Archive for July, 2008

Protect Yourself from the Dangers of Internet Dating

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

One of the major contributions of the internet to the dating scene is internet dating. While the idea was frowned upon by most people in the past, now we see more and more people getting into it. Among the hundreds of internet dating sites, a particular site arouses the interest of most people. These are the sites which provide free internet dating services. These sites, however helpful, continue to have some negative feedback from people who had bad experiences out of internet dating. How did this happen and how do we protect future online daters from these?

The concept of internet dating services is rather simple. You register, make your profile, and then find other members by browsing through their profiles. If you are interested in a particular person, you send a message. The other person then responds. Or someone who might be interested in you would send a message that you’d respond to. Anything beyond that, such as meeting in person, exchanging of particulars, and others, would be your call.

Because these sites are free, practically anybody can be a member. And because of the large membership, it would be hard for the website host to monitor, more so regulate, the individual activities of their members. Rarely do they perform background checks or screenings of new members.

Now this is where the dangers usually lie. It is part of human nature to trust other people. The problem is people can be too trusting at times. For example, during the first meeting or date, the girl invites the guy to dinner at her place. The guy turns out to be an ex-convict or serial killer. Take note of internet dating rule number 1: for the first meeting, always meet in a public place. That way, you can easily ask for help just in case things you need it. Friends can also be there to serve as “lookouts.” This is not to scare you, but there are some horror stories of date rape and even death as a result of online dating. That is why it is important to be careful at all times.

Another kind of internet fraud is to pretend to lose some money in any way imaginable, such as by robbery or hospitalization. He or she then asks for money from the other person. Never give money or credit card information to anyone, even if you think you trust the person enough.

To avoid these, here are some things that you can do. First, never post personal information in your profile. This should be reserved when you’ve developed a level of confidence and trust with the person. Also, take note of any changes in attitude or behavior of the person you are talking to. Erratic changes in behavior and mood swings are some symptoms of serious mental disorders.

Free internet dating services can be safe venues to meet and get to know people. But like everything else in the internet, do not take everything based on face value alone. Conduct some research about the website. See if there are any negative comments from past members. Take note of the safety precautions and keep the danger signs in mind always. Whether for free or not, internet dating would still be risky if we don’t know how to avoid its perils.

How Safe are Free Online Dating Services?

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

Online dating services have revolutionized the old concept of dating. Instead of going out in a blind date with someone whom you barely know, more single men and women choose online dating services instead. The most common kind is called free online dating services. Because the services are free, the common question that a prospective online dater would ask is, are these sites secured?

Online dating services are fast becoming an important classification of internet websites. But just as things have changed and evolved, scammers and con artists have also been “modernized.”

In these modern times, almost everything can be accessed by anyone. With news on internet hacking and copying, you can’t help but feel unsafe. More so if you need to reveal some personal information. This explains why, despite the booming industry of online dating services, there are still quite a number of people who are hesitant of joining.

Internet sites which provide dating services have now been made more secure by the service providers themselves. Before deciding on joining a particular dating service provider, see if they have privacy policies. It is important that any details that you give be kept confidential at all times. Sites which ask for several verifications before giving access to information are generally safer than those who don’t.

One good thing about this kind of dating service is you don’t need to disclose any credit card number. Because you don’t need to pay for anything, there is therefore no need to disclose the same. If someone pretends to be from the company, then contacts you and asks for such information, don’t tell anything. Chances are, they are scam artists out to get your money.

Because these sites are for free, there are more members than in paid sites. This being so, members are most likely to belong to different backgrounds and financial status. That is why you should be more cautious in choosing the people that you respond to. Check their profiles well. If you see anything suspicious or somewhat deceitful in their profiles, you can then avoid communicating with the person. Some sites even allow the blocking of messages from other people.

The downside of free sites like this is the presence of spam emails and unsolicited offers. Never respond to such emails and erase them as soon as possible.

Once you’re in, take time to get to know the person before divulging particular details. Take things slow and give yourself some time. Only when you’ve developed a closer, more intimate relationship can you give details on your real name, workplace, contact numbers, and others. In your conversations with others, be careful so as not to disclose any of your particulars.

In meeting the person for the first time, choose a public place. Do not agree on meeting somewhere private like his place or a friend’s house. Tell a friend of your whereabouts ñ who you’ll meet, where and when.

If you want to try online dating services, then free online dating services are the way to start. This way, you are able to test the waters without having to spend much. As to the question posted in the title, these sites are relatively safe. Just remember to take the necessary precautionary measures of online dating. The important thing to remember is you have a hand in securing your own safety.

Free Phone Dating Services: How Do They Work?

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

If you are too shy to approach someone you like, the mobile phone is the way to go. Through a text message, you can send out your love without fear of rejection. For this year alone, nearly 4 million subscribers have accessed these dating services. Phone dating services have grown massively over the past years, some service providers claiming that their services are for free. When you see ads of phone companies that say “free phone dating services,” you can’t help but wonder if this is true. In these advanced times where practically nothing is free, one can’t help but wonder what the catch is.

These phone dating services have similar functions. They ask you to register, whether online or through text. Here you choose a user name and give some details about you such as your age, gender, location and interests. This information is sent to a database where other members can access. They can then send messages to the username, and vice versa. This method is practically safe because you are able to communicate without necessarily giving out each other’s numbers.

In reality, these dating services are not absolutely for free. What they really mean is a free registration or a free trial of the service. After all, it takes one text message to join and register. After registration, any text message or call that you make to a potential date shall be charged, depending on their standard rates. For instance, if you want to make a search for females within your locality for a certain age group, you will be asked to send a keyword or message to a specified number. When the information that you asked for is sent back, these phone companies, more often than not, charge you for that.

There are some mobile phone dating companies that operate in another way. Instead of just sending text messages through the phone company, you can make a direct phone call to someone without revealing your number, or the other person’s number. While these companies claim to provide free services, the mobile phone company will still charge you. In effect, the service is not free, as you are still made to pay after all.

For some areas and mobile phone companies, there is what they call proximity dating services. These companies alert you if someone whom you might be interested in is within a certain radius from you. You are then able to send messages to each other, and maybe plan to meet.

Phone dating services are more convenient than online dating services. You don’t need to log in a computer just to check your messages or email. You can read your text message within a few minutes or seconds from the moment it was sent. That is why more people are into it than internet dating services. 

When you see companies that claim to provide free phone dating services, look closer. While they may not charge you for the service, the mobile phone company may still charge you with the standard rates of a text message. But nevertheless, it is a more secure and practical way to meet new friends and build new relationships. Ask your mobile phone company if they have phone dating services. Or you can visit websites of these service providers. The person you are looking for may just be a text or phone call away.