As a female business owner on social media, I often receive personal messages from men who approach me from a dating perspective. They want to chat and get to know me, but I don’t consider my social media accounts to be dating sites. I want to share some of my experience with you, hopefully, you may find it of value.
When it comes to matters of the heart, we often look at them with rose-coloured glasses, how we would like them to be. In reality, when we take a step back, we can see the flaws.
To quickly identify and assist in warding off these imposters, I will share my approach with you. I have certain criteria and red flags that I look for. For instance, it’s a red flag when someone starts declaring their love for me within the first few days of messaging. Another warning sign is when they don’t share much about themselves but are constantly prying into my life and background.
Meet Them Live
I pay attention to whether they are willing to video chat using platforms like WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. If they refuse to do so, it’s a cause for concern. While I’m open to long-distance relationships, it’s important to eventually meet in person and see where they live, their environment, their friends, and social circle. Both local and long-distance relationships require these factors to solidify and legitimize the connection.
Additionally, I’ve noticed that the language and writing style of these scammers often changes from one day to the next, suggesting that it’s a team of more than one person, operating in shifts rather than a single individual.
Investigate, Do Your Due Diligence
In one instance, I discovered that the pictures someone had shared with me belonged to a much younger person who served in the military. A reverse image lookup on Google made it clear that the individual messaging me was not who they claimed to be. It’s crucial to verify the authenticity of the information provided, as much as possible.
I also remain vigilant about financial requests, or when someone claims they can’t access their bank account or reach their bankers and require your assistance to tie them over. Legitimate partners would rarely ask for money.
Be Cautious On Social Media
It’s worth mentioning that female business owners, and sometimes males, are increasingly becoming targets of such scams in recent years. Connection requests can come up in the most unlikely places for men and women. I’ve been propositioned on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and, even from men reaching out on WhatsApp through my social media.
Unfortunately, most of these individuals turn out to be scams or fake daters. You may feel like they’re sweeping you off your feet with their words but remember they’re probably using AI with the information from your profile. While I’m open to finding the right partner, dealing with these imposters can be draining. Nonetheless, I am optimistic that we will discover a true and authentic relationship in the future.
Don’t Give Up, Be Smart!
As the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it likely is. We should remember that finding our forever partner will require effort and may happen when we least expect it, and it’s highly unlikely to occur through unsolicited messages on social media.
