Signs That You Are Dating a ‘Tinder Swindler’


Dating apps are an excellent way to meet new people without spending too much time going to mixers. The current economy leaves little to no time for people to socialize, and dating apps fill that gap by letting single people meet someone while sitting at home. 

The downside of dating apps is that they are full of scammers ready to take money from unsuspecting victims. Dating scams are better known as romance scams as they are prone to people who believe they have found love. 

Romance scams have been around for a long time, and men have been the target victims for a long time. Since 2019, there has been a steady increase in female victims of romance scams, especially well-off single women looking for love.

Learning the signs of a romance scam can help you avoid being swindled out of your savings in the name of love or building a future. 

Signs That A Date Could Be A 'Tinder Swindler'

Romance scams are not limited to dating apps only. Many cases were reported from Facebook and Instagram users who gave financial help to people they met online. Here are some of the signs to look out for when dating.

1. Lack of Physical Meetings

Beware of people who have a hard time meeting with you in person. There is a reason why dating rules demand that you go out with someone at least three times before things get serious. Scammers usually have excuses why they can meet you in person.

Common excuses include working overseas, traveling for business, working on a deal at a different location, or the good old 'something came up' excuse.

If you haven't met up with someone you've been chatting with for weeks, it's time to consider other matches for a date. Find someone willing to meet for coffee or drinks by the next week.

2. Claims of Being Rich

Most rich men and women have many suitable individuals trying to get a date with them. It is rare to find a millionaire or billionaire on a dating site. Anyone showing wealth or claiming to be rich on a dating site is probably trying too hard to get your attention.

Moreover, rich people don’t need to show it because wealth is part of their daily life. You will notice it without them telling you about their wealth. Run if anyone tells you they are rich on a dating site or online.

3. Going Straight to Text and Calls

Most dating apps have many communication features, including DM, audio calls, and video calls. Anyone who immediately claims that you should exchange phone numbers or emails is trying to find out more about you.

Emails addresses or phone numbers can reveal a lot about the owner. A swindler needs some personal information to research you. Refrain from sharing your phone number or email until you have a second date with someone.

4. Talks about ‘Our Future’

It is strange for someone you have met and known for a short period to start talking about building a future together for a short while. Talking about building a future is one of the ways scammers form an intense bond with their victims. A swindler will make you believe that you have nothing to worry about because they have your back. 

You will lower your guard and start explaining away any anomalies you notice in your relationship because you don't feel threatened. Most victims even start preparing for the future by making plans to move in together.

5. Asking For Money

It’s abnormal for people you’ve just met to ask you for money. Any normal person will be uncomfortable asking someone they’ve met or gone on a few dates with for money. Romance scammers will ask you for money as soon as possible because that’s their end game.

One unique aspect of romance scammers and money is that they make elaborate stories that appeal to your empathy. Their stories will make you want to help them or make their life less stressful. 

Also, romance scammers make their victims feel like the only lifeline, and they may end up in worse circumstances if the victim doesn't help them out. RUN if someone shares a story that makes you feel like their life is in danger or that many bad things have happened to them.

What to Do When You Are a Victim of A Romance Scam

Stop all communication immediately once you notice that you are part of a romance scam and someone is using you to get your money. Change any passwords you may have shared and cancel any credit cards you gave them.

Notify the financial institutions you use for potential fraud and share all your information on the scammer. You can report all transfers you did to the scammer to your bank so that they can flag them as fraud.

Make a complaint to whatever dating app or social media platform you met the scammer. Also, notify the authorities about the scammer and any transaction to the scammer's account.

Romance scams are hard to prove and even harder to recover your hard-earned cash. Reporting romance scam cases gives authorities reasonable doubt to look into the matter when several people report a scammer.

Once you have taken the necessary measures to protect your finances, take time to heal emotionally. Romance scams are still romantic entanglements, and they leave scars like any other toxic relationship. Focus on yourself, forgive yourself, heal, and get back on the horse to continue with your quest to find true love. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Protect Your Online Activities 2022| Affordable "No Logs" VPN Service Providers

Image
VPNs are becoming an essential service for anyone who spends a significant amount of time online.  Being a cyber ghost means not leaving browser history related to your IP address.  The Best No Logs VPN in 2022 are: #1 NordVPN - Speed and Security #2 ExpressVPN #3 SurfShark VPN #4 PureVPN – Inexpensive option If you’re looking for a no log VPN for your phone, PC, or smart home gadgets, and office computers, then look no further. I have explained below the best vpn service providers that hide your online activities and don't keep records on their servers.  What Is a VPN?  When you use the Internet, you are identified by your IP address . It’s assigned to you by your internet service provider (ISP) and used by them to send back the information you request, such as web pages. They can also use it to keep records of every website you visit. Every single search, click to websites, click to view images, every time you open something in a new tab, and everythin...
Read more

How to Get Out Of Debt| 9 Practical Tips for Kenyans 2021

Getting out of bad debts has become a regular topic of discussion in many savings forums in Kenya. It seems many people cannot manage their funds and only take loans they are able to service on time.  I personally don’t think that many people with bad debts are living beyond their means. My observation is that people take one loan, mostly small, with the intent to pay it. The simple action later has a snowballing effect on their personal debt.  Here’s what I’m talking about… A friend of mine took a small mobile loan to buy groceries at the early stages of the pandemic. She had every intention of repaying the loan on payday. However, her employer announced pay cuts of 50 % because of a decline in sales. So, her check only had enough money to cover her monthly bills.  She took another small loan to pay for daily expenses while she applied for a check-off loan. This was before people started working from home. Her work Sacco told her she has to wait for a while to get the ...
Read more

HOW TO BECOME AN EARLY RISER WITHOUT TRYING TOO HARD

Image
Early risers are often praised for their ability to get up earlier than the rest. They are viewed as people who are focused and know what they want from life. This mentality has pushed most parents to reprimand their sleep loving children for being lazy. Most people have been woken up early their entire life just because sleeping in is associated with laziness.The pressure to be associated with success is always high in today's society and early risers are associated with success. There are people who arrive at work so early that they make it seem like people who come to work on time are late!  So how do you become an early riser? 1. Find something important to do in the morning When I say something important I don't mean your job unless your job is your passion. It has to be something you really love. I know some ladies who wake up early to put on their make up well and do their hair. Gym fanatics are also known to be at the gym at ungodly hours to keep their bodies ...
Read more