantly, check thoroughly before committing funds to
anyone you don't know. You can't buy love but you can lose a lot of
money trying if you aren't careful.
Graeme Samuel is chairman of the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission.
