What Happens In A Mail Order Bride Scam?

When people hear the phrase “mail order bride,” they often think about scams. But while there are scams that occur within the international dating industry, there are just as many, if not more, within the general online dating sites as well.

Online dating in itself can be risky, but taking the appropriate precautions can be easy and help you to avoid being taken advantage of. Unfortunately, the process of international dating leaves more room for people to commit fraudulent behavior and for innocent bystanders to be hurt emotionally and financially.

But what really happens in a mail order bride scam?

Most commonly, a beautiful woman from a foreign country will initiate communication with a single man who has signed up for an international dating service. Once they have talked for a while, the woman will ask him for money in one way or another. Sometimes, she will say she needs money for a doctor, or for books for school. Other times, in more severe circumstances, she may ask the man to send her money for a plane ticket so she can come visit him; more often than not, he sends the money and never sees or hears from her again.

There are even some companies out there that design their entire business model around taking advantage of men. They promote profiles of gorgeous, model-caliber women who are online and ready to chat. The men get excited to talk live with her, sign up, and start spending who-knows-how-much-per-minute. The worst part? The woman chatting on the other end is usually chatting with many other guys at the same time because she is getting paid by the agency to do so.

How can one avoid mail order bride scams?

There are many ways to avoid online dating scams, but the best is through diligent research. Never just find a random dating site and sign up. Take time to research the company, especially if it’s an international dating agency. Make sure the company has clear and accurate contact information including a phone number, be sure the company is located in the United States, and always look them up on the Better Business Bureau.

Using a website like A Foreign Affair, who has an A+ rating on the BBB and has been researching and eliminating scams for over seventeen years, is one of the best ways to avoid scams. They do the hard work for you, but if you still meet someone who you think may be acting suspiciously, the agency will look into the problem immediately.

If you are interested in dating internationally, but have heard horror stories about mail order bride scams, just take a step back and take a breath. Get online, do some in-depth research on the companies you are interested in, and be sure keep your eyes peeled for some of the most common signs of a mail order bride scam .