[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f you’re looking to meet Nigerian singles on the web, but are a little uneasy about it, you’ve definitely come to the right place. Below, we discuss our top 4 tips that will ensure you stay protected as you search for your perfect partner in the sea of eligible singles and sweet-talking scammers.
#1: Don’t Reveal Your True Identity
In theory, everyone on a Nigerian dating site is looking to meet new people, make friends, and meet romantic interests. In practice, things can be a little different because there are lots of scammers out there preying on the vulnerable and the lonely, so you need to stay safe. The very first thing you need to do to protect yourself as you search for a compatible Nigerian partner is not to reveal your true identity at first. Use a nickname that isn’t composed on your real name, and make sure it’s not sexual in nature, provocative, or controversial because that’s a sure way to attract the wrong kind of attention.
#2: Stay Mysterious
Once you meet someone who could prove to be a good match, take the conversation away from the site or app where you’ve met to a private chatting service. Don’t give out your personal information for the first few weeks. Give your real first name but not your last name. Talk about your work and what kind of job you have, but don’t give your work address or tell the person the name of the company. Don’t friend people on Facebook you’ve met on an online dating site too soon. Doing so can reveal too much about you if you post things from your personal life on social media.
#3: The Travel Scam
Unfortunately, there is a lot of prejudice surrounding the web in Nigeria and among Nigerians living abroad because of past world-wide scams. You shouldn’t automatically assume that everyone is out there looking to get you, but you still need to be very careful. The travel scam is still quite popular and it works something like this. You meet a person that seems like everything you’ve ever wanted. The conversation is going great, you’re falling hard for each other, and can’t wait to meet in person to see if the chemistry from the web can be transferred to the offline world. The only problem is that your new crush lives far away, and is currently facing cash flow issues, and can’t afford a plane ticket/bus fare/visa expenses. Love conquers all, right, and before you know it you’re talking about transferring funds so you can finally meet in person. Well, you should stop right there! You should never send any money to anyone you’ve met online. Period. Doesn’t matter if they seem to be your dream come true 100 times over! Never, for the life of you, give money to strangers from the internet.
#4: The Loan Scam
Scammers are getting more sophisticated as time goes on, and instead of working their victim for weeks, they are now ready to invest months and months into building trust. The scam usually goes something like this. Your crush’s mother/father/brother/sister is sick and they need to be taken to the hospital right away. They need cash and your crush can’t send it to them until tomorrow or whenever and needs your help. They’ll send their Nigerian friend to meet with you so you can give them the money, and your crush will pay you back with interest and will be eternally grateful that you’ve helped them. As soon as the cash exchanges hands, they’ll vanish into thin air, and you’ll never hear from them again. It doesn’t hurt to repeat this ten more times – never give money to anyone you’ve met online no matter how sincere they seem! Stay safe out there, use your common sense, and you’re bound to ruin any scammers’ plans and find the type of person you’re looking for.
