Online dating has become an integral part of modern culture. Today, almost every single person has at least one dating app installed on their phone. But there is a problem: being too focused on finding “the one”, many people forget about the basic digital safety rules and put their privacy at risk.
So, where is the line between being transparent and maintaining your privacy on dating websites? Here are six important rules to follow when looking for brides online.
Use Trustworthy Dating Websites
The first step you should take to protect yourself is to choose a dating service you can trust. Not all websites that claim to be dating sites are actually good. Some are scam sites designed to steal money.
Before you create a profile, double-check whether you have chosen the right platform. Pay close attention to the quality of content and read customer reviews online. Along with free mail order bride sites, you can also visit BridesUniverse to check the website’s ranking. If the website of your choice is on the top ten list, you can totally trust it.
When you meet someone on a dating app, you start talking about different topics. You discuss everything from your favorite movies and food to your relationship with relatives and travel experience.
When talking with strangers online, you should be aware of some risks. If a person keeps asking you random questions that sound like security questions, you should stop talking to them immediately. Here are a few examples of questions that must alert you:
- What is your mother’s maiden name?
- In what city your father was born?
- What is the name of your first pet?
- What was the name of your first teacher?
- What was the make of your first car?
By knowing the answers to these questions and using other information from your dating profile, a scammer can hack your banking account, as well as your mail, social media, and other important accounts.
So what should you do if someone asks you one of these questions? How can you understand whether you are talking to a real person or a scammer? Don’t answer this question and try to change the topic. Or tell a joke instead of providing a real answer.
If you are talking to someone who is genuinely interested in you, they wouldn’t mind such a response. But if you are talking to a scammer, they will insist you provide specific answers and keep asking similar questions.
Never Reveal Your Secrets
People tend to be more open in online conversations than in real life. When no one can see us, we have a false sense of privacy and safety—but in fact, it’s just an illusion.
Accidentally, you can spill the beans: share a secret about the new product your company is launching or some information from your past that can be used against you (for instance, you moved to another country illegally).
If you don’t want to get in trouble while chatting with potential brides online, you should make a list of topics you should never discuss before meeting in person.
This list should include questions about your private life, your job, and also people you know. Make a mental note on this issue, and you will protect yourself and others from possible fraud.
Many men come to dating sites looking for mail-order relationships. When they meet a beautiful girl, they want to show her their generosity and care by sending gifts and flowers – and that’s an absolutely normal practice. But some scammers use this to fool people and get money.
There are many fraudulent schemes. Let’s consider two of them.
The first scheme involves a woman receiving a massage from a man who says, “Hey babe, you are so sweet! I want to send you money so you can buy yourself a nice gift. Send me your credit card number, including expiration date and CVV code. Will $1000 be enough to buy a beautiful dress?”
Once a woman provides her information, scammers steal all the money she has on her credit card—and they do it in one click. So, even if a woman realizes she has made a mistake, she can’t fix it. Her balance will be zero before she locks the card.
The second scheme. In this scheme, the victim is a man. A girl sends a message to a man she has been talking to for a while: “Hi Michael! I have a birthday next week. I thought you would like to buy me a gift. I’ve actually chosen one. I want to order a bag from the XYZ brand. It’s just $100. Here is a link where you can pay for it.”
The link leads to a scam website that asks to provide all credit card information, just like in the example above. If a man fills in the required fields, he allows scammers to steal his money.
Don’t share your credit card information, whatever website you use, dating, or any other website. You and only you should know your CVV code, pin code, and other secret information — this is the simplest strategy to avoid online fraud.
Analyze Content Quality
Scammers don’t invest much in content quality when creating a fake website or dating profile. Typically, they make lots of grammar and punctuation mistakes in their writing, and it’s easy to spot.
So when you get a message from a foreign person, and it’s full of mistakes, don’t rush to reply. Analyze the text to understand whether it’s written by scammers or a non-native speaker.
Know Local Rules
Do you want to look for a wife on a foreign site? Learn more about the privacy policy of the chosen service:
- What type of data is collected?
- How this data is processed.
- Whether third parties can access it.
Some developing countries don’t regulate user data collection and usage, so your data may end up in the hands of scammers.
Also, make sure to check what information you can and can’t share on your profile. Some services may prohibit explicit photos or using explicit language. Follow the rules to add transparency to your profile and get a better ranking.
Wrapping up
Follow these simple tips when looking for grooms and brides online. It will allow you to play safe while getting the most out of your dating experience.
Dating sites, just like all other sites, should be used mindfully. If you have a good understanding of what information you should and shouldn’t provide to third parties, you will never get in trouble.
