We believe that online communities should be fun, not frightening. That’s why it’s important to keep certain guidelines in mind when you’re using the Connections VIP service to meet potential dates and friends.
Online Recommendations:
1) Anonymity is important. We recommend that you don’t share any personal information with the people you meet online or through Connections VIP events until you have reached a level of comfort and trust. Never post personal or identifying information in an online profile, and be careful what you reveal when emailing or chatting at an event.
Remember that you have no obligation to progress any relationship before you feel comfortable doing so. If someone shares information with you, you are not obligated to reciprocate. Just be honest about your concerns for your safety and be conservative when deciding how quickly to progress to telephone calls and in-person meetings with those you meet online. Connections VIP wants our members to stay safe.
2) We recommend linking your Connections VIP account to a third-party email address that doesn’t use your real name. Though we utilize an anonymous system to deliver email to you, creating a separate account that is not linked to your personal information will add an extra layer of safety for you.
3) Choose your online profile name carefully. Members who decide to use provocative language in their screen names may attract unwanted attention or project an image that they don’t desire. We also advise members to avoid using any version of their real name, city or occupation in their screen name.
4) We ask you to be honest in your description of yourself and your desires. Connections VIP is a great way to begin a wonderful relationship with new friends, love interests or business partners. It is important to represent yourself accurately, since all relationships are based on trust.
5) Please report those who abuse our system. Connections VIP does our best to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for our users, but we rely on your help to identify anyone using our system under false pretenses or for fraudulent purposes. Please report anyone who misrepresents their marital status, age or intentions. Report anyone who sends offensive emails or reveals a criminal record, as well as anyone using the Connections VIP service to solicit other members. Our terms of use strictly prohibit anyone using the Connections VIP service from selling goods or services to other members.
Profile Alert and Warning of Documented Online Dating Fraud
Connections VIP wants you to use our services to make connections that will change your life. The services we provide help you to find other people who share the same interests that you do, and meet those people through a variety of innovative online and in-person venues.
However, because we use an online profile database, we may be unknowingly targeted by dishonest people. Unfortunately, ALL online dating sites are potential targets for certain fraudulent behavior and scams. For that reason, we list the following questions to help you evaluate the people you meet through our site – or any other dating site you may be using.
As you make new connections online, ask yourself the following questions. The issues explored here are extremely common online dating scams used by dishonest people.
1. Does your new connection seem too good to be true? If your new connection is everything you’ve ever hoped for in terms of looks, interests, financial situation and personality, that’s great. But if things seem a bit too perfect, please use caution. Some criminals post phony photos and make up profiles in order to lure people into contacting them. Once they have established contact, this scam can lead in a number of directions. If a profile makes overt references to wealth or sex, chances are good that the poster is not legitimate. Report potentially fraudulent profiles immediately to: concerns@connectionsvip.com
THE BOTTOM LINE: Do not trust anyone until you have a good reason to do so. Be suspicious of overt references to wealth or sex in any profile and report fraudulent posters.
2. Does your new connection live in another country, particularly Nigeria or Russia? This poster may tell you that he or she is an American, working in a different country temporarily. This person will tell you that they are paid for this work by money order and that they are having difficulty cashing their paychecks.
This is a very common scam, unfortunately. In many cases, the foreign “worker” will spend months building your trust, send you small gifts and even profess love for you. The goal is to ensure your trust and make you comfortable enough to help “cash” their paychecks without asking questions.
The foreign “worker” will arrange for an amount of money to be wired to a Western Union or other wire service in your area, supposedly their paycheck from their employer. They will ask you to wire this money to them, minus a small sum that they want you to keep to cover fees and to thank you for your effort.
When you deposit the funds, your bank may initially show the wired funds as deposited in your account, but you will find shortly that they were fraudulent and the amount will be deducted from your balance. You are liable for repaying your bank any money that has been lost as a result.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Do not exchange financial information or agree to conduct transactions with anyone you meet online, regardless of your feelings for this person or the length of time you have “known” them. Honest people looking for real connections do NOT get involved in financial transactions with people they meet online.
3. Does your new connection live somewhere other than your city and want to come visit you? Are they asking for help to finance their visit? As a general rule, if you are comfortable enough with someone to allow them to visit you, that’s great. However, you should not agree to help pay for such a visit.
THE BOTTOM LINE: If someone wants to visit you, do not agree to help finance their visit. Money should not be an initial part of a new connection.
Sadly, there are more scams out there than we can list fully here. If you come across dishonest behavior, suspect that someone you have met at Connections VIP is engaged in fraudulent behavior or find a profile that you believe is not legitimate, please report it immediately by emailing: profilealert@connectionsvip.com
Offline Recommendations:
Sometimes an online meeting will go well, and you’ll decide to meet another member in the “real world.” Connections VIP prioritizes your safety and offers the following suggestions to keep you safe.
1) Meet in a place where there are sure to be many other people. Hotel rooms, homes, or secluded parks are not appropriate first meeting locations. Try a mall, restaurant or coffee shop instead.
2) Let someone else know where you’ll be and how long you expect to be gone. Plan to phone this person before and after your meeting. If you like, it’s a good idea to have this person call you to check in at a set time during the meeting. That also provides you with an opportunity to leave the meeting if you find that you are uncomfortable for any reason.
3) Choose non-alcoholic drinks during your meeting. Alcohol can impair your judgment, making it easier for someone with bad intentions to take advantage of the situation. Make your first meeting short, public and non-alcohol related.
4) Be sure to keep a close eye on your personal belongings and your beverages. Though we want you to have fun, you should treat the first few meetings with any stranger with extreme caution and ensure that your belongings are not stolen or tampered with.
5) Never let the first meeting lead to someone’s home. Connections VIP is always pleased to learn that a first meeting was charged with chemistry and attraction, but should still be treated as a first meeting with a stranger. Caution and safety are more important than initial attraction. Do not allow yourself to feel pressured to move faster than is safe.
Going the Distance
Sometimes you may decide to meet someone who lives some distance from your hometown. When that happens, it’s crucial to keep in mind certain safety issues.
1) Do not accept an offer to stay with your new friend. Set up a hotel reservation in advance and do not share the name of your hotel or its location with the person you are meeting.
2) Use a taxi or rental car. Do not allow the person you are meeting to provide transportation for you. You need to remain independent when you meet a new person for the first time and should not get into a vehicle with them.
3) Tell someone about your plans. The same rules apply, whether you’re meeting someone in your hometown or in another state. Have someone to check in with before, after and even during your meeting.
Be Wary, Be Wise
Connections VIP is a service that fosters new relationships between people. But online, as in the real world, not all people have honorable intentions towards others. Listen to your instincts when meeting new people, online and in the real world. Get as much information about your new friends as you can, and make sure that their story rings true. If necessary, ask for additional details until you can ensure that you are being told the truth about their marital status, job and goals for meeting others online.
|
