Time for some real talk. Dating apps are a huge player in the dating world right now, and with COVID, it's only looking up for these sites in the near future. Personally, I met my boyfriend on a dating app, so I'm all in favor of this new way to meet singles in your area.

But just like any form of new form of communication and technology, there are always new ways for scammers to connect with you and potentially steal your information, so it's best to err on the side of caution.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, the FBI is warning dating app and website users of potential "romance scams" they may run into while swiping.

By all means, keep swiping in hopes of finding your match, but make sure to keep in mind that not everyone on your app of choice may be, in the words of every person to grace our TV screens on "The Bachelor," "there for the right reasons."

In addition to keeping personal and financial information private and not sending money to someone you've only met online, the FBI encourages dating app users to go slowly, ask a lot of questions and look out for red flags, like trying to isolate the victim from family and friends, asking for inappropriate photos or bailing on a planned meet-up.

Romance scams can affect anyone, even our friends and neighbors here in Central New York. If you suspect an online relationship may be a romance scam, stop all contact right away and file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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