Be Aware Online Daters – Romance Scams & Threats

 

With Valentine's Day around the corner, many single people return to thoughts of finding love online.   But while your head is in the online clouds, you should know – and sorry to sound like a parent – that cyberscammers may be there with you looking to take advantage of your vulnerable heart.

To help you stay safe on Valentine's Day and year-round, here is a look at some of the top romance scams and threats, followed by safety tips in honor of your heart:

1)Online Dating Scams—Millions of people use online dating sites to broaden their networks and meet potential mates, but not everyone on these sites are sincere—some are scammers hoping to lure you in with false affection, with the goal of gaining your trust, and eventually, your money.

2) Love Exploits—These threats have you looking for love in all the wrong places—like dangerous websites designed to steal your information. One recent example of this is the Koobface worm, which targeted Match.com users by sending messages that appeared to be from other users, inviting them to look at photos and videos on a Match.com look-a-like site. When users tried to log in to the malicious site, it recorded their usernames and passwords and attempted to install a Trojan.

3) Valentine's Day Spam & eCards–Scammers know that the holidays are the perfect time to send out themed messages and eCards, knowing they will grab your attention. Spam messages with subject lines such as "The Perfect Valentine's Day Gift" may contain a link to a dangerous website that asks for personal information. And, a message that appears to be an eCard from a loved one could actually download malware on your machine when you click on the link, leaving you with an infection, rather than affection.

In Honor of Your Heart – How To Stay Safe

* When signing up for online dating, go with a well-known dating site and get referrals from friends on which sites they use
* Design your dating profile with care—think about the image you want to project and NEVER, under any circumstance, post personal information, such as your full name, address and phone number
* Vet potential dates by checking to see that their profile information matches other online information, such as their LinkedIn or Spokeo profile
* If a potential date asks you for a loan or any financial information, immediately report them to the dating site
* NEVER EVER click on links in emails or eCards from people you do not know – if you don't trust it, DO NOT click it
* To help protect you from malware, use a comprehensive security software, such as McAfee Total Protection, and keep it up-to-date

McAfee Identity Protection includes proactive identity surveillance to monitor subscribers' credit and personal information and access to live fraud resolution agents who can help subscribers work through the process of resolving identity theft issues. For additional tips, please visit http://www.counteridentitytheft.com

 

Why Do Men Run Away From Commitment?

 

Why do men run away from commitment? That's the one question many women in your position wish they knew the answer to. It's hard to understand, isn't it? To be in love with a great guy who seems crazy about you yet he shuts down the moment you start talking about the future. It's hard not to take that personally. After all, in your mind, if the man truly loved you as much as he says he does, marriage would be something he'd really want, right? Not necessarily. There are many reasons why some men won't commit and once you understand what they are, you can then help guide your man past his reservations towards a happily married future with you.

One of the main reasons some men run away from commitment is they just don't feel confident in the love that they've found. This seems very cold and harsh when you're the woman in question but it's a sad reality. Many men reach a point in their relationship when they recognize that a proposal should be forthcoming but they just can't seem to bring themselves to do it. They hesitate because they wonder if there's another woman out there who is destined to be their soul mate. If your guy talks often about fate or he's questioned whether you two really are meant to be forever, he's probably feeling this type of fear.

Another very common reason why some men shy away from commitment is they are unsure of what their life will be like when they do take the step towards something more serious. Most men have married friends who constantly complain about their wives. They go on and on about how much better single life is and if your guy already has some worry about marriage, this will only make it worse. The married friends your man has can deeply influence whether or not he'll propose to you so keep that in mind.

Does your man seem constantly worried about whether he'll have a job in the future? Or does he seem preoccupied with current lending rates even though he doesn't have a mortgage? This may also be a clue into why your man hasn't popped the question yet. If he feels that he can't afford marriage, he won't have any interest in it. Even if you've got a stable income stream he may still have strong reservations about taking your relationship to the next level. Many men view themselves as the primary provider and it's a role they take very seriously.

Every man has his own unique reasons for not wanting to commit. Once you identify what is causing your guy to run away from commitment, you can then get to work helping him move past that and into a more commitment positive state of mind

 

Valentines Day Date Ideas For Single Women - Keep Cupid's Day Fun

 

It is the month of love and you have a great man lined up for  cupids special day. You are excited but nervous about your plans. Kiss  your stress goodbye because here are some great Valentines Day date  ideas for single women.

You need to establish something very  fundamental before we begin, whether this is going to be a romantic  Valentines date or a fun one. Think about the way you feel about the man  you will be entertaining. Decide if you are comfortable enough with him  to get up close and personal or if he is brand new to your life and you  would feel better keeping it light and playful.

Romantic nights  have the ability to transform a woman back to being sixteen again,  falling in love, hoping to hold his hand, and longing for that first  kiss. Nothing beats the way love makes you feel. So recreate it with the  man you want to impress. Woman everywhere have always been told that  the way to a mans heart is through his stomach. Those words stand even  truer today in our world of fast food and quick freezer meals.

For  those who are a whiz in the kitchen, whip up a family favorite and for  those who are less domestically blessed, stick with something simple. A  quick and easy meal that looks like it takes forever is taking a few  chicken breasts, spread mayonnaise all over them, sprinkle some onion  soup mix on them and toss them in the oven. Buy some frozen vegetables  and a salad and you are set. This is just one of the good ideas for a  valentines date.

Learning how to set the mood is a very important  Valentines Day date ideas for single women. Have your table set with a  red table cloth or red place settings, fill a couple of old, odd sized  wine glasses with a mix of red food coloring and water and float a tea  candle in the water. You can rarely over do it with candles on a  romantic evening so have a few lit randomly through the house and by the  dining area. Find a soothing CD to have playing in the back ground.  Soft classical music is always a good choice.

On the lighter side  is the fun night out for those who have not quite decided they want to  get super cozy with someone new. Light hearted, fun times are usually  the most entertaining and carefree, putting everyone who participates in  them at ease. Start the evening off acknowledging that it is a holiday  without putting a lot of pressure on either of you by bringing a small  gift. This is a simple but romantic Valentine's Day gift suggestion. A  another good gift suggestion could be a bad full of heart-shaped candies  or a single rose, yes men love roses too.

For an adventurous time  go to restaurant where they offer arcade games and fun rides where you  can build up an appetite playing and laughing with each other. Playing  together will give you a great insight into each others personality and  also keep the mood fun and light. If you are looking for a more low-key  evening, purchase tickets for a local comedy show. Laugh the night away  together then stop by a quite coffee shop or ice cream parlor for a  treat.

There are hundreds of Valentines Day date ideas for single  women out there. The secret is to find something you love, something you  feel very comfortable with and then bring your date along to experience  it with you. If you are comfortable in your surroundings you will be in  a great place to let your amazing personality show through.

 
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