iYogi Alerts: Beware of Online Dating Scams

PRLog (Press Release) - Mar. 3, 2011 - What are online dating scams? These scams take advantage of people’s emotions while they try to find relationships through online dating sites

iYogi, the fastest growing provider of on-demand remote tech support services, has released a new iYogi Alert on Online Dating Scams, whereby scammers on online dating sites trick vulnerable users into giving them money, goods or more. These scammers attempt to establish an emotional connection with users on social networking sites or matchmaking sites in order to take advantage of them soon after. Through interactions with its customers, iYogi continuously monitors and publishes activities to alert and inform other customers on how to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of an online fraud or scam.

What iYogi has to say:
"More and more relationships are formed online, which has unfortunately led to a proliferation of dubious dating sites and scammers looking out for vulnerable individuals who can be cheated out of their hard earned money," says Vishal Dhar, President Marketing and co-founder of iYogi. "Those looking for relationships online should exercise extreme caution in exchanging personal information and should be especially wary of any requests for financial assistance regardless how convincing they may be."

Types of online dating scams:
1. A typical online dating scam requires people to register on an online dating site, where the victim is asked to provide personal information, interests, likes and dislikes. Once the information is submitted, the victim is soon contacted by a scammer who poses as an attractive and friendly person who is interested in exploring a relationship. Soon after the conversation progresses, the scammer starts communicating with the victim by e-mail. Once the victim’s trust is earned, the scammer then tells an elaborate and tragic story, asking the victim for money with the promise to return it as soon as possible and visit personally to return the favor. The victim sends the requested amount, only to realize later that he or she has being duped once the scammer stops communicating.

2. The prostitute scam is another type of scam where people are tricked online. In these scams the prostitutes create a profile on dating sites and attract people with their photographs. Such profiles are often easily recognizable by their names and self descriptions.

3. The travel scam involves a scammer contacting you through a dating site claiming to reside overseas. After initial communication, he or she will express interest in meeting you personally in order to develop the relationship further. With this intention to visit you in person comes a request for help paying the airfare and a promise to return the money as soon as you two meet.

4. The phone scam, though not an online scam, has been around a long time. In this scam, people are invited to call a particular hotline number to make new friends. In such cases the number provided by the scammer appears to be a local number; however, once the call is made and the conversation progresses for some length of time, the victim ends up with huge charges on the next phone bill.
What you can do about it:

To prevent becoming victim of any type of online dating scams, it is crucial to thoroughly verify the authenticity of the website you register in. You should carefully go through the details of the website as well as the profile of anyone you meet. You can identify scams by paying attention to the language used in the e-mail conversations. In general, these scam emails are vague and the tone, expression, and grammar changes throughout the mail. Suspiciously quick responses to your e-mails can also indicate the existence of scam. While online dating can be an emotional experience, you should not, under any circumstance fall for stories and send money to anyone you have only communicated with through a dating site. In general, the best way to protect from becoming a victim of such scams is to stay away from unknown and unestablished websites.

ABOUT IYOGI
iYogi is a global on-demand services company that provides personalized computer support for consumers and small businesses in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. iYogi’s unique model, including its proprietary technology iMantra™ and highly qualified technicians, is designed to eliminate computer-related stress and keep millions of digitally dependent consumers and small businesses protected and productive. Only iYogi -- with its proven expertise in the global delivery model, intelligent customer insight systems, easy-to-use self-help tools & automated PC optimization, and computer support services – offers users a simple yet comprehensive path to digital serenity. iYogi has perfected the remote technical support model to overcome the current limitations of in-store, on-site, or call center services to become the fastest growing provider of support in the industry. Major resellers and technology companies are increasingly turning to iYogi to improve customer satisfaction, reduce return rates, and deliver a compelling new-value added offering to customers. To know more about iYogi, current offers and scope of support, visit: http://www.iyogi.com

Media Contact:

Matt Farrell
Global Fluency
Tel.: 646-652-5204
Email: mfarrell@globalfluency.com

Contact:
Vishal Dhar
President, Marketing
Tel.: +1-212-229-0901
Email.: vishal@iyogi.net

# # #

iYogi provides remote technical support services for home and small business users globally and offers solutions for all the technical needs of customers. iYogi has handpicked more than 4500 tech experts, who have a maintained a 95% resolution rate.