Online dating can sometimes lead to love, and it can sometimes lead to talking to a lot of weirdos on the internet. However, a weirdo is definitely better than a scammer. We received an email from one of our CyberGuy Report Newsletter subscribers who said they were having a typical conversation on Tinder before they were asked to share their number and move the conversation to WhatsApp. Danger ahead.CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK TIPS, TECH REVIEWS AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER”Kurt, Some dating red flags: Scammers will say their husband was killed in a car accident, now they are living with their Aunt. Yesterday on Tinder I asked, “what do you do for a living?”. The scripted questions that followed included, “My Aunt and I own a jewelry shop!”, “what are you looking for on here?”, “How long have you been on this dating site?” [The scammer] then lured me so to WhatsApp we could talk more. This happened 15 mins into the chat. Gave me her phone number and asked for mine. Very clever – easy to get pulled in”. – Preston, Folsom, CAThis is a scam unfolding in front of Preston’s eyes, and he is not alone. There are a number of red flags to look out for when online dating, and one of the major ones is when you’re rushed into giving out your phone number. A record $1.3 billion was lost last year in this country due to romance scams, so be sure you’re safely online dating by following our tips.FEELING A SLOWDOWN? 6 TIPS TO SPEED UP YOUR EMAIL AND DOWNLOADSWhy you should think twice before giving out your phone numberThe conversation may seem like it’s going smoothly, or maybe it doesn’t seem like any conversation out of the norm with someone on a dating website or app. Either way, a very common next step to take after meeting someone on the platform is to exchange phone numbers. While it may seem like the natural way to progress the conversation further, it may actually be a setup for a potential scam. Here are a few of the scams that could come about by giving a stranger your phone number.LOST OR STOLEN PHONE? THERE’S POTENTIAL TROUBLE ASIDE FROM THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT Kurt Knutsson explains how sharing your phone number on dating apps could lead to texting scams. (CyberGuy.com)Texting scamsExchanging phone numbers may not mean you’ll be targeted automatically, and the scammer may be playing a longer con by getting your number. You may be familiar with text scams, although you may not be associating the possibility of falling victim to one with the potential suitor you’ve met online. However, if they have your phone number, they may eventually send fake text messages that trick you into providing sensitive information.Unfortunately, text message scams are pretty clever, and the scammers are just looking for real people to send them to, which is why they’ve resorted to obtaining them via methods like making fake online dating profiles.MORE: TECH TIPS FOR DATING: MAKE SURE A PSYCHO DOESN’T COME AFTER YOUTwo-factor authentication scamMany of us have set up two-factor authentication on our accounts, whether it be social media, banking or any other account. This means you have a backup method of protection set up, so if someone tries to log into one of your accounts, you’ll receive a text message. While normally, your guard may be up, a potential romantic suitor may be able to use your phone number and trick you into handing over a code, thus handing over your account.When you ever receive a login code, and you aren’t logging into an account yourself, do not give that code to anyone. If you suspect someone is trying to access one of your accounts, disengage with whomever you gave your phone number to, and change the password for the account they attempted to log in to.MORE: BEST TECH FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION IN 2023 Man looking down at his phone happily, not realizing that he has been scammed. (CyberGuy.com)MORE: STAY ALERT: ‘SEXTORTION’ SCAMS ON THE RISE 8-FOLD, ACCORDING TO FTCSIM card swapping scamThis is a more extreme scam that could happen if you give the right scammer your phone number. The hacker will buy a new burner phone and put a SIM card into it. Using your phone number, they will contact your phone carrier and explain that they lost their SIM card and need a new one. Then, they will give your number as proof of identity. If they’re successful, they may be able to get your phone number transferred to their SIM card and phone, meaning they just took over access to your entire phone number. This could, of course, lead them to be able to hack more accounts since any two-factor authentication codes will go straight to them.MORE: HOW TO AVOID THE WORST DATING APP SCAMMERSRisqué photo scamAnother reason why not to give your phone number out is that if you should be swayed to send any sort of risqué photos, that scammer can reverse search your phone number to then seek out your name and personal information, find your social media accounts and attempt to blackmail you with these photos. MORE: CONFESSIONS FROM A VICTIM SCAMMED BY CYBER CREEPS Before giving out your real phone number on dating apps there are ways to keep your info safe like using a fake number from Google Voice. (CyberGuy.com)How to avoid romance scams & protect yourself1. Don’t give out your real phone numberIt’s best not to exchange personal information before meeting up with someone in real life, and you should take many precautions before doing so if you do choose to meet. If you do want to continue the conversation beyond the app or website you met someone on, use a second phone number. You can create one for free using Google Voice or a variety of others by following our tips to create a second phone number by clicking here.2. Be wary of people you meet onlineBe cautious when interacting with people you meet online, especially if they ask for your personal information or financial details. Scammers often create fake profiles to lure in unsuspecting victims and may try to build a relationship with you in order to gain your trust and ultimately take advantage of you financially or emotionally.3. Do your researchDo some homework on the person you are talking to. Don’t just take whatever they say as the truth. Check their social media profiles, Google their name, and see if anything suspicious comes up.4. Don’t send moneyWhatever you do, don’t ever send money to someone you have never met in person. I don’t care what the sob story they may give you – don’t fall for it and send them money. Remember, if someone asks you for money, it’s likely a scam.5. Meet in personScammers will often avoid meeting in person. So, once you get to know the person a bit via the platform you chatted with them on, arrange to meet them in person. Obviously, that means you meet up in a safe, public space.I GOT SCAMMED BY THIS UPS FAKE CHECK SCHEME6. Be cautious of love at first sightIf someone seems too good to be true, they probably are. Scammers often use tactics to quickly gain your trust and affection. So don’t let their appearance get in the way of you using your best judgment to make sure that they are who they say they are.7. Use reputable dating sitesReputable dating sites have security measures in place to protect you from scams. They typically have strict policies and guidelines in place to ensure that their users are genuine and trustworthy. These sites often require users to verify their identities and undergo a screening process before they can create a profile and start interacting with other users. This helps to weed out fake profiles and scammers who may be looking to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals.8. Report suspicious behaviorIf you suspect someone is a scammer, report them to the dating site or social media platform and block them immediately. It’s important to take action to protect yourself and others.9. Invest in personal information removal services I highly recommend you remove your personal information that can be found on various people search sites across the web. If you give someone your email address or phone number, they could potentially reverse-search your information and get your home address. While no service…
