Last week, invited expert Robert Siciliano discussed crooks who use Craigslist classified ads to target potential victims. Apparently, the same types of fraudsters also use online dating services to find gullible marks. There are some days, Consumerist received a story from a reader who was contacted by a scammer on Match.com. The message is written in grammatically incoherent style that tends to characterize foreign fraudsters. The scammer does not provide financial transactions in this first message, it simply tries to make contact and establish a relationship. However, it also assumes the name Sgt. Mark Edwards, which is commonly used in the Nigerian 411 scams.
If you use Match.com or another online dating service, the advice of Robert Siciliano on Craigslist scammers also applies. If you receive messages from Sgt. Mark Edwards, consider yourself warned.
Of course, protection against identity theft and internet security software are excellent lines of defense against cyber criminals who operate on users of Match.com, Craigslist, or other online community.