14 DAY TRIAL // A survey conducted by GetSafeOnline.org shows that older men are more likely to be targeted by cyber-criminals than women the same age. At the same time, they are incomparably more in danger of falling for scams overall than the people aged 25 - 34.
Internet dating is like the Roman god Janus, it has two faces. There's the off-chance that everybody wants to believe in, that a soul mate will be found, with the variant of some heartache and disappointment at the end of the day. Add to that the chance to be a target for money scams and you get a big picture why real life socializing is way better.
Almost 25 percent of men aged 55 and above have been asked for money or personal information while using an online dating service, while 12 percent of the women the same age have faced similar inquiries. Notably, often people tend to chat the other up by disclosing the data on their own, like workplace, name (62 percent use their real names on their profiles), address, phone number and so on. Identity fraud is not something that generation is familiar with and perhaps this is the reason cyber criminals tend to attack them more often than not.
Relationship expert Tracey Cox, contacted by GetSafeOnline.org, said that "When you're looking at a computer screen, it's much easier to feel relaxed about the person you're exchanging messages with, which can be a positive way of getting to know someone before you have the pressure of a 'real' date. But, just as in the real world, there are people on these sites who you're better off avoiding," as reported by Web User.
This is a warning to all using online dating services. If you're under 55, don't be fooled by the fact that you have a chance six times smaller to be a target, you're not safe. Be careful with your personal information, else you might find yourself in a really nasty situation.