Romance Fraud

Hi Resident,

The month of February is synonymous with romance and while online dating can be a fun way to find a valentine, you should always be vigilant when looking for love online:

❤️ Minimise the amount of personal information you include on your dating profile and don’t rush to share that information with a potential match. This includes details like your surname, home or work addresses and bank details. 

❤️ Don’t link your dating apps to your social media platforms. This will limit what others on the dating app can find out about you. 

❤️ Use a photo for your dating profile that hasn’t been posted to social media or other sites like LinkedIn. It is easy to do a reverse image search on Google that will find your other online profiles. 

❤️ Stick to chatting on the dating app rather than giving someone your mobile number. 

❤️ It’s always okay to say no – you don’t have to start chatting with someone or keep in contact with them just because you matched. 

❤️ Video chat with a match before you meet up in person. This can help ensure your match is who they claim to be in their profile. 

❤️ Be wary of suspicious profiles. If a profile you have matched with has no bio or limited information, it may be a fake account. 

❤️ If someone makes you feel uncomfortable or threatened or has acted inappropriately towards you, cease contact and block their profile. Report any concerning behaviour to the dating platform. If there is an immediate threat to your personal safety, contact the police. 

❤️ When you’re ready to meet in-person, make sure your first meeting takes place in a public space. Tell a friend or family member your plans and send them a screenshot of your date’s profile. Ask them to call or message you at a certain time to check in and have a code word to let them know if you are feeling unsafe. Make sure your phone has data and is fully charged and don’t rely on your date for transportation. 

❤️ You have met in-person and things seem to be going well but only move to a more private environment if you feel ready to do so and make sure your dates expectations match your own before you do.

For more information go to Romance fraud | Greater Manchester Police

Regards,

The Hyde Godley Team