An FTC warning about Internet romance

Love and money

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has posted some advice for those seeking love in all the wrong places (like on the Internet).

In a sentence: �don�t send cash.�

�� scammers sometimes use online dating and social networking sites to try to convince people to send money in the name of love. In a typical scenario, the scam artist creates a fake profile, gains the trust of an online love interest, and then asks that person to wire money�usually to a location outside the United States,� the agency said.

Here is the FTC list of warning signs that your online paramour might have more of a financial than emotional interest you:

-- Wanting to leave the dating site immediately and use personal e-mail or IM accounts.
-- Claiming instant feelings of love.
-- Claiming to be from the United States but currently overseas.
-- Planning to visit, but being unable to do so because of a tragic event.
-- Asking for money to pay for travel, visas or other travel documents, medication, a child or other relative�s hospital bills, recovery from a temporary financial setback, or expenses while a big business deal comes through.
-- Making multiple requests for more money.

�FTC Warns Consumers About Online Dating Scams� here.

Ya know, I�ve been wondering why that woman with a really stunning Facebook picture and about 150 affluent-looking European men as �friends� contacted me out of the blue and wanted to be buddies.

I somehow suspected she wasn�t a pen pal type.

Tom Kelchner