Beware of cyber scammers on dating apps!
Experts warn those who prefer to use dating or friendships apps to be careful, especially those who want to move unnaturally fast and try to collect detailed information about their bank accounts or identity information.
Cyber Security Specialist Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol expressed that “Do not share your private images with the other party, and do not send a significant amount of money under humane-looking excuses, even if they promise to pay it back," and Asst. Prof. Şenol also warned, "Approach cautiously, cut off communication if necessary."
Üsküdar University Cyber Security Master's Program Head Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol evaluated the issue of meeting through dating applications and being scammed by these people and gave important warnings.
Dating or friendship apps also carry some risks
Stating that although dating or dating applications are an opportunity for some people looking for friends of the opposite sex, they also carry some risks, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol said that "It is necessary to be careful when using these applications. You should be careful about people who want to move unnaturally fast, ask extremely personal questions, ask questions such as bank accounts, identity information, workplace, and constantly try to collect detailed information about you while giving very limited information about themselves."
Do not send a significant amount of money to the other party under seemingly humane excuses
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that "Try to get to know them by meeting them face-to-face at their workplace or living area. It would be more accurate in terms of security to have places where other people are present, such as face-to-face workplaces, shopping malls, cafes. Do not share your private images with the other party, and do not send a significant amount of money with seemingly humane excuses, even if they promise to pay them back. Approach with caution and cut off communication if necessary.”
Dating scammers pretend to have high-income levels!
Pointing out that in general, the profile photos of dating scammers give the appearance of high-income levels and quality of life standards, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol continued his warnings as follows:
"The other party wants to move the relationship forward much faster than usual, and they put pressure on you to do the same. Although the income level appears to be good, they may ask for a substantial amount of money or assistance on their excuse that there is a technical situation that prevents them from accessing their bank account at that moment. It usually passes your request for a face-to-face meeting with different excuses, and in your video call requests, it can either pass it off for reasons such as the camera is defective, or the mobile data is over.
They can recommend you invest there by stating that it is a very good investment opportunity, that they have invested there and sending you a link. Of course, the link they send is a scam site. They may ask you to send them information, such as an ID photo, to prove that the information you have given them is correct."
What are the precautions to take against dating scammers?
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol also listed the measures to be taken against dating scammers as follows:
"Private images should not be shared. Credentials should not be shared. If it is to be met face-to-face, it should be discussed in public places. With the information and photos provided by them, it should be tried to access the information about the person, including other accounts on the internet, and try to confirm the accuracy of the information they say. Even if the other party has believable scenarios, significant amounts of money should not be sent. Attention should be paid to the contradiction between their financial situation and level of well-being in their profile and the help or debt they ask you for shortly after meeting them. They should not click on the link links sent by the other party, and if necessary, they should get help from an expert in this field. You should also be wary of investment advice by the person you meet on the dating site, and if necessary, you should not hesitate to ask for help from an expert.
It is safer to continue online messaging and conversations on the dating site, which is not fake and allows you to meet them. If the other party directs you to another application, it should be insisted to stay on the same platform. The other site they want to direct you to is mostly a site where they can save your confidential information, private images, and blackmail you."
How does dating scammers manipulate?
Head of the Department of Cyber Security Master's Program, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol also gave the following information about how dating scammers manipulate their victims:
"Overly luxurious profile photos, profile photos that give the impression of a studio shot. Avoiding face-to-face meetings, not turning on your camera on a video call and not opening their own camera with certain excuses, dealing with your private images. While giving very limited information about themselves, they leave you with very specific questions, including your identity information. Asking you for a significant amount of money on some accuse, contradictory to their profile, the job they say they do, and their income level. Not long after you met, they gave investment advice and sent a link on the subject. Sending a link by inviting you to a meeting on another site, asking you to register on this site. When registering on the site, it asks you for detailed information in a way that does not comply with the purpose of the site. Thus, it will be able to use the important information you enter while registering on the fake site it redirects to for identity theft in the future."
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)