How dangerous is online dating? The answer to this question might depend on who you ask. One thing is sure there are some dangers associated with online dating such as meeting people you don’t know who want to take advantage of you financially or emotionally. Also, there also other online dating dangers and related risks that you might not think of.
In this blog post, we are going to talk about the dangers of online dating, mention statistics related to the dangers of online dating, and other facts about troubling online dating issues and problems.
Is online dating dangerous?
Before we would dive into the dangers of online dating, I just want to clarify one thing.
Yeah, there are some dangers to online dating as basically anything you do in life. However, if you are cautious and aware of the dangers of online dating, you don’t really have to worry so much.
Online dating is definitely worth trying out, so just because there are some online dating risks you should be aware of and avoid, you should still be able to use online dating apps and websites to find women or men to date.
Dangers of online dating
According to online dating statistics, there are about 40 million Americans who use online dating sites and apps. As online dating continues to grow in popularity, there are some dangers that online daters should keep in mind.
Here are the most common online dating dangers that you have to be aware of:
- scammy online dating apps and sites
- catfishing
- sex offenders on dating apps
- stealing your personal information
- stealing money from you
Let’s talk about each of these.
Fraudulent and scammy online dating apps
There are now thousands of online dating sites and apps that people use to meet each other. There are some online dating apps and sites however which are completely fake and their only goal is to get money from you.
They will do this by making their profiles look completely real with fake profile images, fake background images, and fake reviews. They will also make you think that you are talking to a real person when in fact it is just an online dating app scam.
So make sure to do your due diligence and check the online dating company that is running the app or the site before signing up for a new online dating service.
Catfishing
Catfishing is one of the biggest online dating dangers because it can really hurt people emotionally and financially. Not only do some catfish steal someone’s identity for their own purposes, but others also create fake profiles with the goal of stealing money from people.
So even if you are just new to online dating, it’s always a good idea to ask for their Facebook or social media account so that you can check if the person they say they are is real or not.
Sex offenders on online dating apps
Another one of the online dating dangers comes in the form of sex offenders. According to online dating statistics, 10 of all convicted sex offenders of some kind are on online dating sites and apps.
Here you can see the most dangerous stated for online dating.: (source)
So the danger of being approached by a sex offender or meeting up with one is definitely real although it is still super low.
Stealing personal information from you
Another one of the dangers of online dating comes in the form of cybercriminals stealing your personal information so that they can use it for malicious purposes.
So this means that if you are using an online dating app or website, you will want to make sure to never share any personal information with anyone who you haven’t met in person.
Stealing money from you
The last of the online dating dangers comes in the form of cybercriminals stealing money from you. According to online dating statistics, there are many people on online dating sites and apps who will ask you to send them money.
The most common of these are the Nigerian scams or similar schemes, where scammers will ask you for money for a reason that might first seem to be credible. Just remember never ever send money to anyone unless you have met up with them in person!
Other risks of online dating
These are the most common online dating dangers you have to be aware of, but here are some other online dating risks and issues you have to know about.
Online dating addictions
Online dating can also become an addiction for some people. If you are online dating, make sure to take breaks from online dating every now and then. This will not only give you some perspective but also allow online dating to be fun and not become stressful.
Waste of time
If you don’t have clear intentions with using online dating apps, online dating can also become a waste of time. It will be difficult to meet the right person online if you are not clear on why you are online dating in the first place.
Inflated expectations
On online dating apps everybody tries to show themselves in the light they think people want to see. This includes hot hobbies, photoshopped photos, great life in general etc.
This often leads online daters to have inflated expectations of potential partners, which can lead to disappointment in real life. Just make sure you are always honest on online dating sites and apps and don’t overdo photoshop.
Dangers of online dating for women vs men
The dangers might be a little different when it comes to online dating for men and women but regardless of you gender, you have to keep in mind the dangers of online dating we have mentioned above.
If you are a guy, it is more likely that a fraudster will try to get money from you for showing pictures but you can still be catfished just like women.
If you are a woman, then the biggest danger is meeting up with a stranger from a dating app but you will might also get into scammers who try to get money or some personal information from you.
For these reasons, let’s talk about how you can avoid the risks and dangers of online dating.
How to decrease the danger of online dating?
We have written a completely different guide where we explain how to keep safe online dating.
As we have mentioned, yes, there are some dangers related to online dating, but if you take the precautions we have mentioned in the article, you have nothing to worry about.
Online dating has many pros and benefits and huge potential and for single people, it would be silly to give up online dating just because there are some dangers you have to know. Most of these risks and problems can also appear if you are dating more traditionally by going to clubs or bars.
Online dating apps feature for preventing dangers
There are also some online dating apps and online dating sites that offer safety features and tools to keep you safe from the dangers and risks of online dating.
So when you choose an online dating platform, make sure to learn about the features they provide you to keep on their platform and off-platform safe.
You can learn more about the solutions Tinder and Bumble provide you to keep you from online dating dangers here:
Summary – Is Online Dating risky?
To sum up, online dating is a great way to meet new people online and it doesn’t have to be dangerous.
Just keep in mind the online dating dangers we have mentioned in this article and you should be just fine! let’s recap these:
- fraudulent online dating apps and sites
- catfishing
- sex offenders and creepy people
- stealing your personal information
- stealing money from you
