Modern life is a bit complicated, and most people are so busy that they find it hard to cope with work, meetings, errands, and all the rest of their obligations. Finding time and strength for meeting friends and trying to find the perfect match seems like a titanic mission.  Time just slips away from us, and often the internet can seem like an attractive opportunity to meet someone new. No need to get ready to go out, or clear your schedule, or spend money on a date.  Internet dating sites and social networks more recently have become the preferred places for those looking for love and relationships. But be aware: online dating is no hazzle free zone, as the risks are many and they can be serious!

Mixed in with the honest users on the internet are online criminals and con artists who are targeting you, and they are becoming more sophisticated in their scam tactics.  The Philippines unfortunately is a hot spot for scam and many other types of fraud, and at the same time it is a preferred choice for foreigners who want to meet a romantic partner. So it is like the perfect storm: a lot of scammers and a lot of opportunities to thrive. Today’s romance scams can be difficult to detect and internet criminals can now fool even the most skeptical.  It takes a professional to obtain clear evidence.

How to verify your online Filipina partner?

Dating online is a fair alternative to meeting people in the real world, but it has a significant amount of risk for fraud, scams, identity theft, virus and malware, deception and misrepresentation.  How can you be sure the person on the other end of the internet is who he or she claims to be?  The answer to that question is you won’t know until you hire a private investigator in the Philippines to verify.  Internet criminals use a lot of tools to hide their tracks, and can even assume a real identity of a real person. In most cases, it requires the skills and resources of a trained private investigator to verify if your date is real and honest.  Investigators verify the facts, so you can make an informed decision.

Do not expect websites or police to help

If you met the woman on a dating or webcam site, do not expect the administrators of the website to help you check her identity. If you are being tricked in a scam scheme, it might be possible that the website is part of the scam. Police will not be of help either in this type of cases if what you want is to avoid being victim of a fraud. You can report to the police once you have been scammed, but the goal is to prevent this from happening at all. That is why more internet dating users are turning to trained investigation professionals to verify their online partner.  In fact, the business of dating background checks in the Philippines is growing because consumers want to be safe.

Knowing the truth might take more than a background check

Many of the Philippines romance scammers are not hiding their identity or using a fake one. They are real people using their own identities, but their intentions are still not good. A local investigation and surveillance may be necessary to uncover the truth. Knowing their whereabouts, living situation and relationship status will help you understand if they are trying to trick you.

Keep in mind while getting to know each other that it is never a good idea to provide personal information such as date of birth, social security number, bank account or credit card information, or an exact address.  Be advised also that any webcam chat may be recorded to blackmail you in the future.

Be smart and safe. Remember, it takes time and evidence to build worthwhile relationships.

C. Wright
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