Make sure to follow these guidelines at all times when meeting new people online:

• DON'T ever send money to someone you meet online, especially by wire transfer. Keep in mind that wiring money is like sending cash: the sender has no protections against loss.  Scammers and con artists often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because it's nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don't wire money to strangers or to someone who claims to be in an emergency. Don't give out your credit card number or bank info.
• Don't share your personal info, such as SSN, address, phone number, etc.

Watch for these red flags from people that could indicate you're dealing with a scammer:

• Quickly asks to talk or chat on an outside email or messaging service
• Vanishes mysteriously from the site, then reappears under a different name
• Talks about "destiny" or "fate"
• Claims to be recently widowed
• Asks for your address under the guise of sending flowers or gifts
• Makes an inordinate amount of grammar and/or spelling errors
• Claims to be from U.S. but currently travelling, living or working abroad
• Ever asks you for money