How to Spot Deception in Online Dating

There are dozens of online dating services now. In the last few years online dating has seen a substantial increase in popularity and doesn't seem to have the stigma it once did.

Online dating offers several benefits, one of the main benefits being that you have a large number of potential people to date that you would not otherwise have. But, how do you know if the person on the other end of that internet connection is being truthful?

Online dating offers people quite a bit of anonymity. For some people this is a great benefit because they can say things in there profile that they would be afraid to say to someone in person. For other people, anonymity makes it easier to pretend to be someone they're not and they will try to get the attention of others by being dishonest and misleading.

So, here are some tips to help you determine whether someone is being truthful or dishonest.

1. A good way to detect deception, whether online or off, is noticing inconsistencies. If someone tells you the same story more than once or you ask the same questions a few times but the "facts" change, there is a good chance the person is not being honest.

2. If someone seems evasive, like they're trying to avoid answering certain questions or disclosing certain information, that person is probably hiding something.

It's not a crime for someone to withhold some information for themselves but if you're going to go out on a date with someone there are some things you need to know about them. How old are they? What's there name? What kinds of things do they like or dislike?

If someone is not forthcoming with even the simplest information then that person is hiding something.

3. Trust your gut. I'm not suggesting that you tap into some hidden psychic powers. I'm just saying to listen to that little voice in your head. If you feel uneasy about something don't just disregard that feeling and say "oh it's probably nothing." Trusting your gut can keep you out of a bad or even potentially dangerous situation.

4. One last tip is to ask a prospective date you meet through an online dating service to have a conversation with you via web cam. This way you can see the person. Seeing someone will uncover some obvious information. If someone tells you they are 27 years old, 6 feet tall and 185 lbs. You'll be able to have a pretty good idea if they are being truthful just by looking at them.

Being able to see someone can also reveal other, less obvious information. Being able to see someones eyes or watch there body language will also give you a better idea if this is someone you want to meet in person.

If someone just won't use a web cam or makes a bunch of excuses they could possibly be trying to deceive people.

To sum it up, online dating should be based on the truth. If you even suspect someone is being less than honest you should find someone else. There are plenty of other people out there for you.