Everyone wants someone to date and maybe someone to share their life with. For people like me, who don’t have much time to meet new people or socialize, as we call it, online dating is a boon. It has brought together people who are looking for a date online, categorized them and made it easier for people to find someone with the same likes, preferences and choices.

Once you register yourself on a dating portal, approaching a girl or a guy becomes relatively easier because everyone knows about the real purpose of registering with the website. There is no hesitation and one doesn’t mind getting approached. In fact, the first time I registered myself on a dating website, my inbox got flooded with requests and messages the very first day and for once, I took it as spam. But then it clicked to me that everyone here is looking for a date and they have every right to approach me through messages.

I became a regular on dating portals quickly and took pleasure in replying to all those who took a minute out to write to me. While it was always good to read people praising your looks and style, there was always some kind of disbelief. I could never trust anyone.

There were guys who would mention their age as less than 30 but when they would talk, I could sense that they are a lot more mature than their actual age. Some would claim themselves as single, but, quite often, when I tried fixing a date with them on weekends, they would make family excuses. My suspicions grew when a friend of mine narrated a similar experience where she went to meet a date and his wife followed him to the restaurant they were meeting in. The verbal arguments became violent when the wife confronted her husband before my friend. It was so embarrassing for her that she left the spot immediately and still has hard time believing anyone on a dating website.

Even though my friend kept warning me about the common lies in online dating profiles, I kept considering her story as just a one off case until one day I got the shock of my life. This guy I was regularly chatting with on a dating website, almost made me fall in love with him. He would ask me again and again how to propose a girl and I kept assuming he is going to propose to me. And then one day he invited me to a nice café. I dressed up nicely assuming I would be proposed to that day but what I found there was a big shock. I saw the same man proposing to his girlfriend in the same manner I had suggested him and all his friends were cheering for them. I couldn’t believe he was the same man I thought loved me.

There are many more cases of my friends and also my own wherein I discovered that not everyone speaks the truth on a dating website. Though I have found honest people too and I am proud to be really good friends with some of them, but I have had my share of shocks and failures when guys lied to me about their age, relationship status, fake pictures and even fake profiles. There were girls acting as guys and vice versa.

You will always find people who will lie about their real occupation, show off as a successful business person, some will actually post 10 year old pictures to show how young they look and others would simply have fake pictures.

One of my friends was shocked to see her details put on a fake profile. She couldn’t understand how someone could have done this and then it clicked to her that she had opened up too much and too early with a guy in her friends list. He created a fake profile and started using it to for his business and personal use.

Though there are people who have clear intentions and are serious about online dating, one must be cautious when interacting with someone online. Those seriously looking for a date would be true and honest with others, they will make their intentions clear to the person they are interacting with. But some people just want fun and they can go to any extent to be close to you. They may put fake pictures to attract you, post fake contact details, lie to you about their relationship status and also come so close that when they ask you to pay their bills for just one time from your credit card, you wouldn’t be able to say no.

To be very sure of the person you are dating or considering dating, google his/her name. Chances are that he will have other profiles too on other sites. If he is using a fake name, he may or may not have a second profile with the same name. Also try to find him on Facebook or ask your friends (who too are into online dating) if they have ever interacted with this guy. You may even use the “search by image” feature of Google Images to see if any of his/her pictures is used by any other website. Most often, such imposters would pick up photos from the internet, thinking that nobody will ever find out. Having very limited pictures of self on the profile must be taken as something to be suspicious about.

Online dating is a really good way of connecting with and dating like minded people, provided, you are cautious and try to get more details on him before committing anything.

Manali (Vaish) Arora is the Co-Founder of www.riflebirds.com – Love, Dating, Relationships and More. She writes articles for her own website and is also a professional contributor to a number of websites as well as print media.

Online dating is a proven formula that works, if one follows the rules. A key to understanding online dating is that these are not intended for ordinary affairs, but deep connections with the potential for long-term or permanent loving partnerships. Here is a list of the top ten mistakes online daters make. Avoid these, and you can hope to increase the likelihood of meeting his or her true partner sooner.

