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