Online Dating Scams, POF Plenty Of Fish example

When dating online please be aware of the scams.
Of all internet crimes in the US, romance scams account for the largest financial losses, totaling $230 million (~ GBP £172 million) in 2016. And it’s definitely not just happening in the US. Last year in the UK, there were almost 4,000 victims of romance fraud scammed out of close to GBP £40 million (~ $54 million). In Canada last year, 750 victims lost CAD $17 million (~ GBP £10 million).
Victims are often too embarrassed to come forward, so these numbers may be grossly underreported.
Although the details vary, most online dating and romance scams follow a similar pattern. It begins with a hook. The would-be suitor makes contact and uses something in common to spark a friendship or romantic relationship. The relationship ramps up quickly with scammers typically sending lots of messages throughout the day over a period of weeks or even months.