Dating apps is a popular way for people to find their significant others often times the people behind the screen are not who they appear to be.
Tinder, Match, Bumble and Coffee Meets Bagel are just a few if the dating apps people use.
But with instant matchmaking comes possible dangers for those seeking companionship through online dating.
FBI Special Agent, Patrick Cullen, says many people who use the apps believe the other person has been vetted but people can still use a fake profile.
"We see common sense going out the window sometimes when people are doing things online," says Cullen.
The FBI has seen many cases where women have been extorted out of thousands of dollars and sometimes robbed.
Just recently, 35-year-old Robert Diaz Lua Jr from San Diego was accused of sexually assaulting a woman he met online and police now fear there are more victims.
For online dating, Cullen says to use the same general rules one would use for traditional dating:
- Meet in public places
- Inform friends and family of where you're meeting the person
- Don't over share information to someone you don't know
- Do some research on the person
"While it's easy to get caught up in the world wind of the romance, it's good to take one step back and do a quick search and find out who that person is," says Cullen.
