Nationwide has issued a warning about "red flags", as it told its millions of members to "watch out" between now and Friday. The building society shared its own research, as it revealed some worrying statistics. In an alert issued on Sunday Nationwide said its survey of 2,001 people found that over a third (36%) of individuals are untruthful while dating online. The most frequent "fibs", it stated, involve old or edited photos, inflated salaries, and dishonesty about musical preferences and height.
Alarmingly, Nationwide found that 44% of people would disregard warning signs and still arrange to meet individuals in person. The financial provider is now reminding members that they can utilise its Nationwide's Scam Checker Service if they have concerns, particularly with Valentine's Day approaching this Friday, February 14. The update continued: "While harmless embellishments are common, increased online activity brings with it a rise in scammers attempting to exploit people searching for their next relationship. The threat increases in February, with the research highlighting that almost a quarter of people (24%) feel under pressure to have a date around Valentine's Day, while nearly three in ten (29%) admit to feeling lonely.".
People are also advised to "watch out for love bombing", where a scammer attempts to win over a target with rapid and overwhelming affection. They should also consider doing a reverse image search if they suspect a photo might be stolen. Furthermore, you should never send money to someone you haven't met in person, and report any suspicious activity immediately, Nationwide advised. The report further revealed that around 27% of single individuals on dating platforms claim they've been approached by someone masquerading as someone else. Nationwide warned that if something appears too good to be true, it probably is.
