Wolf Watch

Staying Safe Online

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The Tinder Experiment on The Project

Do you think they are being reckless or heroic? 

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A lighter take on the dangers of Tinder...

It is scary to think how easily we trust people

Do you think they have gone too far? Is this funny or just cruel? 

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The dangers of children on Tinder - watch now

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg speaks to Sunrise about the children using the popular dating app.

Did you know that over a million of Tinder users are under the age of eighteen?

This morning Sunrise discussed the dangers of teenagers using Tinder.

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Insight: S2014 Episode & – Love Bait

An interesting programme that brings together victims, police, dating sites and an international money transfer organisation to find out about the dangers of romance scams and now not to get caught out. 

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What is Catfishing?

More than just a popular TV show, catfishing is a major problem in today’s online society. Usually out of revenge, loneliness or boredom, these predators create fake online personas that aim to scam unsuspecting victims who are seeking love online.

“The fabricated life stories and photographs that they coddle together online often contain the experiences, friends, resumes and job titles that they wish were their own, providing a complete window into how these scammers want the world to see them - and how far they fall from those ideals” (Peterson, 2013).

In 2014, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported that Australians had lost $82 million to scams. This statistic was reinforced, in 2014, when Queensland Police Deputy, Brian Hay, stated that “if you’re on a dating website you WILL be approached by a fraudster.”

Early Warning Signs

Building a fake persona online isn’t easy, and no matter how skilled the catfish is, they are bound to make a mistake.

Here are a few early warning signs you can recognise to stop you from getting scammed:

1. Models

Modelling is recognised as one of the top catfishing professions, as catfishes want to be seen as glamorous and desirable to make up for their reality. Additionally, modelling shots are very easy to find on the internet, so catfishes can post them as their own. 

2. Facebook Profile

If the person’s profile has not many friends, and, additionally, they don’t have any photos with their friends, then they are probably a catfish. Beware that some catfishes have multiple accounts so that they can make their persona seem more real. 

3. Traumatic Lives 

As discussed by Dr Phil (2015), many catfish scammers pretend to experience traumatic events like car accidents, deaths in the family and illnesses. This may be used as a way to avoid meeting up or as a way to make them seem more interesting.

 4. Camera Shy 

In this day and age, if the person you are talking to cannot send you real-time photos or video chat with you then they are probably catfishing you. 

Ultimately, you should not by any means send money to someone you are talking to online, and if someone asks you for money than you should consider the possibility that they might be a catfish. 

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4 Red Flags to Spot a Fake

You’ve met a great guy/girl online ! Great! But how can you be sure that they are who they say they are?

If you’ve noticed any of these red flags then you might want to stop planning the wedding...

1. They won't talk on the phone or video chat

As discussed by Cyber Branch chief, Tyler Cohen Wood (2014), talking on the phone is common practice when dating online, and if a person makes constant excuses whenever you want to talk to them then this person is probably hiding something from you. Additionally, in this day and age, if the person does not have access to a webcam, then they may be avoiding showing you what they really look like. 

2. They don’t have a normal online presence

In this day and age, everyone has some kind of online presence, be it a Facebook profile or Linkedin. If you’ve done a Google search and can’t find anything then the person you’re talking to might not be who they say they are. Additionally, if they have a Facebook profile. How many friends do they have? Are they tagged in any photos? How many photos do their friends have? All of these answers could be the difference between a real person and a fraud.  

3. They avoid personal questions

How much do you really know about the person you’re talking to? If they avoid answering personal questions then they probably have something to hide. Additionally, if they want to know every single detail about you then they might be trying to stalk you. 

4. Their stories don’t add up

As discussed by Wood (2014) “if someone is pretending to be someone they’re not, they will have a difficult time keeping their fake persona different from their real life.” Take note when things they say don’t add up. It could be as simple as saying they have two sisters and then saying they have one brother. It’s often the smallest things that people forget.

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The Dangers of Swiping Right

Since it’s launch in 2012, Tinder has taken the dating scene by storm with an estimated 50 million users globally. Last year Australia was the top tinder using country in the world, with 15% of the population using the location-based dating app. But with all these people using the app, how safe can it be?

The latest data from the UK shows that amount of crimes related to apps like Tinder and Grinder have alarmingly increased in the past two years, from 55 reports in 2013 to 412 reports in 2015. Reports of violent and sexual crimes were the most common, with 253 allegations of violence against the person and 152 reports of sex offences, including grooming, rapes and the sexual exploitation of children. 

How can you stay safe?

Meet people in daylight and at public places

Take a friend along for your first date

Make sure you have a mutual friend on Facebook, and talk to that friend to find out more about them.

Remember, if you are feeling unsure about someone you meet on dating apps, then it is probably a good idea to give it a miss. At the end of the day, it is better to be safe than sorry.