Home | WebMail | Register or Login

      Calgary | Regions | Local Traffic Report | Advertise on Action News | Contact

Sign Up

Sign Up

Please fill this form to create an account.

Already have an account? Login here.

Posted: 2022-03-23T22:57:17Z | Updated: 2022-04-20T00:40:12Z

Join HuffPost for a Twitter Spaces conversation about what its like to date a con artist on Monday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m. ET. Dating expert Jasmine Diaz will share more tips on what red flags to look out for to avoid scammers on dating apps. Sign up to be notified when the Twitter Spaces begins here .

Since the Netflix documentaries Bad Vegan and The Tinder Swindler captured the attention of streaming audiences, theres been a lot of talk about online romance scams and lots of questions about how to avoid being swindled while meeting people online.

The docuseries Bad Vegan follows former celebrity restaurateur Sarma Melngailis fall from grace after she got involved with Anthony Strangis, a man she met on Twitter and later married. Strangis allegedly told his wife that if she passed a series of tests, which included transferring large sums of money from the restaurant to him , he could make her beloved pit bull live forever among other outlandish promises .

The Tinder Swindler tells the story of the con artist Shimon Hayut , known as Simon Leviev, who allegedly used Tinder to meet the women he would go on to defraud out of millions of dollars. Posing as the son of a wealthy diamond magnate, Hayut wooed his targets with high-end dates before convincing them to loan him money, claiming he was in danger and unable to use his own credit cards for security reasons. He has since been banned from Tinder and several other dating apps and sites .

If these documentaries have made you wary about the people you encounter when looking for love online, read on. Below, experts explain what red flags to look out for and what to do if you match with someone who seems suspicious.

1. Their story is full of inconsistencies.

When the information someone shared with you on an app doesnt match what theyve told you via text or elsewhere, you have reason to be wary. When a person is lying, they may not remember what theyve said to you before, making it hard to keep their story straight. Or if theyre desperate to keep you engaged, theyll just tell you whatever they think you want to hear . Maybe they initially told you they dont watch football, but now theyre telling you they have season tickets to your favorite team.

Scammers will do anything to con their way to your heart, including providing false or misleading information and using your emotions as a weapon to manipulate, dating expert and matchmaker Jasmine Diaz of the Diaz Dating Group told HuffPost. Its important to watch and listen for these inconsistencies; otherwise, you might find yourself on the receiving end of heartbreak.

2. They seem too good to be true.

Be cautious around people who come on too strong . A person who showers you with over-the-top romantic gestures and declarations of their affection very early on in a relationship may be love-bombing you in order to manipulate you.

This may include expensive trips, lavish gifts, or over-the-top displays of affection in an attempt to take you off your guard, Diaz said.

Every relationship will go through a newlywed stage, but if you believe your partner is too good to be true, they probably are, she said.

Once a love-bomber has lured you in with all of the attention, gifts and compliments, theyll pull the rug out from under you.

Its a classic bait-and-switch, marriage and family therapist Virginia Gilbert previously told HuffPost . They seem to be doing all the giving until you realize youre doing all the giving and they have used you for your body, your wallet, your home, your caretaking ability and your empathy.

3. They refuse to video chat or meet up with you IRL.