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Dating Online – Dangerous, Expensive, and Not Nearly As Alluring As Commercials Make It

What is the deal with online dating? What happened to the old-fashioned way of meeting someone new, going on a date, and getting to know one another? The truth is, we have become such a busy society that many of us just don't have the time to look for a relationship. The majority of our acquaintances are work related and dating someone from work is not only considered taboo, but in some companies is strictly forbidden.

So, men and women turn to the World Wide Web to find love, life, and relationships. Some of these companies offer a relationship you can find no other way by using match making techniques that include compatibility tests and so much more. Along with this comes the offer that if you're not happy, you can dump them online.

Here's the ultimate question: how safe is website dating? These sites can make promises all day long, just as can be made in any relationship. Website dating is safe, to an extent. Knowing the warning signs of a "tweaker" is what's important. These are the people that make all of the promises in the world and then ask for money. Suddenly they are broke and need a little help with paying their rent. Even better, they try to offer a business relationship and want you to put the money up front. Another warning: you put up the money and it all has to be in their name. These people need to be avoided at all costs. They're like leeches; once they get hooked onto you, they're very hard to get rid of.

Wrong Answer!

Tweakers like this are all over. Some are looking for money while others are sex offenders. Some have been arrested before and others have never been caught, convicted, and released. And it's not just men, but women too. A woman can just as likely make promises and offer the world to a prospective relationship and then turn it ugly. They con men, and women, who are able to get you to believe they are the greatest people in the world and then suddenly something happens. Their "kids" get sick, they are getting "evicted", or something equally catastrophic. Those who are honest find themselves wiring money to them, mailing them a check, or even transferring money to their accounts. After a while, the numbers add up, and there are reports of people who have been conned out of thousands of dollars.

Know What You're Up Against

Over 5.5 million people use dating sites every single day. With 41 million dating sites, this is a large market that works to match people together. That's right. With 10% of all single people using the same sites as other singles every single day, it's become a huge industry. They check into profiles looking for those who may have left a message or want to continue that relationship they have already tried to kick off. Business, networking, and love are some of the most common relationships that are found here. 64% of these users want to find someone with common interests while the rest are looking for looks, characteristics, and photos. That's a large majority of the population that could possibly make your life a nightmare.

Stick with traditional dating methods. Intuition and first appearances are the most important ways to keep you safe. If your gut says "run!" listen to it. It often knows what it's talking about. Building a relationship the old way can be time consuming and sometimes frustrating, but it can make for a great connection and, possibly, be one that lasts for a very long time.