Online dating can be a great way to meet someone — almost all of us know a friend who spent a while talking with their romantic partner on the Internet before meeting them.
But for all the success stories, there are also the nightmares. And we don't mean the situations where the person looks a bit different in person than in their profile picture.
We mean the British woman who pretended to be a man online so she could convince her female friend to have blindfolded sex with her, or the former Notre Dame football player who thought his online girlfriend had died only to learn that she never existed.
The practice of seducing someone using a fake online persona is called "catfishing," and it's shockingly common.
Lifehacker has some helpful tips to avoid getting scammed. Try Googling their name if they have other social media accounts, and be wary if the photos on their profiles are mostly modelling-type shots. You should also be on guard if they frequently contact you asking for help, or declare their love soon after making contact.
But the victims in the video above did not do their due diligence — that, or the scammers were just very professional.
You can check out 10 crazy catfishing stories in the video above.
10 Tips From The Better Business Bureau To Avoid Online Dating Scams
(01 of07)
Open Image ModalFind out whether the dating service does any background checks or fraud scans before a person's profile is posted. (credit:Alamy)
(02 of07)
Open Image ModalBe cautious if the person claims to be recently widowed or says they're an American stationed overseas, possibly in the military. (credit:Alamy)
(03 of07)
Open Image ModalWatch out if the person immediately asks you to communicate on an email or messaging system outside the dating site. Some dating sites monitor exchanges for signs of fraud, and a fraudster may be anxious to lure you away from the site. (credit:Alamy)
(04 of07)
Open Image ModalDo a Google search on the person. You can even paste the text of the email, profile description, or pictures into Google and search to see if similar text, pictures or descriptions are used by others. Some criminals create multiple profiles and use the same information over and over. (credit:Alamy)
(05 of07)
Open Image ModalRun the other way if the person hints that they are in financial trouble or have another sudden need for money. (This can occur after months of online chatting.) If the person asks you to wire money--such as by Western Union, MoneyGram or Green Dot MoneyPak--it more than likely is a scam. (credit:Alamy)
(06 of07)
Open Image ModalCheck the person's name in online databases of sex offenders, which are available in many states. (credit:criminaljustice.ny.gov)
(07 of07)
Open Image ModalIf you decide to meet the person, go to a place where there are large numbers of people and where you feel safe. Consider taking someone along with you. (credit:Alamy)