Showing posts with label online dating background checks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online dating background checks. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
UK Dating Scams a Serious Risk, Say London Investigators



According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the U.K. is the seventh strongest economy in the world and the third among the members of the European Union, just below Germany and France. Through the years the British nation has been home to millions of illegal from Spain, Turkey and other countries from Europe, and Africa. The U.K. is the capital of the financial markets for Europe in many respects, and a strong link for those countries and the NYSE in America.

Nest to the industrialized world, Britain has historically learnt to go with the flow and remains a powerful country despite wars, inflation, taxes, middle ground prime ministers, media scandals and beautiful duchesses. The Brits in some regards have had their guards down. During this time of lax enforcement and awareness, immigrants have all but taken over the country, and online scams and fraud have reached out of control levels. UK dating scams are among the worst.

With half of countries in the old continent succumbing to bad economies, the British are now a prime target for internet scammers operating in Eastern Europe in countries like Romania, the Ukraine and Russia. Not to mention Spain, the Philippines, Malaysia and West Africa. Criminals from all over the worlds are mixing in with honest British folks seeking romance online.

A report by the Serious Organized Crime Association (SOCA, U.K.), claims that one person out of 50 has been a victim of online dating scams in the U.K. Considering the large number of subscribers, this is an alarming number of victims. There were 592 reported cases in 2011 of online dating fraud in which victims’ lost from £5,000 to £24,900 each, on average, and yet, SOCA affirms that numbers are likely much higher as not all cases are reported to authorities.

London private investigators say fraudsters see the U.K. as a very profitable country for romance scams just after the U.S., Canada and Australia, and advise to conduct dating background checks to very new relationships online. Internet criminals and scammers are increasingly using complex tactics to target potential victims, and anyone can be a victim. It’s best to verify.

Romance over the internet is a fact of modern life, and whether it’s Match.com, eHarmony, ChristianSingles, Zoosk or Facebook or one of the countless other sites for online dating and social networking, UK private investigators say it’s important for consumers to know that no site is immune from fraud. Subscribers need to be skeptical and not reveal personal information. Experts strongly advise against providing personal data or payment to anyone overseas without first having the person or business verified by a reputable private investigation company.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2012 A Hathaway

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Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Romance Scams on the Rise: Dating Background Checks Advised

Investigators See More Risks in Online Dating













Private investigators report a significant increase in the demand for online dating background checks. Major sites like Match.com also have posted important scam warning information on their websites to inform subscribers in response to the increased risk for fraud and scams. Despite all the information available on the internet about the warning signs, the fact is, it can be very difficult to determine who is the real thing, and who is the scammer online. Experts say in many cases, the only to be sure is to have the subject verified with a professional dating background check.

Industry observers and private investigation firms report the problem is likely to worsen. The reason is that more and more people are now connecting and starting relationships online, often with persons in other countries. Sites like Match.com, eHarmony and Facebook have millions of subscribers, and currently there is no system in place to adequately screen all the users. The result is a percentage of the users are criminals who engage in advance fee fraud, identity theft, romance scams and other attempts to steal your money or personal data. If a person resides in a foreign country, the only way to truly verify and investigate that individual is through an international private investigator or professional international background company.

Experts warn that many companies claim to offer international background checks, but actually only search databases, which are often dated or inaccurate. In fact, outside the United States, Canada, the U.K. and Australia, searching databases is of little value, and only a professional investigation or international background check company, such as Wymoo® International, with international offices or field investigators is capable of verifying persons outside those countries. When shopping for an investigator, be sure to ask how the investigator or company will verify the individual. If they have no investigator or agent in that country where the subjec resides, keep shopping.

To protect yourself from scam or fraud when dating online or using social networking sites, investigators offer the following advice. Be very skeptical of emergencies, requests for money, accidents, etc where the indivdaul requests assistance in a foreign country. Do not reveal your date of birth, address or other information that could be used to steal your identity. If you are considering a serious relationship, contact a licensed private investigator in the area where the subject resides. If the individual lives outside your home country, hire a reputable international background or private investigation firm to verify.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway
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