| Investigators Report Increase in Online Dating | | | | emphasize getting a background check early, since |
| Scams | | | | many consumers contact private investigators |
| Online dating websites are booming and | | | | after the damage is done, and the fraud or scam |
| consumers now have hundreds of match-making | | | | complete. |
| and internet dating sites to choose from. In | | | | Of course most people on the Internet on social |
| addition to popular websites such as and | | | | networking sites and online dating websites are |
| eHarmony, millions are connected to social | | | | good people and honest. Criminals have |
| networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. | | | | unfortunately taken advantage of this situation, as |
| Experts warn that persons met via the Internet | | | | nearly all such websites don't provide any |
| should be verified to minimize the risk for scams. | | | | verification process for their subscribers. As a |
| International background check services are | | | | result, many scammers are now targeting such |
| available and recommended for any relationship | | | | websites and targeting the consumers online. The |
| which is begun over the Internet, and when the | | | | criminals pose as Mr. or Ms. Perfect and work to |
| person involved is not known personally. Without | | | | gain the victim's trust and heart - and later their |
| the assistance of a professional investigator or | | | | money. Scammers are increasingly sophisticated in |
| background check company, it can be nearly | | | | their techniques and distinguising the good from |
| impossible to verify if someone is who he or she | | | | the bad is no an easy task, and a professional |
| claims to be when the subject resides in a foreign | | | | background is advised. |
| country. Private investigators recently have | | | | Major red flags include working overseas, sudden |
| reported strong demand in background checks as | | | | emergencies or illness, requests for money, and |
| the risk for scams and fraud increase, and more | | | | so on. Investigators warn however that the |
| people are now connecting online. | | | | combinations are endless. In conclusion, online |
| A dating background check is simply a background | | | | dating is a risk-reward game, and the risk |
| check or verification process which involves a | | | | continues to rise. |
| subject who was met over the Internet, and | | | | Best of luck, |
| where the relationship is romantic in nature. If a | | | | A. Hathaway |
| relationship is progressing and there is a chance | | | | © 2010 A. |
| for a serious relationship, industry observers | | | | |