1. Talking about your ex

This is true whether dating online or in person. Talking about one’s ex is a well-known dating taboo. Eliminate messages of missing your ex or getting over your ex. Do not mention him or her at all.

2. Lying about your age

Be honest about your age even if what you are looking for is an older or younger partner. Lying to attract someone else in the age range you are seeking, will never be acceptable.

3. Lying about relationship status

Be clear from the start. It is unfair to your future mate to pretend. The potential damage to one’s home-life with these lies should not need mentioned, and yet there are some who still believe they won’t get caught.

4. Focusing on the negative

One should be fair and open, but there is more to anyone than just the negative. You needn’t brag, but when approaching a potential mate, advertise what there is to offer rather than what to avoid. Perhaps you a are an excellent provider with comedic timing or a talented cook with a loyal and creative spirit.

5. Rushing to meet and obtain personal contact information

One spectacular feature of online dating sites is the ability to get to know each other well in a safe environment. There is opportunity to truly get to know one another without the pressure of a curfew or awkward dinner conversation. Take your time before asking for or sharing personal information.

6. Being unclear about your expectations

If you’re worried about whether you are ready to get involved, online dating might not be the place for you. If you’ve no wish to wed ever, say so. If you are only interested in those looking for a serious and committed relationship, say so. The right partner will have the same desires.

7. Lying about having children

It is tempting to think children can be mentioned later, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Children should be mentioned up front as in some cases, this could be a deal breaker.

8. Falling for a “Cam Scam”

These sites are not established for one to find flirty camera girls who speak with lonely men by the hour. For dating purposes, it is both inappropriate and illegal to solicit contact and payment in such a fashion. Avoid it at all costs.

9. Save the sexy talk

While innuendo can be humorous and flirty, it can also send mixed signals to a promising loved one. If you are here to find a relationship, don’t waste your time or theirs.

10. Being generic or dull

One of the advantages to online dating is that you can craft your messages and responses to reflect the real you. Short winks or hello’s without substance place you firmly in the pile of rejections. Take your time and show your best side at every opportunity.

Lynn works as a dating adviser for Lovestruck Hong Kong. She has been advising expats on the cultural differences when dating in Hong Kong for over 5 years and as learn a lot about relationships on the way.

Google’s Android OS for mobiles was launched in 2008 and since then the mobile phone market has been flooded with Smartphones using this technology to the utmost. There have also been thousands of apps in the Google app store meant for use on Android phones.

Besides gaming apps, there are several other useful products too on the Android app shelf which support people in carrying out their day to day activities promptly and with ease. Multimedia apps for music and video lovers, practical apps like cooking apps that give tips and recipe videos, shopping applications that give lists of stores nearby and online that sell a specific product along with quoted prices. Android social media apps are available such as those for Facebook, Twitter, and so on. The same way, there are many dating apps too available in Android market. Here in this article, you will learn about the best 5 Android dating apps.

What can mobile dating apps do for you?

Why wait to meet someone the conventional way is the question people are asking today. Online dating is the current accepted mode for finding soul mates and dates. With more and more men and women of all ages opting to look for dates online, Android dating apps have also proliferated rapidly. Many of the apps are sensibly designed, user friendly, easy to install and manage. They also yield genuine results for the discerning single in search of a deserving partner. These apps are meant for those in search of simple companionship too!

The Android dating apps are social applications which give men and women a chance to catch up on their dating activity even while they are on the move using Android mobiles. Folks can keep alive the pleasures of communicating with those they love and truly care for ñ by choosing from some of the best dating apps for Android mobiles.

Now to take a look at five Android Apps meant for dating:

1. Cupid Android App

This Android dating app has all it takes for individuals struck by Cupid! From receiving instant messages to fabulous smileys to free profile creation; this app gives a lot of flexibility. The best part is it notifies users when a Cupid user is in the vicinity!

2. Date Check App by Intelius

Date Check allows users to do a basic background check on blind dates. This means it is safer for use! By entering a name or phone number, users can gather information regarding partners they are considering and based on what they find, make a decision on whether to continue dating their choice.

