I wouldn't go so far as to say people that date on line get what they deserve; they don't. But I find it rather lame to have to resort to that sort of thing in the first place. They need to get away from their computer and go out into the world and meet people themselves...something that has been done for millennia. Finding someone on the internet is worst than a blind date, IMO.

Just helping to spread the word about online dating scams. $15 Billion dollar business. Anyone online is a target of these scams.

They chat with you, become online friends, profess their love, then start asking for help, in the form of money, to help cash checks, or to re-ship stuff to them. People around the world lose big money to these criminals.

For complete details about these scams, visit the Yahoo Group Romancescams. http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/romancescams

Hope this helps!

Thanks,

Mark

"I'm trying to maintain a shred of dignity in this world." - Me

I wouldn't go so far as to say people that date on line get what they deserve; they don't. But I find it rather lame to have to resort to that sort of thing in the first place. They need to get away from their computer and go out into the world and meet people themselves...something that has been done for millennia. Finding someone on the internet is worst than a blind date, IMO.

Or you could be on a (non-dating) local bbs together. Meet later at a party. End up disliking each other. Then much later end up dating. Move in together. Break up. Get back together 2 years later. End up happily married. 6 years and counting. ;)

I wouldn't go so far as to say people that date on line get what they deserve; they don't. But I find it rather lame to have to resort to that sort of thing in the first place. They need to get away from their computer and go out into the world and meet people themselves...something that has been done for millennia. Finding someone on the internet is worst than a blind date, IMO.

Or you could be on a (non-dating) local bbs together. Meet later at a party. End up disliking each other. Then much later end up dating. Move in together. Break up. Get back together 2 years later. End up happily married. 6 years and counting. ;)

Congratulations! I was refering to dating services...I should have been more specific.

Just helping to spread the word about online dating scams. $15 Billion dollar business. Anyone online is a target of these scams.

They chat with you, become online friends, profess their love, then start asking for help, in the form of money, to help cash checks, or to re-ship stuff to them. People around the world lose big money to these criminals.

For complete details about these scams, visit the Yahoo Group Romancescams. http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/romancescams

Hope this helps!

Thanks,

Mark

Is it organized?

I have heard about those stories with people who are getting milked for money to these scammers.

Taking advantage of people's loneliness is detestable, and playing with other people's feeling is just as bad.

Many years ago on my workplace we had a little game among the staff, that we were assigned a task of being the good or the teasing fairy towards our colleagues, and I had a good fairy, where I found little gifts every day in my pockets or in my bag. One day I received an envelope from the local newspaper, containing more than 10 letters from men, who wanted some company during the Christmas from a pixie girl. I realized, that somebody had put on a personal ad in my name, and I found it and saw it was a joke. Some of the guys, who answered, took it as the joke it was meant as and sent me a Christmas card, some with a phonenumber saying that I could call them if I wanted company. But about a handful of these letters were heartbreaking answers from men, who were dead serious.

I was not amused, specially at the last day before Christmas, where it was disclosed who was our pixies and what we had done or given to each other as the teasing or the good pixie, and I told about these responses to the company of a Christmas pixie ad and where the others started to ask me about details from these letters. Some were even disappointed that I didn't bring them for them to see them and laugh of them.

I burned the letters, and I put and ad in the newspaper telling those who had responded that I was sorry, but it was a joke, and I had burned their letters.

Taking advantage of these people is easy, they are easy targets, they don't need to be ridiculed or abused.

I wouldn't go so far as to say people that date on line get what they deserve; they don't. But I find it rather lame to have to resort to that sort of thing in the first place. They need to get away from their computer and go out into the world and meet people themselves...something that has been done for millennia. Finding someone on the internet is worst than a blind date, IMO.

Or you could be on a (non-dating) local bbs together. Meet later at a party. End up disliking each other. Then much later end up dating. Move in together. Break up. Get back together 2 years later. End up happily married. 6 years and counting. ;)

"I'm trying to maintain a shred of dignity in this world." - Me

I wouldn't go so far as to say people that date on line get what they deserve; they don't. But I find it rather lame to have to resort to that sort of thing in the first place. They need to get away from their computer and go out into the world and meet people themselves...something that has been done for millennia. Finding someone on the internet is worst than a blind date, IMO.

Or you could be on a (non-dating) local bbs together. Meet later at a party. End up disliking each other. Then much later end up dating. Move in together. Break up. Get back together 2 years later. End up happily married. 6 years and counting. ;)

Congrats on the 6 years! - I was happily married for 6 years.... Twice! :)

Congratulations! I was refering to dating services...I should have been more specific.

Where ever you meet someone..whether real life or the internet there is a risk that you are going to be taken advantage of. It is good advice to be wary, but then again..my friend met her husband on a forum. He moved over from Canada to be with her and they are still together many years later.

I wouldn't go so far as to say people that date on line get what they deserve; they don't. But I find it rather lame to have to resort to that sort of thing in the first place. They need to get away from their computer and go out into the world and meet people themselves...something that has been done for millennia. Finding someone on the internet is worst than a blind date, IMO.

Or you could be on a (non-dating) local bbs together. Meet later at a party. End up disliking each other. Then much later end up dating. Move in together. Break up. Get back together 2 years later. End up happily married. 6 years and counting. ;)

Awww... how romatic! :-D

-> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> 6 years of

I wouldn't go so far as to say people that date on line get what they deserve; they don't. But I find it rather lame to have to resort to that sort of thing in the first place. They need to get away from their computer and go out into the world and meet people themselves...something that has been done for millennia. Finding someone on the internet is worst than a blind date, IMO.

Or you could be on a (non-dating) local bbs together. Meet later at a party. End up disliking each other. Then much later end up dating. Move in together. Break up. Get back together 2 years later. End up happily married. 6 years and counting. ;)

Awww... how romatic! :-D

-> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> 6 years of

Now that is what I call a story in pictures! :)

"I'm trying to maintain a shred of dignity in this world." - Me

I'd sure like to know what sites this guy is referring to, anyway. Scammers probably tend not to do anything more than register, meaning they cannot initiate e-mail contact (or sometimes even respond to, or even read, what is sent) without becoming a PAYING member.

I'd sure like to know what sites this guy is referring to, anyway. Scammers probably tend not to do anything more than register, meaning they cannot initiate e-mail contact (or sometimes even respond to, or even read, what is sent) without becoming a PAYING member.

Almost all dating websites, like Americansingles, Yahoo Personals, Match.com, etc, have hundreds, if not thousands of scammer profiles on them. There are a very few that check out their clients IP addresses, or billing information to ensure they are not fraudulent. They are the exception by far.