| Desmond Gregor was terrified. Held at ransom by | | | | Sometimes the scammers put their profiles online - |
| armed men in Mali, Africa who beat him with | | | | which are usually very appealing with very attractive |
| machetes and threatened to 'hack off his limbs' if he | | | | photos - and wait for potential victims to contact them. |
| didn't pay $90,000, he regretted ever going there in the | | | | This is an even worse scenario. |
| first place. His ordeal lasted 12 days. Finally the 56 year | | | | Scammers find it very easy to target internet dating |
| old Australian was rescued by Australian and Mali | | | | sites because they usually don't run any checks. Even |
| police who tricked the kidnappers into taking him to the | | | | respectable sites, such as Christian Café, have |
| Canadian embassy. | | | | had trouble with these schemes. |
| Mr.Gregor believes that he probably wouldn't have | | | | Internet dating sites have become very popular with |
| survived if he had been held any longer. Luckily his | | | | seniors. Seniors are generally regarded as easy |
| relatives became suspicious when they received | | | | targets by 'romance scammers.' Photos of very |
| emails asking for money and contacted the police. | | | | attractive young women are often used to appeal to |
| The sheep farmer went to Mali to meet his | | | | older men. In some cases they even offer them sex. |
| prospective bride who was young and attractive. He | | | | As the story of the Taiwanese student shows, |
| was even offered a dowry of gold if he married her. | | | | however, these scams can target anyone. The |
| Internet dating scams like this abound. In one case a | | | | schemes which ask for shipments of goods are |
| young Taiwanese student lost $200,000 NT after he | | | | reasonably new, for example, and have affected |
| transferred his entire savings account to his internet | | | | people from many age groups. Apparently online |
| date. In other cases people have shipped goods to | | | | retailers are wary of shipping to West Africa because |
| their prospective dates who were using stolen credit | | | | of the danger of stolen credit cards. |
| cards. Some have sent airfares or other payments. | | | | The schemes have also affected people on internet |
| Often the scammers are from Western Africa or | | | | chat rooms. |
| Russia. According to they usually have a particular | | | | Online dating is fun and a respectable way to look for |
| way of working. The scammer usually contacts a | | | | love today, but be wary. If potential dates begin asking |
| person who has placed his or her profile at an internet | | | | for money be especially suspicious and contact the |
| dating site. The scammer usually uses an attractive | | | | police. There are many websites and forums devoted |
| photo and is good at getting the potential victim to | | | | to the dangers of these scams - some even list the |
| believe that a romance is very possible. After a while | | | | photos of known scammers. If a date seems too |
| the scammer will begin to ask for money, such as an | | | | good to be true it is a good idea to look them up. Also |
| airfare to travel to see the date. They apparently use | | | | it is probably safer to date locally so that you can |
| all kinds of excuses to request money. | | | | actually meet the person. |