Scammers Just Want To Be Your Valentine?
from the details-please dept
It's no surprise that scammers would target people around Valentine's day. After all, scammers have always been quick to take advantage of breaking news, so of course they'll target scheduled events as well. However, what's odd is that a security company is actually claiming that the Valentine's scammers are leading to the increasing number of dating sites. The details aren't entirely clear, but apparently the security company says that there are 17% more dating sites than a year ago -- and this is directly attributable to these scammers. Of course, nowhere is it made clear what the connection is between scammers and new dating sites. Is it that some of these dating sites are complete scams? Or that new entrants believe the market is bigger than it really is due to the scammers? It's probably that the sites are simply scam sites -- though it's not clear who joins these sites. After all, the value of a dating site is that enough people need to be using it already. If no one is really using a site, why would anyone else join?
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
No Subject Given
If I was running a scam dating site, I don't think I'd ever let anyone know the real number of people on the site. I'd put up some fake listings then report greatly inflated numbers to any users who stumbled into my scam.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
A dating website helping someone find a partner is about as useful as a diet book helping a fat person lose weight.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
true.com
for example: Take a look at http://www.TRUE.com and all of the advertisements they place on the internet with young attractive (very attractive) women posing with the comments, "she is waiting for you" and "find true love". With a body like they advertise, do you really thing that she is waiting for you? Do you really think she has a hard enough time finding someone to date, that she is forced to use the internet to date? do you really think that she even knows her photos is being used for a dating website - or even knows what a dating website is? and, do you really think she is looking for "true love" or just a good time...and if what true.com is advertising is "true love", then why do they use a photo of someone who obviously is looking just for "fun" and not "true(.com) love".
...Its all advertising by deception -- and what is the definition of a scam?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
it depends on the site. if it caters to enough people who are somewhat local, it can work and frankly is a lot better than the standard bar cruising (which is good for one-nighters and not much else). Its a numbers game tho, you have to slog through a lot of coal to get the diamond (and I'm told its a 100% worse for women).
Met my wife that way, I don't regret it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
way to go...you are a tribute to social skills and general human nature everywhere.
You deserve a golf clap.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
Says the man who's never had a girlfriend who's last name wasn't jpg, avi or mpg
[ link to this | view in chronology ]