Scamaroo review: Sextorted by inmates, conned in Canada and more from the darkside of online dating

Several recent reports underscore how sweetheart scammers, con artists and dangerous dates are constant landmines on the online dating scene. Among them:

 

Sextorted by photo: At least 15 people -- including folks in Florida, New York and Tennessee, among other places -- lost thousands in getting caught up in a nude photo scam, reported Noah Fiet of The State newspaper in South Carolina. The con artists, including two who were state prisoners, used sexually-explicit material and fear to dupe online daters and extort money from them, the report said. See the story for more on how this scam works.

 

Conned in Canada: A Canadian woman fell fast in love with a man she met online and then fell for his emergency sob stories in seeking money. She is out more than $40,000, reports CBC news. The story also includes tips for avoiding similar scams.

 

Robbed in the Bronx: The New York Daily News reported that a man lured a woman to meet him in the Bronx through the web site badoo.com and then robbed her at gunpoint.

 

Driven-down in Ohio: A woman's online dating encounter with a man led to an argument and felony charges that he ran over her in a driveway and seriously hurt her, The Vindicator reported.

 

Ripped-off in Wisconsin: A Wisconson man says a woman he met on the Zoosk online dating site drugged him and stole $7,500 in guns and other items, reports David Clarey of the New Richmond News.

 

Meanwhile, on the brighter side, here's seven tips to avoid online dating scams from The Frisky. For more dating safety tips to help you protect your wallet, heart and life, see the InspectaDate Dating Safety Tips Page.