| Online Dating Increases Demand for Background | | | | or scam. Because of the millions of users |
| Checks | | | | connecting with others online, however, the other |
| Internet match-making sites like and eHarmony | | | | 10% is a very large number of consumers |
| are in high demand worldwide, and combined with | | | | worldwide. In other words, it's prudent to be |
| social networking sites like Facebook, more and | | | | cautious and get a dating background check |
| more people are meeting via the Internet than | | | | before getting serious in any Internet romance. |
| ever before. With this new platform for meeting | | | | Private investigators often see clients after the |
| friends, business contacts and romance, comes | | | | damage has been done, and victims have had |
| new risks and consumers are increasingly turning | | | | their identity stolen, or bank accounts drained. |
| to international private investigators. Industry | | | | Therefore, it's a wise idea to get the background |
| observers agree it's wise to have online | | | | check early to minimize the risks involved. |
| relationships verified. The alternative can be costly. | | | | What are the warning signs? Private investigators |
| Scammers and criminals of fraud are becoming | | | | advise consumers to be skeptical of relationships |
| increasingly sophisticated in their techniques. | | | | too good to be true. Be extra cautious if the |
| Unfortunately, as methods of conducting fraud | | | | subject claims to be living or working abroad. |
| and dating scams increase in complexity, it is | | | | Never send money to any individual overseas |
| becoming much harder to determine who is the | | | | who is not known personally or verified by a |
| real thing on the Internet, and who is the criminal. | | | | professional private investigator. Be skeptical of |
| International background checks are strongly | | | | any deals which require an advance payment. If |
| advised for consumers who are considering a | | | | the subject claims to have been an in accident or |
| serious personal or business relationship with any | | | | needs cash in the event of an emergency, do not |
| individual overseas, especially if the relationship | | | | send money or panic. Contact a professional |
| was begun online. | | | | private investigator for assistance. |
| Experts claim that close to 90% of the | | | | Best of luck, |
| relationships begun via the Internet are honest | | | | A. Hathaway |
| and open relationships, with no elements of fraud | | | | © 2010 A. |