Blind Dating with MySpace.com

I performed a search on MySpace.com to see how many people within 10 miles of my zip code were:

• single/divorced
• between 25-55
• simply looking for dating.

The results for my search were maxed out at over 3,000. There are plenty of people out there in my city and (even better for a guy like me who does not drive) in my zip code, who would like to meet someone "nice." However, there are also a million liars, cheats and scumbags out there who would love to be whoever it is you are looking for. I'm sure there are hundreds of these fraudulent individuals living in my zip code; unfortunately this is not a search option.

I am the first one on the paranoid train when it comes to believing any email coming from a stranger on my MySpace page. Those friendly faces and compliments can start chipping away at your personal safety wall, and once this starts to happen, you may be on the fast track to friendship. This isn't always a bad thing though as everyone enjoys meeting a new friend. This is especially true if you have decided that you are tired of the single and cynical life and would actually like to meet someone offline for drinks or dinner. However, as with life, everyone may not be who they seem. Therefore, before I meet someone from MySpace, I like to do my research. Personally, it would be best to at least know if this person really did grow up in my hometown of Bountiful Utah, or if their divorce was actually filed last year.

How can you protect yourself room these dishonest scam artists? One way to fight back is through online people searches. I have many friends that once they have crossed the point of just chit chatting online, begin probing their potential MySpace connection for personal information. This information can then be verified through a people search service.

The situation typically plays out like this:

Your potential date tells you his name is John Smith, he grew up in Seattle, WA and has lived in Tempe, AZ since college.

You could then run a search on a people search web site like PeopleFinders.com or VoomPeople.com using this as criteria:

John Smith
D.O.B. - Jan 5, 1973
City, State - Tempe, AZ.

You find a match that seems to be correct because there are a couple of relatives listed named Gertrude Smith and Penelope Smith-Jones, which are the unique names of his mom and sister; but there is also something a little odd. It says that he has also resided in 4 different addresses in Los Angeles, CA. And there is also a woman listed here as a relative Susan Carter-Smith, D.O.B. Jan 1, 1973 that has lived in these same residences in Los Angeles.

With a little more research, you could possibly find out that the Susan listed is a woman that your John Smith married, but ran away from once she became pregnant or after she found out that he had been draining her bank account of her life savings. He looked so cute and innocent in his profile picture...

Had this scenario been real, your date may have been a disaster or even tragic.

Once you view the results of your people search, depending on how truthful your date has been, you then can decide if you are ready to meet your date in person. Further, make sure to meet in a public place and never give the date your address.

Good luck and may you find love on MySpace.com.