Efforts Under Way to Fight Financial Scams and Sexual Predators
Washington, D.C. -- With increased numbers of users and an increase in the amount of providers of online dating services comes opportunity for cyber crime and a need for users of these services to maintain safety awareness while surfing for love. In light of this, public safety advocates and state lawmakers are promoting legislation to create greater safety protections for online daters in 2007.
Legislative efforts are already under way in several states to reduce cyber crime. The Safer Online Dating Alliance (SODA), a nationwide coalition dedicated to improving online dating safety, is working with public safety proponents nationally and in Michigan, Florida, Illinois and Texas to advance legislation addressing cyber crime and improving online dating safety.
Protections include:
- requiring disclosure to consumers on safer online dating practices
- disclosing to consumers the extent of background and other safety screenings conducted by their online dating company
- providing safety information on the importance of not disclosing information about young children -- a vital step in protecting kids from sexual predators targeting single mothers to enter into a relationship to victimize the child.
"Online dating has had a positive effect on many people's lives, but the anonymous nature of the process poses unique safety threats and requires extra precaution," said program director of SODA. "Criminals targeting online daters are tough to stop, but we believe it is possible to reduce crimes through greater safety awareness disclosures and safer online dating practices."
The need for greater safety protections is undeniable: Millions of singles last year sought romance through the Internet. While many were pleasantly successful, others weren't so lucky: According to a review of 2006 news reports, financial crimes have increased sharply. Scam artists used online dating sites to perpetrate financial fraud. The most common forms involved developing online relationships of trust, then conning victims out of large sums of money.
For example, a 65-year-old New York man pleaded guilty in May to grand larceny after defrauding an elderly widow out of $100,000. According to reports, after meeting online, Alan Sarner convinced his victim to invest heavily in his fictitious company, which he said was on the verge of announcing a potential cure for leukemia -- the same disease that killed the widow's husband.
But financial scams are not the only tragic stories plaguing the online dating world. Convicted sex offenders and other criminals continue to masquerade as ordinary singles.
For example, a Rhode Island man reportedly traveled to New Hampshire in August to allegedly drug and rape a woman matched to him through an online dating service. Police believe the man may have victimized others he met online.
Further, in November, an online dating service reportedly matched a woman with a registered sex offender. The woman learned of the offender's criminal status on their fourth date and quickly reported him to her online dating company. The company took no action to remove him from its site until a major news outlet broadcast the woman's story. The woman was unharmed in this instance, but other online daters' quests for companionship quickly turned tragic.
A convicted Michigan sexual predator allegedly used online dating sites to target more than 18 female victims in Texas in late 2005 and early 2006.
Even with the rise in tragic stories of online dating, many online dating companies are resistant to online dating safety legislation. Opponents argue that safety protections are up to the consumer and not the online dating company, or cite the importance of member privacy ahead of member safety.
"We have seen several instances where sexual predators' profiles were left on an online dating company's website even after the company was informed of their member's criminal record," said SODA's program director. "Online dating companies should put their members' and the public's safety first, and not shelter the privacy of a sexual predator."
There are some bright spots in the Internet safety efforts. In December MySpace, an online social networking site, announced it was undertaking new efforts to block convicted sex offenders from their online community. Additionally, one major online dating service, True.com, obtained an industry-first agreement with a convicted felon from California who violated the companys membership policy by failing to identify himself as a convicted sexual predator when attempting to sign up for the service. Reportedly, terms of the settlement agreement permanently banned the convicted felon from all online dating sites, required community service, and the felon was required to pay damages. True.com is a member of SODA and is the only major online dating service that conducts criminal and marital background screenings.
The Safer Online Dating Alliance also seeks to educate the public on safer online dating practices and offers the following important safety tips, developed by SODA's panel of safety experts. Complete safety tips can be found online at www.SaferOnlineDating.org.
How to Reduce the Risk
- Use an online dating company that conducts criminal background screenings or have a background check conducted on anyone you consider meeting. Shun online dating companies that place the privacy of known or alleged sex offenders ahead of the safety of their members.
- Set up a separate email account and use an online name free from sexual connotation and information that will allow a predator to identify you.
- Never post pictures of your children or go into details about their ages in your online dating profile.
- If meeting in person, tell friends and family the location of your date, who you're going to meet, and what time you'll be home.
- Meet in a public place that is well lit and do not go off alone with your date. Upon arrival, verify your date's name and description using his or her driver's license.
- Immediately report stalking, financial fraud, sexual assault, or Internet dating crimes to the police and your online dating service.