AARP

Shortly after I turned 50 I became a member of AARP.  They send out a bulletin and a magazine several times a year and I always learn something new.  This past issue in the magazine had an article on online dating.  After reading it I made the conclusive decision that if I am ever left alone I WILL NOT do online dating.  The story involved a 57 year old widow who went on Match.com after encouragement from friends.  She found someone who Match said was a 100% match.  A few years older, nice looking, sense of humor and they hit it off immediately.  She contacted him first and shortly thereafter he suggested they just use their regular email accounts since he hardly ever went on the Match site.  The whole saga lasted only about 3 months but it was enough to have her fork over $300,000 to him.  I know, you are asking how an educated, self employed, independent woman could fall for this scheme involving someone she never even met.  Turns out that in Nigeria there is a network of scammers called "Yahoo boys" who particularly prey on divorced or widowed individuals.  The picture of him that was on the Match site had been pilfered from somewhere else.  I was horrified reading this article.  I was even more horrified that someone would send money to someone they had never met.  When she filed a report with the FBI she was told that a woman in a nearby city was out $800,000.
The experts in the scams recommend the following: (if you must use online dating)

Don't agree to communicate via private email accounts
Never ever send money
If you have not found a way to meet in person within a month tell them to hit the road

So should I ever be left alone, the only online search I will be doing is for a shelter dog...or two.  The only things they will ask of me is food, water, a walk and a good belly rub.