Hieupc shares 6 signs of online scams and 7 self-defense measures-Information Technology

When it comes to online dating, there are bad guys who create the illusion of a romantic or close relationship for financial gain.

Dating apps have made finding person-to-person connections easier than ever. However, just like the nature of Internet, it also creates an opportunity for the bad guys to take advantage. To help the online dating community in Vietnam be more alert and recognize the signs of fraud, Tinder Vietnam and information security expert Ngo Minh Hieu (Hieupc) shared some important tips. important.

Online scammers often target gullible people online. (Illustration)

According to Hieupc, dating apps help bridge the gap between people and are one of the most popular ways for anyone, especially Generation Z, to build meaningful new connections.

“However, there are still potential bad guys who take advantage of loopholes, they use fake identities or sometimes even use real identities to create the illusion of a romantic or close relationship. for financial exploitation,” warned Hieupc.

How to spot a scammer

Fraudsters are very professional, because they appear to be genuine, attractive and easy to sympathize with. They even use real Instagram accounts to make it easier to commit crimes. All information about scammers has a perfect cover. However, there are some signs to detect if someone is stalking to do nefarious things:

1. Suggest you don’t use dating apps to communicate anymore, but switch to another method or platform: This could be a sign that they’re trying to remove traces of your dating app interactions and get more personal information like your phone number. Personal information helps them a lot in the fraud process.

2. Everything is too good and favorable compared to normal: Excessive displays of affection or attention, or “rapid flirting” are all signs of potential danger. Scammers want to build relationships as quickly as possible, so be wary of anyone who says meeting you is “fated” after a few text messages, promises far-fetched and grandiose things, or even propose to you after a few dates.

3. Avoid face-to-face meetings: Professional scammers often schedule appointments and cancel at the last minute for “urgent” and can’t-do-other reasons, like a family member or himself being hospitalized. , or the incident that got him stuck in a foreign country.These reasons are the main excuses for the bad guys to borrow money from you without the slightest suspicion.

4. Ask for personal information: A normal online acquaintance would never ask you to share your CCCD, passport, driver’s license, social insurance number or any other information you consider private.

5. Continually say that you have financial difficulties: It’s one thing to decide who pays for your dinner, but it’s quite another to get dragged into the other’s troubles or personal financial needs. If this happens, especially when first chatting, it could be a sign of a financial scam so be especially vigilant.

6. Be wary even when dating in person: Some scammers are actually “experts” adept at gaining the trust of others quickly, often painting a picture of an ideal life in the future, then they will ask for access to your financial resources, while they will constantly use the pretense that it is necessary to complete legal records of investments or business transactions.

The way to avoid losing money is to be extremely vigilant when you want to transfer money to others.

How to protect yourself against scams

Instead of “losing a cow to build a barn”, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself from scammers:

1. Trust your intuition: Intuition is everyone’s best companion. Always trust your own judgment and if something goes wrong, use the dating app’s blocking and reporting features.

2. Check out their photo source: Scammers rarely use photos of themselves, so try turning their profile pictures upside down and looking to see if they are used on other platforms online.

3. Ask questions: Just like when you want to know a potential partner, to get to know a person best is to ask them questions. Noticing whether events and stories are consistent, or vague answers to very specific questions can also be telltale signs.

4. Be careful about what information you make public on dating apps or social networks: Scammers can use details you share on social media and dating apps to get to know you better. So avoid sharing personal information about your family and friends, your home or work address, or your daily routine.

5. Avoid sharing sensitive content: Don’t share nude or intimate photos, videos, or sensitive personal information with your online dating partner. This helps prevent bad guys from leaking your photos on social networks or 18+ websites to blackmail, smear and threaten you. It can even affect your happiness, life, relationships and work.

6. Beware of fake attack links: Be sure to double-check any unknown links or files before clicking on them. Scammers often take advantage of people’s trust to offer goods, gifts and request bank transfers as a way to carry out scams.

7. Do not transfer money online: Never transfer money to someone you meet online, including providing your credit card number, bank account information, wire transfers, social security number or any personally identifiable information. any other. Also, be very careful with online investment sites or multi-level scams.

Clip guide to safety tips when dating on Tinder.