This week, we will follow up on last weeks column by looking at some of the scams associated with Internet dating Web sites. While online dating can be fun and rewarding, it also can be crazy and dangerous. Let the online dater beware.
In particular, beware of any messages that read even remotely like the following: "I am so glad to read from you. I am from Oklahoma but presently I lived with my mother in England, London. etc. I still believe love has no boundaries.( yes we may somehow far from each other is some miles But distance away feels extra special.) I'm a great listener when my partner have trouble minded problem. I am the only Daughter of My Parent and i Do love them so much , but just that i Miss this presence of Dad any time i remember how this Happens,all My dad properties are In charge of Our lawyer, i will Take over Every thing Until i Got Married to My future Husband someday..and this Has been the Mean reason Why i am Online dating Stuff."
If you were a single, lonely, middle-aged man, would you fall for an e-mail message like that? Believe it or not, many men do. I actually received those words, typos, bad grammar and all, in a dating Web site message. Naturally, the message was accompanied by a picture of a 20-something female who looked as pretty as a pinup girl and as American as apple pie. Even better, the message was addressed directly to me. This young specimen of loveliness actually wanted to go out with me, the middle-aged geek.
Of course, the above is an extreme example of a badly-worded dating scam; most have slightly better grammar. Under scrutiny, though, the majority of dating Web site scam letters can be found to have at least a few red-flag inconsistencies. Some will be a mixture of perfectly written phrases interrupted with awful grammar, showing that the scammers have copied and pasted well-written phrases from various sources and tried to fill in the blanks themselves. Still, I've lived in Oklahoma for almost 40 years and I've never met an Okie with such atrocious grammar as found in the example above; bad grammar, to be sure, but not that bad.
The reason for the poor English skills is simple: many dating scammers, despite what they say or the photos they send, are not from America. A large number of these crooks are based in Russia, China and Africa. The picture of the 25-year old swimsuit model was probably sent by a 55-year old male truck driver from the Ukraine.
Dating Web site scams work pretty much the same way as any Internet-related scam. First, the scammer has to gain the trust and confidence (hence, the "con" in "con game") of his victim. The scammer strings the victim along until the time is right and then asks for money. They are all too often successful.
In dating scams, tender and sweet words are exchanged, exploiting everyone's natural desire to be wanted and loved. Personal and family histories are related, likes and dislikes shared and intimate details revealed, often over a period of weeks or months. Once he has gained the trust of his victim, the scammer moves in for the kill. It's usually something like, "If only I had $500 for a plane ticket, I would visit you," or, "if only I had another few thousand dollars, my little boy could have that surgery to cure his blindness," or, "I have a money order for $5,000, but I can't cash it in my country. If I send it to you, will you deposit it in your bank and wire me the money?" I know of one fellow in town who fell for this last scam. It took his true innocence (read, "stupidity") combined with an expensive lawyer to keep him from being charged with wire fraud by the FBI.
For some entertaining and informative videos about all types of Internet scams, visit fakechecks.org, a Web site created by the National Consumers League. Take their online "Fraud Test" and see if you pass. After all of this, you have no excuse for failure.
Dave Moore has been repairing computers in Norman since 1984, when he borrowed $1,200 to buy a Commodore 64 system. He can be reached at 919-9901 or www.davemoorecomputers.com.
Local Business
November 7, 2009
Internet dating revisited, Part two
- Local Business
-
-
Review: Apple's iPad not just a bigger iPod Touch
SAN FRANCISCO -- After just an hour with an iPad, I came away with a preliminary verdict: Despite some flaws, this is one slick device.
Steve Jobs intrigued me in his slow, showman-like presentation Wednesday when he said the $499-and-up iPad is "so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone. -
People in business
Allyson Crank has been named employee of the month at First State Bank's Noble location.
Crank, loan operations assistant/loan teller since June 2008, joined the bank's staff in 2007. A Noble High School graduate, she studied mathematics while attending the University of Oklahoma. -
Norman lawyer goes to the doghouse with beef jerky
Norman lawyer and small business owner Dave Stockwell has been making private label beef jerky for years.
He started off in his garage, but his passion for smoking and curing round steak has led to the occupation of a commercial facility in the Oklahoma City metro area. - Moore passes $2M tax rebate for Target The City of Moore's Economic Development Authority voted unanimously Monday evening to approve a sales tax rebate to Target Corporation, who wants to build a 135,000-square-foot retail store on SW 19th Street west of Fritts Boulevard in Moore.
-
Me? An idiot? Finance titles to raise your IQ
Once you get past the hesitancy of buying a book written for dummies or idiots, you can get some very practical information out of the titles in these series.
Penguin Publishers, provider of The Complete Idiot's Guide series, has dozens of business and personal finance titles. - Claim your e-mail privacy Have you ever read a message on a postcard that was not addressed to you? It was right there, in the open, so, how could it have been avoided? Maybe, at least once in your life, you've held an envelope up to the light, hoping to read its contents.
-
County real estate
Real estate sales of $100,000 and above, as recorded by the office of Cleveland County Clerk, Tammy Howard.
Feb. 8-12
Lot 7, Block 5, Briarwood Creek, $165,000. Buyer, Jason and Lorie Wenger. Seller, Scott and Dawn Hubbard. - Chamber of Commerce, Norman NEXT to co-host candidate forum Feb. 24 The Norman Chamber of Commerce Get Out The Vote Committee and Norman NEXT, Norman's young professionals organization, have announced plans to co-host a candidate forum for the mayoral and city council candidates.
- People in business Michael Mohr, owner of Mohr Construction LLC, has completed the required EPA certified training class in the Renovation, Repair and Painting rules that go into effect April, 2010, dealing with lead base paint removal and handling in buildings built prior to 1978.
-
People in business
DeBee Gilchrist recently announced that Blaine M. Peterson, Norman, has been named a shareholder of the firm.
Peterson's practice encompasses a broad range of business matters, including tax planning and controversies, comprehensive estate planning and business valuation. - More Local Business Headlines
-
Review: Apple's iPad not just a bigger iPod Touch
SAN FRANCISCO -- After just an hour with an iPad, I came away with a preliminary verdict: Despite some flaws, this is one slick device.