3. Zoosk Dating App

With this app, men and women can search, date and flirt with any number of singles right from their Android phones. They can join for free, set up profiles quickly, upload photos easily and receive singles matches through GPS based searches.

4. OkCupid Dating App

This is a great Android app for dating which gives powerful features to chat with singles and pick up new friends locally. Searching for the right mate has been made easy, and this app offers so much fun. There are of course the usual features like broadcasting status, messaging and uploading pictures.

5. Mobile Spy App

This is surely one of the most helpful apps for those who are dating someone seriously. This application helps you monitor the activities of your date to know their true intentions. All you need to do is to install Mobile Spy onto your date’s smartphone, and the app will start letting you know each and every mobile phone activity of your date, so that you will get to know if your date is trustworthy to share more details.

Sharon is an active blogger who loves to blog on latest Mobile Technology. Visit the website on new and innovative mobile application, cell phone spy to follow her updates

For years, I’ve heard countless dating experts argue that body language is the best way to read a person you’re dating. I, however, have trouble believing that ancient argument. I simply cannot understand why people are more apt to believe the way a person is positioned in a chair or is fidgeting with their hands as opposed to the words that come out of their mouth.

Throughout my online dating experiences, I’ve made an effort to analyze what my date says instead of the way their body reacts around me. In fact, most of my readings and interpretations of my dates have been pretty spot on when I go off of their spoken words. Furthermore, I’ve learned that there are a certain number of key phrases people often say while on dates that reveal a lot about their characters. For those of you who are interested in deciphering some common dating phrases, here are four very revealing ones to pay attention to.

“I’m not looking for anything too serious.”

If somebody tells you they aren’t looking for something serious, you better believe them. They know themselves better than you do, and people say something like this either when they are not in a place to commit, or when they are implying they just aren’t interested in committing to you. Therefore, I caution you not to brainwash yourself into believing you might be able to change their mind. If a person says they don’t want a relationship, they mean it!

“My last boyfriend/girlfriend was a jerk.”

This is a universal red flag. Talking poorly about a former boyfriend or girlfriend implies that the person is carrying former-relationship baggage, and the last thing you want to do is enter into a situation where a person hasn’t moved beyond their past love; in fact, the only healthy way to enter into a relationship is to make sure your partner is 100 percent prepared to move forward. The only way to truly know whether or not a person is ready for a relationship is to hear them say that both they and their former partner made faults in their relationship and simply weren’t right for each other. Explaining it this way shows a great deal of maturity and accountability.

“I’m not willing to settle.”

Whenever I hear this phrase, I make sure to run in the other direction. This blunt phrase means your date is probably a perfectionist. Every new relationship comes with its pros and cons, and we must be willing to adapt to those pros and cons. We aren’t perfect, so we can’t everybody we pursue a relationship with to be prefect either. I once heard a date say, “I have my five non-negotiables, but after that, it’s all wiggle room.” I couldn’t agree more. Knowing what you want is great ñ as long as it is within reason. Remember, people are people; we aren’t robots, and you shouldn’t let your date try to treat you like one. Saying you’re not willing to settle is almost as bad as saying, “I hate making plans.”

“I’m looking for a friend first.”

This phrase sends a huge smile across my face, and here’s why: starting out friends is a great stepping stone to a loving, long-term romance. Saying that you want to be friends first emphasizes a great level of restraint, patience, and respect, and there is nothing more I loathe than somebody who tries to rush the process of falling in love. If your date says they want to take it slow, make sure you understand that they mean what they say. They probably aren’t looking to hop in the sack or call you their boyfriend/girlfriend the next day.

A lot of men and women spend a great deal of time overanalyzing their dates, yet oftentimes, we should take what people say at face value in knowing whether or not they are the right person for us.

Jane Smith, a writer and blogger who regularly offers tips on where to find the best background check service, possesses a great understanding on the subject. Email her your questions at janesmith161@gmail.com.

