Online dating has become one of the most popular ways to meet a partner, and while countless couples have successfully found love, this new medium of dating also opens the gates for Internet scammers. Fortunately, by being aware of the red flags you can avoid falling prey to an online dating scam.

If the person you are chatting to or exchanging emails with gives you the sensation of being inconsistent in tone and personality, this should raise a red flag. You should be particularly cautious if your emails always receive responses immediately and contain poor spelling and grammar. While not everyone is great with spelling or always writes with perfect grammar, if you notice the messages are generally incoherent or describe urgent situations in which you provide the only solution, you should proceed with extreme caution.

Being asked to handle someone's money order, or straight out being asked for cash, is an immediate sign to get out of the correspondence. Online dating should be about getting to know a person with the aim of meeting up. If your match avoids talking about meeting up and instead, your conversations revolve around a sob story, no matter how sad, that can only be solved by a monetary transaction you are likely part of scam.

The world of online matchmaking is, for the most part, real people looking to make real connections and build relationships. If the person you are talking to seems too good to be true, then they probably are. Of course, exceptionally good-looking people may also be looking for love online, but if that person is paying you an unusual amount of attention and giving away very little about themselves it could be a sign of scam. If you get even the smallest inkling that someone is too good be true, be cautious.

Online dating is about using your instincts, as much as to find your perfect partner among the many profiles, as to keeping yourself safe and away from online dating scammers. Stay aware and proceed with caution if you pick up on any of the red flags mentioned, or if your own instinct is telling you that something isn't right.

Online dating is now one of several top forms of matchmaking and countless couples have realized love online. A digital method of starting a partnership comes with a whole new list of dating rules, and avoiding mistakes in online dating services is paramount.