No Picture Profile: When you sign up for most online dating sites, they ask you to provide some sort of photo. In this day and age, it's a little strange if someone does not provide a kind of image along their profile. Best bet is to get away from anyone who has no pictures of themselves on their profile, as it could be some kind of scam.
Outlandish Bio: When searching for potential matches online, be aware of the bios that seem too good to be true, because in most cases it is too good to be true. Be very weary of what people say they do for a living. Some of the most common false accounts of meetings will pretend to be a model or say they aspire to be a model, which can generally be considered a red flag for online dating.
lives in another country: If the person you are talking to life in another country, we hope you proceded with caution. The majority of online dating scams are people in other countries and allows to be real, it's not going to work anyway. Even if it is real, how will you be able to have a normal relationship with someone who is far away. Our advice is to stay local and if the time is right to meet with them in a neutral, comfortable place.
Injury / Illness: When talking to possible matches always be aware of injuries or illness card that some will play. This tactic is sometimes used to gain sympathy and avoid contact. These tactics are often used for people to string along, avoiding any kind of person in confrontation.
Facebook profiles: If someone wants to add you on Facebook after meeting online, proceed with extreme caution. Not only are you giving them access to your personal life, but you'll be giving them access to pictures of you, status updates, check-ins, etc. These can be used to create other fake profiles so they can pose as you or they might even steal your identity. Beware of people who have less than 100 friends, as this could be a sign of suspicious activity.
Although there are some risks when deciding to date online. If you proceed with caution and look out for some of these signs, online dating can be fun and safe. If you are looking to try an online dating service or are not quite sure which one is right for you, check out our full review at NextAdvisor.com.