Some online dating crime stories are related to human trafficking. Criminals pose as normal daters on the platforms. They lure victims, often young and vulnerable people, into meeting them. Once they meet, they abduct the victims and force them into prostitution or other forms of slavery. It's a really dark side of online dating. There are also instances where con artists use online dating to get access to the victim's home under false pretenses, like saying they need a place to stay for a short time, and then steal valuables from the house.
One common online dating crime story is about catfishing. People pretend to be someone else entirely, using fake photos and false identities. They build relationships with victims, sometimes for financial gain. For example, they might ask for money for a supposed emergency. Another is the case of date rape. Some predators use online dating platforms to find victims. They meet up, spike their drinks, and then assault them. There are also stories of identity theft where scammers get personal information during the online dating process and use it to steal money or ruin the victim's credit.
One of the main patterns in these stories is the over - the - top flattery. Scammers will shower the victim with compliments to make them feel special and lower their guard. They'll also seem very interested in the victim's life very quickly. Then comes the request for financial help. It could be for something like helping a sick relative or getting out of a legal trouble. And they'll keep asking for more money as time goes on, always with new and seemingly urgent reasons.
Typically, they start by creating a very alluring persona. They might say they are successful in business or have a high - status job. Then they quickly form an emotional bond with the victim through sweet talk. Next comes the request for money for some 'urgent' situation like a business deal gone wrong or a family emergency.
Sure. I once dated someone I met online. We had planned a nice dinner date. But during the date, he kept getting calls from his ex - girlfriend. It was clear he wasn't over her yet. It was really uncomfortable and I left early.
One creepy story is when a guy kept asking for my exact location within minutes of starting a conversation. He said he wanted to 'surprise' me but it felt really invasive.
There are often the hopeful romantics. These are the characters who are really looking for love on the online dating sites. Then there are the skeptics, those who don't really believe in online dating but are giving it a try anyway. There might also be the smooth - talkers, who seem charming at first but may have ulterior motives.
There was a story where a man and a woman from different countries met on an international dating website. They overcame language barriers and cultural differences through video calls and constant communication. Eventually, they got married and now live in a multicultural family, sharing their traditions with each other.
One strange story I heard was about a guy who thought he was chatting with a single woman but it turned out to be a group of her friends pranking him. They would take turns chatting and the guy didn't notice until they all revealed it during a video call.
One interesting online dating story is about a couple who met on a niche book - loving dating site. They discovered they had both read and adored the same rare collection of books. They started chatting about their favorite quotes and characters, and soon realized they lived in the same city. They met up, and now they are happily married.
One sad story is when a girl met a guy online. They talked for months, seemed really into each other. But when they finally decided to meet in person, the guy just didn't show up. She was left waiting at the restaurant, feeling humiliated and heartbroken.
There was this instance where a man thought he was chatting with a normal woman on an online dating platform. However, as they video - called, the woman's face looked really strange. Later, he found out that she was using someone else's pictures. It turned out she had some malicious intentions and was trying to scam him.