I’m a relationship expert and these three 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, appeared on Lorraine this morning to help single people navigate the online dating world.
“I am very concerned about this,” he said. “You have millions of people here in the UK and around the world who are being targeted by online scammers.”
Paul described how easy it is to fall for the scam, highlighting how perpetrators often spend “months and months and months” researching their potential victims as much as possible.
After diving into their social media feeds, the expert said the team of scammers will then “come up with a script” to scam people out of money.
Paul continued: ‘The average person loses between £10,000 – 15,000 on each of these scams.
“They gain your trust and what they’re really trying to focus on is people going through some sort of emotional turmoil.”
He said scammers may be looking specifically at people who are widowed or have lost someone special in their lives.
“They usually contact you on a dating app and they’ll try to reel you in,” Paul added.
He said there are three major “red flags” to have on your radar when things are going well with someone you’re chatting with online.
THEY QUICKLY TRY TO REMOVE YOU FROM THE DATING APP
Another red flag to watch out for is that someone seems extremely eager to take the conversation off the dating app.
Paul said this is “because a lot of dating apps have safety structures in place these days” — so it’s a priority for the scammer to take you to a place with fewer safeguards.
Relationship expert Paul Carrick Brunson has warned of the red flags to watch out for when using dating apps. Stock image used
“They try to forward you to email or transfer you to a phone call,” he explained.
Not only does this put you in a less regulated environment, but it also feels like a step toward intimacy.
YOU NEVER SEE THEM
You may not be surprised that scammers prefer to hide behind a screen.
So if the person you’re chatting with is hesitant to meet up in person, alarm bells should be going off in your head.
Paul stressed that it’s a huge warning sign to pay attention to – after all, how can they love you if they “never want to meet you”?
Paul Carrick Brunson said an increasing number of people are losing thousands to scams in the UK
THEY REACH HOW MUCH THEY LOVE YOU… EVEN THOUGH THEY NEVER MET YOU
Paul said to be wary of anyone coming across as a bit too strong after just chatting online or on the phone – as it’s a tried and true scammer tactic.
“What they’re trying to do is they’re trying to get you in deeper and they’re hitting you with ‘well… I need some money.’
And there’s always a request for money, but it just doesn’t come like “I need money,” it’s “my son son and I are traveling and I lost my credit card.”
“They’re trying 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 you’re asked for money… that’s a big red flag. Never give money to someone you have never met. Every time someone asks you for money… you just say no.”