In the last couple of decades, we’ve relocated most of our daily jobs and responsibilities to the digital realm. Shopping online, having an online counselling session with a doctor, and opening and managing a bank account are all normal. All of this may take place without the need for a physical meeting or for anybody to leave their home. According to Shufti Pro News, global loss associated with identity fraud reached $43 billion in 2020.
As a result, it was only inevitable that building our digital presence via social networks would become an important component of our online persona. An average individual has a personal social account on 8.8 distinct social media sites, as per a 2020 report. In comparison to 2014 numbers, there is a significant difference. Back then, the projected number was that each individual had 4.8 different social media accounts. This involves digital dating platforms like websites and applications.
Dangers Associated with Online Dating
It was certain that the threat levels associated with digital dating would rise as the prominence of dating sites and applications grew. It is worth noting that cybersecurity and online fraud are not the only issues. Given the nature of internet dating and the absence of effective regulation and identity verification, it makes way for serious crimes.
Catfishing is among the most popular fraud cases on dating applications. It is a deceitful act in which a person develops a false identity or fictitious character on the internet in order to use social media sites or dating platforms which is mostly done through fake id picture. This is frequently to develop a relationship on social networks or via dating networks.
A romance scan is an actively used strategy on dating sites and social media platforms. It entails pretending to have romantic feelings toward a person to build trust and exploit their goodwill and recently developed sentiments. After then, the objective is to persuade the target to give money to the fraudster under the wrong pretences or to defraud the person. Amongst the most prevalent forms of crimes done in connection with online dating is financial fraud. According to the FBI data from 2019, romance scam victims lost approximately 1 billion USD in the United States and Canada from 2016 to 2019.
One other type of catfishing is a method in which a person creates phony accounts on free dating sites. After drawing in as many individuals as possible, typically those who are aged and less known to these approaches, fraudsters lead them to another dating website or ask for their number. Membership and top-quality phone services are the most common examples.
No Identity Verification Measures on Dating Sites
Actions like constructing a fake identity for harmful intentions or romantic scams are also called cybercrimes since they take place online.
Nevertheless, it is critical to realize that, while online dating has many advantages and is quite useful in today’s society, it may still pose a threat to physical safety. It’s critically important to remember in cases when customers’ identities aren’t confirmed in any manner.
According to studies, the frequency of sexual offenses has risen as digital dating has grown in popularity throughout the world. Dating sites, which enable users to contact one another without requiring adequate identification in order to form relationships, have become a haven for crooks looking for a ready supply of victims.
Safe Online Dating with Identity Verification
There is no denying that the idea of invisibility makes it simpler for internet fraudsters and criminals to operate. It creates the impression of freedom to engage in damaging, deceptive, and fraudulent behavior. If members of dating sites and apps had to do identity verification service, this feeling of secrecy might be rapidly and simply eradicated. Every action they perform in connection with their digital dating activities would be connected to their real identities. According to Shufti Pro Funding, the worldwide identity verification budget is projected to rise by more than $13 billion.
Furthermore, client age verification might be critical in reducing the number of crimes perpetrated against minors. Setting a phony date of birth or lying about age is not so difficult now, which gives people the ability to misrepresent their age.
It allows young users to make profiles on dating platforms with age restrictions that they don’t fulfill. As a result, they are more likely to be exposed to potentially harmful circumstances, schemes, and individuals.
Identity verification is a crucial step in ensuring the welfare of dating network customers. Treating this approach as a requirement by the developers of online dating sites would empower them to check more than just basic facts like a person’s name, last name, and birthdate. It would also allow them to do identity verifications and further inspections to make sure that members are not at risk of engaging with persons who have previously been found guilty of a crime.
Conclusion
Because of the nature, of the digital dating industry, it is among those that must offer the greatest degree of protection to its consumers in this modern age of technology and the threats associated with it. One of the critical elements in the process is identity verification. As a result, it’s critical to make the validation process as thorough and competent as necessary.