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7 Important Tips For Senior Women To Remain Safe From Scammers
May 2, 2020 | Life | By Lisa Smith
Online scams are one of the biggest problem women face when looking for a date in their 50s and 60s. Hundreds of thousands of women worldwide fall victim to online romance scams every year. An estimated 25 scammers are on social media or dating apps whenever users are online.
However, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to find a date or build relationships online as a senior; you just have to be careful and follow a few guidelines that will help prevent unfortunate events from occurring.
Here are 7 important tips for senior women to remain safe from scammers
1. Make Sure You Know The Person
Be sure you know anybody that sends you a friend request on social media before accepting it. Be wary of people who only show a handful of information like friends or pictures on their profile page. If they claim to have mutual friends with you, be sure to verify before accepting.
2. Keep The Conversation Within The Dating Site
When you meet someone new on social media or dating sites and they want to leave the sites to chat feature in favor of another messaging platform, it’s a red flag and should be avoided. Scammers are known to prefer communicating with victims on more than one platform.
3. Never Share Your Private Information Online
It’s okay to share basic information like your name, age and marital status online as it can help choose suitable matches for you, helping you build new connections or relationships. However, confidential information such as phone number, ID and account information should not be mentioned on your profile or shared with people you just met online.
4. Avoid Exchange Of Nudity
Avoid sharing your nude images, videos or sex cams with strangers you meet online. They can be posted without your consent or used to blackmail you and extort money or valuables from you.
5. Take Advantage Of Any Advanced Feature On The APP
Most scammers won’t spend money on paying for extra features on dating apps, so, upgrading your account will reduce the risk of you coming across them and being scammed.
6. Keep Judging Even When You Are Sure
Even when you think they are legit; continue verifying whatever they show you. Google their names and their photos, check records like marriage, divorce and criminal records. You can never be too careful.
7. Do A Bit Of Investigation
Do a bit of investigation before you trust a total stranger you just met and allow them into your lives. Spending a little money could save you from heartbreak and being scammed. Remember, if it’s too good to be true, then it isn’t true.
If you feel like you’ve been scammed, please be sure to report them to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you also notice anyone showing signs that they want to scam you, block and report that account.
You can still find a good companion online as a senior and live a happy life; just be smart and follow these tips provided and you are good to go.
