| Though they might never stop to give a drifter a lift on | | | | • Be aware that an abundance of personal |
| the interstate, there are many whose desire for | | | | information can be harvested through both free and |
| romance will lead them to pick up the equivalent of | | | | paid Web sites. Be very leery of any additional |
| hitchhikers online. | | | | information you may post on a personal homepage or |
| Instant messaging, chat rooms and online personal ads | | | | social network sites such as MySpace, Facebook and |
| have become an unavoidable part of the online | | | | others. |
| experience, but who knows who might be on the other | | | | • Avoid using screen names that reveal your |
| side of the keyboard? | | | | identity or location. |
| Keeping yourself and your identity safe when you're | | | | • Be sure to protect your computer and your |
| looking for love online is challenging, but, not impossible, | | | | personal information by installing and keeping computer |
| according to Paul A. Falzone, CEO of The Right One | | | | security software up-to-date to deter online thieves. |
| and Together Dating, the largest brick-and-mortar | | | | • Don't respond to, and block, any annoying, |
| dating service in the world. | | | | threatening or harassing e-mail. |
| "For every good-hearted man or woman looking for | | | | • When mail or phone contact is necessary, |
| love, there is a dangerous line-up of shady characters | | | | such as when using auction sites, try to use an office |
| that includes con men, liars and the most violent of | | | | phone number and address or a postal box. |
| criminals. Give out too much information, or even a little, | | | | • Be aware of any vague or inconsistent |
| as you chat and you may find yourself a victim of a | | | | information that a correspondent provides. |
| cyber stalker, harassment, identity theft or worse," said | | | | • Be skeptical of any photo they send that |
| Falzone. | | | | look too professional or "too good to be true." It may |
| According to WHOA (Working to Halt Online Abuse), | | | | just be an image pulled from the Net. |
| an organization dedicated to educating the internet | | | | • If you become the victim of stalking or |
| community about online harassment and abuse, 73.5 | | | | harassing behavior, don't hesitate to report it to the |
| percent of online harassment/cyber stalking victims | | | | legal authorities just as you would with such treatment |
| (from 2000 to 2006) were female and half of them | | | | offline. You may also be able to report such conduct |
| between the ages of 18-30 years of age. Of the | | | | to the offending parties Internet Service Provider. |
| females harassed/stalked, 16.7 percent knew the | | | | • Be familiar with online resources intended to |
| perpetrator to be an online acquaintance. | | | | educate the public about such online issues. These |
| In a recent U.S. Department of Justice report, | | | | sites include and |
| threatening email and other electronic communications | | | | As for online dating services, only a few do a good |
| were said to be factors in approximately 20 percent | | | | job of screening applicants. Unfortunately, many are |
| of the cases handled by the Los Angeles Stalking and | | | | open to anyone with the ability to pay the fee and |
| Threat Assessment Unit. The Computer Investigations | | | | post a picture (whether or not the image is, in fact, of |
| and Technology Unit of the New York City Police | | | | them). Men and women alike may use the anonymity |
| Department estimated that nearly 40 percent of its | | | | of the Web to lie about their age, appearance, marital |
| caseload involved threats and harassment. | | | | status, name and even gender. |
| Further making the case about the dangers of online | | | | Whether you use an online dating or singles' service or |
| interaction, a study on the sexual victimization of | | | | even one of the "brick and mortar" variety, ask |
| college women by researchers at the University of | | | | questions to gauge how well they will protect and |
| Cincinnati found that nearly 25 percent of all | | | | serve you. Do they conduct background checks? Are |
| respondents had been victims of cyber stalking. | | | | their safeguards to ensure that members are not |
| Most people, thankfully, won't face extreme cases of | | | | married or have criminal records? Will they offer a |
| violence. But other dangers abound, such as identity | | | | guarantee? Are they in good standing with local |
| theft, which has claimed more than 9 million victims a | | | | business associations and the Attorney General's |
| year according to the Better Business Bureau. And, | | | | office? |
| according to the Federal Trade Commission's National | | | | Falzone continued, "There is no way to be completely |
| and State Trends in Fraud and Identity Theft, identity | | | | safe or secure when using the Internet as a meeting |
| theft has been their top consumer complaint for | | | | place. But by being skeptical, and using your head as |
| several years. | | | | much as your heart, it is possible to have fun without |
| In light of recent tragedies of online dating gone wrong | | | | attracting unnecessary danger." |
| and the significant rise in identity theft, Falzone offers | | | | Now catering to more than 300,000 members at over |
| advice on how to avoid online harassment and cyber | | | | 60 locations throughout North America, The Right One |
| stalking as well as compromised personal information: | | | | and Together Dating are the largest brick and mortar |
| • Do not fill out online profiles for free e-mail | | | | dating services in the industry. The Right One and |
| accounts that you may use when chatting or instant | | | | Together Dating offer a more consistent product, a |
| messaging. Even the most seemingly innocuous piece | | | | greater number of potentially compatible mates and |
| of information, when coupled with the personal | | | | added value of flexibility in transferring memberships to |
| information that may slip out in conversation can be | | | | another geographic region. |
| used to pry into your personal life. | | | | |