Dating Tips, Dating Advice and Dating Help for Online Dating

African Online Dating Scams

Many online dating scams originate in African nations such as Nigeria, Ghana or Ivory Coast due to the low per capita income, high rates of unemployment, high rates of coruption and ineffective policing. The money extracted from victims in North America, Europe and Australia translates to huge fortunes for the scammers who are willing to put weeks or months of work into getting a good payout. Both men and women are targets, many scammers are well educated and all are heartless so read on for common African online dating scams and protect yourself.

Cashing Money Orders

Some scammers claim to be North American, European or Australian citizens working in an African nation such as Ghana, Nigeria or based in Lagos. The story goes that they are paid in money orders but are having trouble cashing them; could you please cash the orders and wire the money to Nigeria? If the victim agrees they will receive money orders that have been bought for a small fee, such as $20, and doctored to read hundreds or thousands of dollars. The victim will cash this order and send the money through an irreversible process such as wiring with Western Union as instructed by the scammer. A few days or weeks later their bank calls, informing the victim the money orders were fraudulent and that they are responsible for the amounts owing. Ouch.

Great Photos, Vague Descriptions = Alarm Bells

You come across a profile of a young, attractive woman on an online dating site or maybe she contacts you. The photos are stunning, perhaps professionally taken or provocative, but the description of what she’s looking for in a partner is vague. It could be a scammer, often a man, using photos downloaded from the internet in the hope of sucking in as many victims as possible.

Stranded in Africa? Not Likely

A scammer poses as an attractive young woman stranded in Africa after a safari holiday with her previous boyfriend went horribly wrong. He flew back home without her and as she doesn’t have any money she is heartbroken and stranded. Strangely she is spending her time on dating sites rather than at embassies getting help. Alarm bells should start ringing right about now. She befriends and falls in love with you, her knight in shining armor, before getting you to wire money for her to fly back to the States, Europe or Australia to meet you. It’s a scam, don’t send a cent, cease contact and report the scammer.

Nigerian 419 Scam

Also known as the advance fee scam this is an oldie but a goody. Supposedly named after a defunct piece of Nigerian Law the 419 scam has been operating in various incarnations for years. The basic idea is that you’re contacted by someone who has access to large sums of money and wishes to move them through your bank account. They might say that someone has died leaving millions or they might be a corrupt government official draining federal funds and they want to share this unbelievable fortune with you. All they need is a sum of your money to get things rolling or to cover bank fees. Whatever creative, captivating and greed inducing story you read know this: it’s a scam. However much you send, you will never see the money again.

Kidnap Scam

The most alarming of all online dating scam stories is that of Australian man Desmond Gregor who flew to Mali in North Western Africa hoping to meet his online sweetheart. Instead he met twelve men armed with machetes who held him captive, demanding ransom. Gregor was lucky to escape with the help of the Canadian Embassy. This is an extreme case of online dating scamming but should serve as a wake up call to all online daters; do you really know who is on the other end of that email or phone? Of course millions of people have flown across countries and continents to find the loves of their life but it’s important to keep personal safety in mind. See Calls, Meetings & Travel for travel safety advice.

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