by Kriszia Vengua

Created on: February 06, 2009   Last Updated: February 20, 2009

We've all heard the horror stories: Man's Online Fiance a Fake, Loses Thousands in Online Dating Scam. Jilted at the Airport: Woman Gets Stood Up By Online Boyfriend.

Despite the much publicized successes of online dating, there still lies a trail of broken hearts and empty wallets.

It's not hard to see why: it's much easier to be perfect on paper, and scammers know that a stringing together pretty words make the best bait. Online scammers prey on people's vulnerability, and there's no other place where they're more exposed than in cyberspace, looking for for love.

The good news is, it doesn't have to be that way. There are a lot of things you can do to protect yourself from online sweetheart scammers. And while the following tips may not be the recipe for happily-ever-after, it at least guarantees that you'll have a more pleasant-and safer-online dating experience.

1. Never give out personal information. The most important rule is probably the easiest one to break. Why? Because when you find someone you like, it's hard not to give any contact information: your phone number, your name, and your email address. The problem is, a combination of all three can open up a host of information to anyone who knows how to google.

It's understandable that you want to be reached, but some online scammers are also involved in online identity thefts. Not only can they trace you back to your home, but you might be handing them the keys to your door too.

If you want to be contacted, stick to your dating site's email or chat service. If you're not using a membership site, create a generic, web-based email used specifically for dating. Never give out your phone number until you're comfortable, and even then, only give out your cell number, as this can easily be changed should things turn sour.

2. Be wary of people asking for money. Scammers will waste no time in asking you for money. That's because the longer they wait, the more expensive the scam gets-for you, and for them.

This is the best way to spot a scammer: all of a sudden, a family member will get sick, or they'll run into some money problems that's threatening to cut their net. They could ask for a large amount, such as help in medical expenses, or something as small as $50 to pay for a cell phone so they can call you. (Nice try.)

The more they say I love you, the more it will undoubtedly cost you. So do yourself a favor, the moment they stop being nice, and start asking for money, report them to the site. The shame of being

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