The following is a guest article from Terrence of The Manplay Blog.
—
Meta: Gay online dating differs from straight dates in a myriad of ways; from profiles to locales, gay daters like to shake things up from their straight counterparts!

First off, there is no right or wrong answer to this. It’s a complicated issue that only gets further complicated by the fact that it is easy to talk in stereotypes whenever you are talking about one segment of the population against another. Here are some of the things I’ve noticed, having scoured thousands of profiles online and compared them to many on straight dating sites.

First off, sex is generally a lot more open and discussed when it comes to two gay men going out – especially on a first date. While a lot of straight people on dates try to avoid discussing sex lest it seems too presumptuous of either of them, gay men seem more likely to broach the subject early and often. While this can get into stereotype territory (aka all gay men are promiscuous, etc.) it does seem to be the case.


Another difference is the first date locales. While straight men and women don’t seem to have ventured far beyond the dinner date, it seems more often that gay men will head out to a club or a bar. These are often gay clubs and bars, which might suggest that gay couples are more comfortable going to a space where there will be other gay men in attendance and they will feel more comfortable being affectionate to each other if they so desire. As acceptance grows in society though (particularly in big cities) I’ve noticed that gay men are more likely to be up on what are the hot spots for anyone – gay or straight – and will be more likely to hit them up on a first date.

One side note about stereotypical straight dates: I’ve never understood the ‘dinner and a movie’ phenomena. I have no idea why people think it’s a good idea to meet someone online and then instantly sit in a dark cinema and watch a movie together when you should be somewhere where you can talk to each other and actually learn something about the other person. But I digress.

Speaking of meeting someone, online gay dating profiles are much more likely to include specifications and preferences that they are looking for in someone else. I mentioned this briefly in a previous post I did about online profile writing, but I’ve never addressed gay dating online/straight dating online differences. While straight profiles might include mentions of looking for someone ‘honest, kind and decent’ or similar, a gay dating profile might be way more specific and say ‘I’m into tall men of European descent, mostly. Hey, if they know what they’re after, all the power to them, but aren’t they therefore missing out on a lot of the options out there that they might not think they’d be into, but might be? As well, gay men are more likely to want to meet up sooner after meeting online rather than dragging out the online courtship with back and forth messages for weeks on end.

What do you all think of these aspects of gay online dating vs. straight dating? All generalizations or would you agree with them? Anything else you’d add to the list? Let us know!

Author Bio: Terrence Badd is a freelance journalist who has lived in Los Angeles for five years now. Originally hailing from Michigan, he got out of there as soon as he got the chance. While his topics of interest range from baseball to gardening, he’s been writing for gay-themed publications since 2006.

So you’ve found someone you like online, you’ve swapped messages, chatted for a while, texted each other and everything seems to be going really well! It’s time for that first meeting in a public place… and it goes brilliantly! You get on really well, the conversation flows easily and there’s a definite attraction & chemistry between you.

This is where things could get awkward… Sex with a new partner (whether it’s on the first date or after the third, or only happens once you’ve known each other for months or even if you decide to wait until you’re married) is something that you need to think carefully about.

1 in 3 people don’t practice safe sex with a new partner. This is like playing Russian roulette with your sexual health. If you take 10 random sexually active people off the street, the likelihood is that one of them will have some sort of sexually transmitted disease (STD). So let me get the preachy bit of this post out of the way now; sexual health is important, look after yourself – you can’t trust anyone else (including your partner) to be responsible for it. Remember, you can never truly know where your partner has been, or where their previous partners have been!

Condoms are the easiest, most effective way to protect your sexual health and help prevent an unwanted pregnancy. While dating, if you’re having sex (maybe even with more than one partner – lucky you), you should be using them.

But condoms are far from perfect; from a man’s perspective they’re uncomfortable, fiddly and they reduce sensation (think sucking a sweet with the wrapper still on). Not to mention the fact that they make an already ridiculous-looking organ look even weirder. But none of that is really a problem. The problem is that condoms can sometimes split or tear (or come off while you’re too busy to notice).
After times like these you have to consider two things: if you’re not already on the pill or some other form of contraception like the implant or coil, then think about taking the morning after pill, which should be used within 72 hours (the sooner the better).

