Love is Blind, Especially Online: Here Are Some Tips

About half of you have tried it, making online dating a popular way to find love.  But Sergeant Josh Moulin says, "It's a hotbed for sex offenders."

Moulin works the cyber crime scene at the Central Point Police Department.  He tells us there are so many pitfalls online, he has three months worth of work on his desk.

Moulin says it's even harder to catch a cyber-criminal: "There's no profile for these offenders.  There's your white collar crime, people who are business people trying to scam money, and then we have child sex predators."

Women are the most vulnerable to online dating scams, especially those on the rebound.

Moulin says, "There are several people who are very, very good at this and they will spend month to win a person over and make them believe that they're friends just to get money out of them."

Experts say you should be careful with who you trust on the Internet.  Sgt. Moulin says, "You can be anyone on the Internet.  You can say things you may not normally be bold enough to say in person.  You can download pictures from the Internet and say that's really you.  So, people get very creative online."

Around 30 percent of people checking out dating sites are married.  So relationship counselor Barbara Massey says, "If it sounds really wonderful then you want to be suspicious.  You meet the millionaire online whose got the yacht and would just like to take you for a long trip there might be some reasons there to check into that."

Moulin says, "Trust your gut.  If it doesn't seem right or it's too good to be true, it probably is."

But when it comes to matters of the heart love is blind.  So make a checklist before looking for love online.  Massey says be "S.A.F.E"

S: Secure your information.  Don't give out anything too personal.

A: Acknowledge that people do lie online.

F: Friends should know what you're doing.  And don't forget your social life outside of the Internet with your friends.

E: Enjoy your love life!  But practice safe sex. 

Massey says, "You can learn all the Internet things and how to protect yourself on the Internet, but if you know yourself you're going to be the safest of all."

Barbara Massey is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) at Park Place Counseling Center in Medford and Ashland. If you need advice you can find her online. For a look at her wesbites you can go to: www.parkplacecounselingcenter.com or you can visit www.barbaramassey.com