CREDIT CARD - May 3 - A study about online dating and credit habits by ProtectMyID.com, Experian's identity theft protection program, found that 50% of the respondents never verify the authenticity of their chat mates, and ~10% sent them their SS numbers or bank account. According to ConsumerFraudReporting.org, as much as 30% of online personalities are bogus. More, sharing personal details is intrinsic to forming a relationship, but it also can expose you to fraud, says Paul Falzone CEO of eLove. They may ask for your home or work address to send you a gift." Such tidbits are invaluable currency for identity thieves. Of course, online dating companies strive for customer protection. For instance, eHarmony's publishes safety tips on their home page, in "5 Dating Rules You Should Never Break," including "if a potential date's actions or words set off an internal alarm system, you owe it to yourself to pay attention and act accordingly." Falzone, though, recognizes that it can take more than caution to stay safe when conversing over the Internet. Their members all go through criminal background checks, but filtering fraud is not guaranteed. eLove is making an extra effort, however, with a new product called eLove Select. Before getting the company's seal of approval, participating daters must physically go to one of their 50 locations and get checked, screened and cleared. FULL ARTICLE @ CREDIT CARD
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