You also have to consider STD testing. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, fungal infections, hepatitis, herpes, syphilis, HIV and many other diseases that can be contracted through unprotected sex, or when a condom fails. You may feel fine and still be infected without even knowing it; it’s possible to have an STD while experiencing no symptoms.

Now that I’ve said all that, I have to say that safe-sex, apart from being brilliant fun, can be very beneficial to your health! It’s a wonderful antidepressant: that glow and feeling of satisfaction you get after orgasm is the body releasing endorphins. These have a calming effect on you and are responsible for making sex so desirable.

Research also shows that regular sex helps improve your immune system, which would help keep you from coming down with colds and the flu. Studies have also shown that orgasms reduce pain – bear that in mind next time you have a headache or cramps.

Sex increases blood flow, and not just to your genitals. The physical exertion raises your heart rate and is great at burning calories. Regular sexual activity keeps your genitals healthy and you are less likely to suffer from sexual difficulties in the future.

So enjoy yourselves, just make sure you’re doing it safely!

Author Bio: James Armstrong is an experience journalist and broadcaster, currently writing on behalf of Dr Thom, an online doctoring service.

Have you tried going out and meeting new people through online dating? If this is your first time, then you are on the right page my friend. This is not just your ordinary blog post but this can change your fate forever. I am sure that you got in to this not by an accident but because you are curious on how it is to win the game in dating. For those who have been going, this can help you improve your game plan in whatever level you are in right now. This will boost your confidence in dealing not just with people but also with situations that might catch you off guard.

Online dating can be complicated for those who are inexperienced and can be a routine for those who are familiar with the system. One thing can be common to most of us and that is the expectation of meeting someone for the first time. This can either give you a second date or ruin the chance forever especially when you like the person so much that you are dying to meet that special person again. Let us not waste our efforts and focus on what seems to working on our advantage when it comes to first dates.

I know that you will agree with me when I say that communication is the best tool to make the person more engaged to you in a any way or form. You can come across as pretentious and fake when you begin to show that you want to impress the other person. Good looks and status are not enough to impress people, you got to be real and the only way to do that is to find voice when communicating your thoughts and ideas. I know this may seem simple but only few can do it. You try talking about hobbies and interest rather than jumping in to relationships. The subtle way always works if you want to win someone’s heart.

Try to listen and avoid talking too much. Get the person to be engaging in a conversation but always give feedback when it is the other person’s time to speak up. Do not be hasty in coming up with topics to talk about. Be natural as much as possible and try to enjoy your time together rather than being too intellectual with your ideas. Always show positive gestures and avoid awkward touching to sensitive parts of the person’s body. Don’t be too aggressive but always take your time in getting to know the person because it will help you in the end if you are serious and well decided.

Your personality and good looks can give you an advantage in attracting the opposite gender but to make a lasting impact you need to give a sound and interesting conversation. Preparing for the night should not be limited to the physical preparations only; the most important part is how you effectively win the person through a casual exchange of meaningful ideas.

Author’s Bio – Ashley Yates writes for 100bestdatingsites.com and is open to writing on a freelance basis about anything related to her industry.

You know your mom or dad better than anyone. Maybe your mom’s finally gotten over the divorce or your dad’s settling into his life as a widow. We all want our parents to be happy but if you suspect your parent’s missing that one key ingredient (read: love) then you’ve got to get them online! Dating sites are a great place to kindle new flames and whether your parent’s afraid of the technology or just doesn’t know where to start, here are some suggestions to help find them a match.

Explore the Options: Odds are if your parent hasn’t already taken initiative to join a dating site they’ve got some reservations. Maybe they don’t know how to use the internet that well or perhaps they think online dating has some sort of stigma. Once the conversation’s begun walk them through the options…are they more of the Match.com type or would a niche dating site like widowsorwidowers.com make more sense?

