With Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) are offering tips to safely utilize online dating platforms and how to not become a victim. 

With countless dating apps available to the public and even options to find a soulmate on social media, LASD officials are urging those looking for love this Valentine’s Day to take precautions to avoid becoming a victim.   

“Criminals use these sites, too, looking to turn the lonely and vulnerable into fast money through a variety of scams,” LASD officials said. “Fraudulent predators create fake profiles in the name of love to build online relationships. After scammers gain their victims’ trust on false pretenses, they glean every bit of personal information possible during the ‘relationship’ and use it to gain access to victims’ bank accounts or to commit identity theft.”

For anyone still searching for that perfect Valentine and using the internet or social media apps to make that connection, consider the following online dating tips provided by the LASD:

• Be mindful of what you make public or post online.
• Research that person’s profile and request new photos before meeting.
• Meet in a public place for first few times.
• Don’t allow your first date to walk or follow you home.
• Stay away from dark and secluded meeting places.
• Don’t send money to someone you met online.
• Tell a friend the details of the online date.
• Keep personal information to yourself.
• Trust your instincts, if it doesn’t feel right, avoid it.
• If you feel uncomfortable during the date, excuse yourself & leave.
• Do not believe everything you read online.
• Remember the person you meet may not be who they say they are.

Be Mindful; your online date may only be interested in your money if he or she does the following:

• Presses you to leave the dating website you met through and to communicate using personal email or instant messaging.
• Professes instant feelings of love.
• Sends you a photograph of himself or herself that looks like something from a glamour magazine.
• Claims to be from the U.S. and is traveling or working overseas.
• Makes plans to visit you but is then unable to do so because of a tragic event.
• Or asks for money for a variety of reason like travel, medical emergencies, hotel bills, hospital bills, bills for a child or other
• relative, visas or other official documents, losses from a financial setback or crime victimization.

 In the event of a dating emergency on Valentine’s Day, or any other day call 911, or to report a non-emergent crime involving the internet call the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at 661-260-40000. 

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