I’m A Relationship Expert And These 3 Dating App Red Flags Will Keep You From Getting Scammed
A relationship expert has revealed the three red flags to watch out for on dating apps to avoid falling victim to romance scams.
Paul Carrick Brunson, co-host of Married at First Sight UK and Celebs Go Dating, popped into Lorraine this morning to help singles navigate the world of online dating.
“I am very concerned about this,” he said. “There are millions of people here in the UK and around the world who are being targeted by online scammers.”
Describing how easy it is to fall for a scam, Paul emphasized how perpetrators often investigate everything they can about their potential victims “for months and months and months.”
After diving into his social media, the insider said the scam team will then ‘uncover a script’ to scam people out of money.
Paul continued: ‘The average person is losing between £10,000 and £15,000 to each of these scams.
“They get your trust and what they’re really trying to focus on is people who are going through some kind of emotional turmoil.”
He said scammers may specifically target people who are widowed or have lost someone special in their life.
“Usually, they’ll contact you on a dating app and try to woo you,” Paul added.
He said there are three key ‘red flags’ to keep on your radar if things progress with someone you’re chatting with online.
THEY TRY TO GET YOU OFF THE DATING APP QUICKLY
Another red flag to look out for is that someone seems extremely eager to get the conversation off the dating app.
Paul cautioned that this is because “a lot of dating apps nowadays have security structures in place,” so getting you somewhere with fewer protections is a top priority for the scammer.
Relationship expert Paul Carrick Brunson has warned about red flags to look out for when using dating apps. Stock image used
“They try to switch you to email or switch you to a phone call,” he explained.
This not only takes you into a less regulated environment, but it feels like a step into intimacy.
YOU NEVER SEE THEM
It may come as no surprise that scammers prefer to hide behind a screen.
So if the person you’re chatting with is hesitant to meet in person, alarm bells should go off in your head.
Paul stressed that it’s a huge warning sign to look out for: after all, how could they love you if they ‘never want to meet you’?
Paul Carrick Brunson said that an increasing number of people are losing thousands to scams across the UK.
THEY PROFESS HOW MUCH THEY LOVE YOU… EVEN THOUGH THEY NEVER MEET YOU
Paul said to be wary of anyone getting too loud after just chatting online or on the phone as it is a tried and true scam tactic.
‘What they’re trying to do is try to woo you deeper and they hit you with ‘well… I need some money.’
“And there’s always a request for money, but it doesn’t come as ‘I need money,’ it’s ‘My son and I are traveling and I lost my credit card.'”
‘They try to pull those emotional strings…’
The relationship expert also urged everyone, regardless of context, not to send money to a stranger.
He added: “Any time they ask you for money… that’s a big red flag.” Never hand over money to someone you have never met. Every time someone asks you for money… just say no.