DO: Brooch the subject of online dating carefully and give your parent time to adjust to the idea

DON’T: Arbitrarily sign your parent up for a dating site…it’s got to be their decision

Walk Them Through it: Once you and your parent have decided on a site or two that peaks their interest help them with the application process. Take some pictures, work on the profile…you may find it’s fun getting to know your parent in a new way! If you’ve got your own online dating profile use it as an example to take some of the mystery out of the equation.

DO: Teach your parents what’s appropriate to put on their profile and help them fill it out

DON’T: Encourage your mom or dad to post something they’re not comfortable with

Make it Happen: After they’ve posted their profile your parent’s likely going to need some help deciding how to respond to suitors and what kind of communication is appropriate for an ‘online relationship.’ Teach them the ground rules about giving out their phone number and how it works once they decide they want to meet in person. This is a good time to discuss web safety and phishing, too, if your mom or dad isn’t that familiar with the online world.

DO: Encourage your parent to keep an open mind and really put themselves out there

DON’T: Let them forget to be vigilant about personal safety and giving out info on the web

Whether your mom or dad has been single all your life or they’re still learning to adjust to a world without a significant other one of the greatest gifts you can give them is help finding a life partner. Your parents will tell you when they’re ready to find love – don’t force them! – and the best way to help is be ready when they ask. It’s your job to help them think outside the box…from SilverSingles.com to match.com and even OurTime.com there’s a whole world of dating sites out there just perfect for your single parent!

This post was written by Lior who is an expert in dating websites tips and tricks.

Many singles turn to online dating websites because they’re tired of bad dates suggested by friends, family and coworkers and are ready to take matters into their own hands. Others use online dating websites specifically for their computer matching services which offer suggestions of potential partners based on complicated algorithms that are fueled by lengthy questionnaires. But with many of the top computer matching services requiring singles to invest around an hour into creating their profile, it’s not surprising that busy singles are skeptical of making such a time investment without truly knowing whether these systems work. Moreover, compatibility matching dating sites often cost more than traditional sites that allow singles to find their own matches, leaving many singles wondering whether they are worth the added investment.

As one who has tested and researched nearly a dozen of the best online dating sites, I’ve had the opportunity to use several online dating matching systems, and to see with my own eyes which ones truly offer relevant and interesting match suggestions. If you’re considering using an online dating site that offers computer matching, read my findings below to see which sites are worth using and which can use a bit of a technical tune-up.

Personality Matching – Some Options

To begin with, it’s worth noting that some personality matching dating sites allow users to search for their own matches while receiving match suggestions. Others, such as eHarmony, only allow singles to receive suggestions without browsing the company’s membership base. Having tried both options, my suggestion would be to start with a site that offers both search options. This is important because not only does it expand your options, but it allows you to see what type of people are registered for the site, so you can gauge whether there are ample options for you to choose from.

Another notable feature offered by some sites such as PerfectMatch is the guarantee of a certain number of match suggestions during the scope of your membership. This is an excellent way for singles to know that their time in creating their profile will yield some (hopefully worthwhile) results.

Which Dating Services Work Best

More and more dating websites are offering personality matching options as part of their package, but few make this the core of their service as do eHarmony, PerfectMatch and Chemistry.com. These three online dating websites have developed the most complex and comprehensive technology for providing relevant match suggestions. If you were to test the ‘match suggestion’ services of traditional dating sites against those offered by the top three, you’ll see there is no comparison in the quality and relevancy of the matches suggested. Consequently, if you’re seriously interested in a personality matching service, it’s best to stick with a company that focuses specifically on this approach to the dating process.

One thing that I noticed repeatedly during my research was that filling out personality profiles and reading the personality assessments that came with them gave me tremendous insights into my own personality and gave me things to consider about how I approached potential mates. Although all of the top personality matching dating sites offered some form of personality assessment, I was especially impressed by that offered by eHarmony, which not only described me to a T, but also offered insights into what my personality traits meant, which allowed me to understand how I interact with others, especially potential partners.

