We don't want you to get scammed or spammed. We have rules against ANY kind of soliciting at ConnectingSingles for the safety of our members. So be aware.. and be cautious. Don’t be tricked (or tempted) to give away your credit or identity to a solicitor.
Below are some of the common forms of solicitation that members report as scam.
Have you been sent a url or site name and asked to go to another website for a variety of reasons, to view hot pics, erotic chat, explicit webcaming, free dating startup, or for language translation? It's sad to see how some site and business owners try shortcuts and scam other sites for free advertising. Sending someone to a site to solicit and draw members away with fake profiles is scam. It speaks poorly of their business ethics.. and it’s just plain tacky.
New websites startup every day, many do not last very long. It takes much time to build up memberships. Some join larger sites with fake profiles (or give their members incentives to), then mass mail members to solicit them to join. These mass mailers are not interested in finding a date. Be aware they may have even more than building their membership as their intention, and you may get scammed by following links to websites sent by online strangers.
To get you to their site, they may tell you:
Often when you get to these supposed ‘free’ sites, you’ll have to register to see any of the pages inside. You are required to enter email, personal and even credit card info, in order to use, join, or even search for your solicitor there. Once you register, you may be disappointed to find that the site has very few members (none of them being your solicitor), or that you have to pay to use the site, or to view the solicitor’s photos.
Be cautious of this type of solicitation as some of these sites are not dating sites at all. It may be a site set up ONLY to collect your personal information, or to get you to pay to see more or erotic photos. Your personal information, credit card, or email address may be sold for mailing lists or illegal activity. And you may leave the site with spyware or a virus on your computer.
Have you been told that the solicitor’s company wants to put your photo on billboards for CocaCola or some other large company, that they want to paint or photograph you, or they have a modeling job for you because you are beautiful and perfect for a project they are working on? Being asked to model is very flattering, and that may cause you to let your guard down. But this is not really about your photo or modeling at all. After you are comfortable and talked into use of your photo, they may ask you to submit an application. The form would include personal info, address, phone, maybe even banking or credit info (place to send your royalty checks), all of which could be used for scam or identity theft. After awhile they may ask for money for setting up a portfolio and for marketing you. They could eventually have your personal info, your money, and your photos to use on the internet or for other purposes, and you would never hear from them again… except for trouble with your credit, the mailing lists you’re on, and the spam mail you receive.
Have you been contacted by a man in another country who is looking for a nanny for his children? The story is that IF he accepts your application he will make travel arrangements for you.. but you must pay for the arrangements he makes for you. He tells you this is because he has been scammed before by sending travel money to a nanny he hired who took his money and never showed up. He promises that when you arrive you will be paid well and he will reimburse you for all your trip expenses. He then requires you to send all kinds of personal info, your address, and even a copy of your passport(!) so he can get you a visa, reserve tickets and send them to you. Send all the info and you will likely never hear from him again.. and he/they may be using your identity. If the deal actually DOES go through, the job you find there may be VERY different from the nanny job you expected, and you may find yourself in a strange place, far from home, without the means to return home.
Have you been contacted out-of-the-blue by a super-friendly woman (or could be a man) who flatters your photos and asks detailed questions about your dating preferences. She says she is looking for attractive females to go out with her rich, influential male friends of various ethnicities, and she can hook you up if you are adventurous and want to visit her for a fun little vacation. She says you can hang out with her and even offers you travel money help and a place to stay while you are there. This person may actually be looking for escorts or prostitutes without you knowing what is in store for you or what she has promised the men.
Have you received or seen links posted that lead to contribution or petition sites? This type of scam works well because you may receive the link from someone you know, or it may be spread by well meaning people who feel strongly about a particular cause. Be aware that there are those who create petition or contribution sites to take advantage of the caring nature of people who are willing to give up personal info in support of ‘good’ causes. The scammer may use the site s/he creates to gather names and email addresses to create and sell mailing lists for unknown or questionable uses. Ask yourself what would the site be doing with your name, email, or whatever info they require. Signing up may make you feel good because you feel you have somehow done your part in correcting the stated injustice. But your signature may never accomplish anything other than getting you on mailing lists, and you may receive loads of spam. Have you ever heard of any good change or outcome resulting from any online petition, or does it only serve as an easy way to create traffic and gather thousands of names and addresses? And don’t be fooled.. Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble, Ford Motor, or other large companies are not going to give dollars or euros to a specified cause, per thousand signatures on an internet list as the solicitation promises. Those companies don’t make their donations that way. It’s a scam!
Solicitors are not only a threat to your personal info. Even if you do NOT enter your personal info, you may pick up spyware, or your computer may get infected with a virus by entering there.
Do you wonder why there is so much scam on the internet and so much spam in your email accounts? It’s because it works! Think next time before you sign your name, give out your email address, or follow unethical solicitors to other destinations. Trust well known and long standing sites such as ConnectingSingles whose standards and ethics are proven and who have rules with your safety and privacy in mind.
Remember you are on THIS site to use the features HERE to find someone for dating or friendship… others should be also. If you are contacted for ANY other reason, be suspicious. If after one or two emails the sender suggests another business or site, they are likely here soliciting, not only to you, but likely to many.
Become aware that scam can happen, ask questions, and trust your instincts.. if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn’t. And it may be a scam.