Dating on The Internet: Tips Against Rip-Offs | Antivirus Software

Finding a partner for life is the dream of many men and women. Some have been looking for love for years. Nowadays, many are looking for a partner online. There are free and commercial offers there. Some commercial dating sites and dating agencies use resourceful tricks to pull the money out of their customers' pockets. The consumer center NRW gives tips on how people looking for a partner can protect themselves from dubious dating sites and dubious agents.

Tips for Finding a Partner on The Internet

• Place an ad: It is often cheaper to place an ad yourself in the "partner search" section of the daily newspaper than to take out a subscription to a dating agency.

• Do not sign immediately: Anyone who opts for a commercial brokerage should read the contract text carefully before signing. If the mediator pushes you, go to another institute.

• Let your profile show: Compare the contacts recommended by the institute with the so-called partner requirement profile that you signed when you signed the contract. Do the contacts match the requirements you have made? If not, you don't have to pay for the contacts.

• E-mail to throw away: Use a special e-mail address in electronic dating sites that you can easily delete later. In this way, you prevent criminals from gaining your name and address via your email address.

• Be careful with data protection: Before concluding a contract, check whether the imprint of the website contains your name, address, telephone number and a person responsible. Also, make sure that the provider is not allowed to pass on personal data to third parties without your consent, e.g. for advertising purposes.

When Trial Access Becomes a Subscription Trap

Many partner exchanges on the Internet lure with inexpensive test access. If it is not terminated in good time, it can be expensive. Often there are fees of 50 euros a month or more. How to correctly cancel a test subscription is stated in the General Terms and Conditions (GTC) - but these are often difficult to understand.

Greetings from Abroad

The police warn of fraudsters who specifically write to their victims on online dating sites. They shower those looking for a partner with expressions of love and then desperately ask for money, for example for a trip to Germany. Anyone who sends the money via services such as Western Union or Moneygram usually hears nothing about the supposedly great love.

Decoys Encourage Expensive Conversations

A person looking for a partner is not hidden behind every profile on a dating site. In some cases, these are fictional ads designed to pull money out of their pockets from unsuspecting singles. The decoys ask their victims to chat with text messages, for example, which costs 1.99 euros per message, for example. Experts believe that many female profiles on dating sites are faked to attract men and ask them to checkout.

Scam in Advertising

There are also black sheep in dating agencies with a local branch. In some cases, advertising is already being cheated on. Even with an "original photo" it is possible that the person depicted is not looking for a partner at all. Often it is not even apparent at first that a dating agency is behind the ad. In many cases, you only find out when you call the given number. If an agency contacts you and sends a representative to the house, it is usually a trained salesperson who is supposed to push for the conclusion of a contract.

When Love Doesn't Stand a Chance

Some institutes not only charge a monthly fee, but also additional money for each contact made. In some cases, these are decoys who meet with the partner seeker for a fee. The placement company cashes in even though love never had a chance.

No Guarantee of Success for Computer Profile

Some institutes work with standardized personality profiles that are created on the computer. They promise to find the ideal partner from among the saved prospects. Cost: up to 7,000 euros. There is no guarantee of success. Presentation videos for up to 2,000 euros are certainly only one thing: expensive.

While you are sharing your details over the internet make sure you are using the best antivirus software to protect your data from internet threats.