The assessment offered PerfectMatch was also relatively accurate, though I did find some discrepancies that highlighted the fact that computer algorithms aren’t always perfect. For example, my Chemistry.com assessment suggested that I’m risk averse (which is true), but that a personality that works well with mine would be that of a risk taker. Needless to say, I had visions of myself on a date with someone who wanted to go skydiving while I preferred to stay back and photograph the event. It could work, but it didn’t sound like an ideal scenario.

I found the Chemistry.com analysis to be relevant, but a bit more confusing to interpret, so it didn’t hold my interest as strongly as the others. For example, while eHarmony labeled me as a ‘agreeable’ and PerfectMatch noted that I was ‘high energy and optimistic’, Chemistry.com classified me as a ‘builder’ with a secondary tendency towards being a ‘negotiator’. True, I do love to build complex projects and to resolve conflicts with negotiation, the descriptions of the personality types were hardly relevant. For example, Chemistry.com describes a builder as someone social, patient and dependable, which, while admirable qualities, don’t truly jive with what a builder means.

Final Thoughts

I have no doubts that technological matching services offer excellent benefits for singles who are looking for highly compatible partners and committed, long-term relationships. Singles should take time to fill the questionnaires with thoughtfulness so that they increase their chances of finding success, even if it takes a while to complete. The high cost of these dating sites in comparison with traditional online dating services may be a bit of a turn-off, but I found that the high cost limited the membership to those who were truly invested in finding a partner. I didn’t mind that there were fewer members on these sites than on traditional dating sites. After all, there are still thousands of potential matches to consider, and you only need to find one perfect partner. With your own investment and the help of technology, your ideal companion may only be a few clicks away.

This article was contributed by Sari Holtz of Consumer-Rankings.com.
Sari is a professional product reviewer who contributes regularly to Consumer-Rankings.com, a website that offers web hosting reviews, as well as reports and ranks of the top dating sites, online tax software and more.

I have a good friend Sara, who recently met the man of her dreams (John) through an online dating service. Or, at least that’s what she thought. She had been very careful about the information she exposed about herself online, and has a ruthless screening process when it comes to choosing men to meet in a public place for a first date. However, despite all this, she still became a victim to the online dating horror stories which have become so common across the Internet.

After several meetings in public, she started getting really serious with John and began to trust him enough to exchange phone numbers, addresses and even invited him into her home a few times. Finally, after several weeks of dating exclusively, they planned a weekend getaway to the islands to try and relax. She couldn’t believe how her love life had finally seemed to start falling into place!

While away on their romantic vacation together, Sara happened across a cell phone in John’s bag that didn’t look familiar while looking for his sunglasses he had requested. When she looked at the phone, there was a message from a woman named Jen that simply stated “Where are you?” If that wasn’t enough, the screensaver was a picture of John and a blonde attractive woman, along with two young boys.

Sara confronted John about the phone and he claimed that the picture was that of his ex-wife and children. Up until now, he had never disclosed the fact that he had ever been married nor had children. Unfortunately, things started to unravel after returning home and Sara eventually discovered that John was, in fact, still married to the woman in the picture and living at home with her. No wonder he preferred meeting at her place or at a hotel!

What Went Wrong?

The moral of Sara’s story is that if she would have exercised due diligence in researching the most obvious things in John’s past (such as marriage records and divorce records) to determine his fitness as a first date, she could have saved herself a ton of time and heartbreak. She didn’t realize until it was too late that the online dating site she used to find John did not conduct thorough background checks on its members to determine if their claimed marital status and history was truthful.

What Can You Do?

Fortunately, there are services out there that allow online daters to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing for certain that your date does not have any divorce or marriage records in his or her past. Before you ever get too involved to be emotionally charged about the person you’re seeing or considering dating seriously, you must take it upon yourself to ensure you know about any marriage records or divorce records in their past.

You also want to ensure the service you use to search for these types of records has the most accurate and up-to-date information available in both private and public databases. Sites such as eVerify.com can help you navigate marriage and divorce records in a potential date’s past so you don’t become one of the many Internet dating horror stories across the web like Sara.

This is a guest post by contributing writer Ann