How to Avoid Scams When Looking for a Serious Relationship Online

The time of day or night that you are typically chatting with a match can also be a telltale sign of what she’s looking for.

“Pay attention to when they’re making conversation with you,” says Lauren Levine, dating expert and co-host of The Margarita Confessionals. “Is it during the workday when they’re bored and trying to pass the time? Is it really late at night? This is probably someone who’s not looking for a relationship sugar daddy los angeles. Also, the conversation should have substance to it. If it’s just, ‘How was your weekend?’ or ‘What are you doing today?’ for days on end, they’re probably not looking to get to know you on a deeper level.”

“If they have a real conversation and want to get to know you as well, they’re probably interested in something more,” she says. “If you’re getting one-line responses, they’re probably not trying to invest in someone. Also, meet up as soon as you feel comfortable. It’s so much easier to understand what someone is like and what they’re looking for when you’re with them face to face.”

Are you using dating apps for marriage? Unfortunately, you’re at special risk of being targeted by scammers, catfishers, frauds and other malicious people, who might target you for your personal or financial information. Identity theft and credit card fraud exploded with the growth of the internet, and dating apps are a new vector along which scammers are targeting vulnerable people.

  • Choose a dating app that offers in-built security features and actively attempts to filter out fake users, bots, etc
  • Never share any personal or identifying information with a stranger, including your home address
  • Never click a link to an external website shared over a dating app
  • Never agree to pay for anything for another person over a dating app

Coffee Meets Bagel

The more potential matches you have, the more likely it is that you’re going to find the right woman for you, right? According to James Anderson, dating expert at Beyond Ages, this way of thinking can actually end up backfiring when you’re in the market for something more serious.

“Many dating apps and dating sites are essentially a numbers game,” he says. “You look through hundreds of profiles, message dozens of people, and maybe get a few dates. With Coffee Meets Bagel things are very different. You receive a daily match that is properly filtered to be in line with what you are looking for.

Since you only get one match a day, each person actually takes the time to review the match instead of making a decision in two seconds based on the photo.”

Match

You’ve seen the commercials, you’ve heard the success stories, and while you’ve probably toyed with the idea of putting money behind your search for a relationship, you still haven’t pulled the trigger. If you haven’t recognized the theme here, let us be straightforward with you: The more involved a dating app is, the less likely users will use it for low-commitment casual encounters.

There are plenty of functionalities you get with Match that make the process more straightforward, from algorithms that point out similarities when viewing profiles to the ability to upload more than a handful of photos, so that you get a fuller picture of the person you’re chatting with.

The League

The League operates under a similar limited match system as Coffee Meets Bagel. In fact, you may even have to wait to sign up, whether that’s a few days or a few months depending on the user base available where you live. After you jump through those hoops, you’re given three matches per day based on the preferences that you outline, which include proximity and age.