Lonely? What is worse than a romance scam?

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Going through a divorce or losing a loved one is a terrible experience.

In the case of divorce, even if both parties agree that it is for the best, the process is still an emotional roller coaster. It is even worse if it isn’t amicable or if there are children involved. I can say this with experience.

Losing a loved one, regardless of whether it is sudden or if it is over an extended period where one might have had an opportunity to prepare for the loss, is also one of life’s hardest lessons. We all know that death is part of life, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

So honestly what could be worse than this?

Well, if you follow the recent news of 8 perpetrators being caught and brought to justice in Cape Town, South Africa…then this might give you a hint. (Read more about the scam) or (listen to Knowler Knows – Romance Scams on 702).

What potentially follows both these difficult events, is loneliness.

In a digital economy, and especially in a Covid era, where meeting people in a social environment is more challenging than ever before, dating sites have become the norm. For some, it was the norm even before Covid.

So, the ‘old fashioned’ form of online dating was that you write long letters (or in 21st century… emails) to each other, and list all your interests vs. the more popular global apps where you just swipe. When you have ‘connected’ with someone, you still share interests and more importantly, information and feelings, with someone.

The sad reality though, is that fraudsters have no scruples.

The fact that you have gone through an emotional rollercoaster, and that you are finally being courageous to get back out there, just makes you a low hanging fruit.

This is a dreadful thought but considering that the above-mentioned syndicate is a Global International Company, that defrauded predominantly widows and divorcés out of millions, is testament to that.

They are one of many.

To be clear, I call them companies, because fraudsters are business owners too.

They use the same business methodologies as you and I; Strategy, Structure, Skills, Systems… heck, I could probably apply the McKinsey S-7 model to how they operate.

The only difference is that they don’t have customers, they have victims.

Does this mean that you should not use dating sites? Heck no. They are an innovative creation that on many occasions enable people to find someone special.

What we should be doing is holding the Dating sites accountable to make sure that they verify the identity of their users.

Technology exists to enable lifestyle choices.

The digital era should be a benefit to anyone who wants to use it.

But you should also feel secure that when you interact with someone in any setting, the necessary steps have been taken to verify that they are who they claim to be and that you can choose to engage with anyone, or only verified individuals. This technology exists today and it is very affordable, so there should be no excuse for not offering this!

In fact, we should expect this of any social media platform. Especially the ones that teenagers can access too.

As a last thought, Facebook / social media verification is convenient, but how long did it take you to create your profile. It takes minutes for a fraudster to do the same.

#SecureCitizen #OwnYourIdentity

About Secure Citizen

Secure Citizen stands at the forefront of digital identity verification, where trust isn’t just an asset—it’s everything. As South Africa’s leader in verifiable credentials (VCs), we combine cutting-edge biometric technology with blockchain-based digital solutions to transform how businesses establish trust in a digital age.

By seamlessly unifying traditional verification methods with next-generation identity solutions, we make the complex simple, enabling organisations to combat fraud, ensure compliance, and deliver frictionless experiences. Our vendor-agnostic platform integrates effortlessly with your existing systems, because when trust is everything, everything becomes possible.

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Protective Registration is a service offered by the SAFPS that allows individuals to register their personal information with SAFPS in order to monitor and protect their identity from potential fraud.

Forewarned is forearmed.

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