Fraudulent Dating Through Facebook
 Facebook has become an integral component of the online community and is at
the forefront of the social media revolution. More people are connected
and socializing on a daily basis that if left up to traditional social channels
may have never even met. Facebook offers a social outlet and forum where pictures
and
thoughts are shared. Even relationships are being cultivated entirely from
online interactions making existing internet social streams like instant messenger or chat rooms obsolete. Before a
conversation begins, dating participants have access to tons of information on those they wish to
engage socially because of the digital presence users create. This information about potential partners comes
from shared photos, who they are friends with, and a constant online public exposure
including status updates and check-ins. Out of all the available social media tools like MySpace or Google Plus, Facebook is the most
popular and by far the most successful. Similarly to when a consumer uses
the internet to gather information before a purchase, singles are gathering
information and exploring their options using Facebook as their source.
With
all of the information provided by Facebook in user's profiles as well as what
people are inferring about other users, there are some negative consequences
having to do with Facebook and online dating.
Social Forces at Work
One serious systemic issue that gained national attention when it was
featured on the popular television series Dr. Phil, is a
phenomenon that combines prostitution with online dating. A type of prostitution where young men and woman are offering
companionship for wealthy singles and are using Facebook to find potential
clients. Woman in dedicated, monogamous
relationships are sometimes encouraged by their significant other to look for
financial assistance to pay for anything from college tuition to utility bills.
This activity is growing
at a pandemic rate where their is a serious difference of opinion. The
young people who are profiting from casual dates with lonely clients see it as a victimless transaction. There is a dark side
however where the ones who are paying sometimes claim that they are a victim of
manipulation. These quasi-prostitutes are saying almost anything to their
clients in order to get what they
want out of them. This includes saying that they love them and making them believe
that they could actually be together. With the great recession's impact
felt by people from all walks of life, any source of additional income is aggressively sought
after due to the rising number of Americans in desperate situations.
Occupations like stripping, bartending, and even prostitution are seeing significant growth.
Many people's standards for employment have become
drastically altered due to financial desperation and the fear of financial ruin.
A new spin on the world's oldest profession is gaining popularity utilizing Facebook, as well as
other social media networks, in order to locate potential clients.
Financial Strain and its Affect on Relationships
 Prostitution
comes in many forms and is not limited to sexual activity in exchange for
monetary compensation. Prostitution can be strictly companionship, and
does not always involve sexual intercourse. This version of prostitution
has led many struggling couples to seek outside means in order to improve their lifestyle, and pay for expenses they themselves could not afford. With the fall of the glass ceiling, many college
educated men are finding themselves unemployed and in committed relationships
where traditionally their responsibility would be to provide for their female
counterpart. Times have changed and the primary breadwinner often in
today's atypical relationship is the woman. For many men this is a
difficult challenge and change to accept. Young white men who have failed
to secure profitable and sustainable employment often blame affirmative action.
Terminology like reverse racism and sexism have been born out of the dramatic
demographic changes in the American workforce.
A compromise reached by couples now all in the name of upward social mobility includes some bizarre behavior. Going
on to Facebook in addition to other online dating forums, individuals are putting themselves out there in the hopes of having
some sort of financial support by the night's end. By making false
relationships and connections these individuals are opening the door for
manipulation where the victim, often an independently wealthy individual who
very well could be going into this "date" seeking a lifelong partner, is taken
advantage of from the start. The wealthy individual who is truly seeking
love and a long-term partner for marriage is put into awkward situations
where they are begged to pay for everything from college tuition, lavish
shopping expenses, and anything else their significant other cannot afford.
Using these individuals harms everyone involved, with the integrity of the
relationship in constant jeopardy because
of lies, deceit, and bad karma. It turns a couple into a couple of confidence
men and although many contend they never cross the line and have
sex with the client, it is pretty hard to believe sexual favors are never traded. Honestly how long
could a female string along a young rich man without giving him any kind of
sexual exchange? On the flipside an attractive young male receiving some
sort of financial assistance from a wealthier female without any sort of sexual
exchange is just as farfetched.
 These
gifts usually start with asking for petty cash, asking to be taken shopping,
eating out in the form of a romantic dinner, and going on exotic vacations.
There is an attitude where the offenders see this as a victimless crime and
contend that the one they are giving company understood
what they were getting into from the start. Too often on the other side those paying
for all of these "gifts" see it as being truly taken advantage of. How does the
one providing all of these "gifts" take legal action? Most often these wealthy
individuals are too embarrassed that they have been taken advantage by a morally
bankrupt individual to ever take
legal action. If they did what compensation would they receive provided that
the ones who have taken advantage of them truly are broke, and have no means of
reimbursing them for any benefits they have received? When the gig is up
the one who is providing quietly backs off and breaks all contact with what they
thought was an interested, compatible dating partner. The financial
predator is often left unpunished for their malicious actions, and typically
begins the search for another victim picking up right where they left off.
Social Outcomes
This is an extremely scary situation occurring in the human experience and
needs everyone's attention. Sometimes men and woman alike encourage their
partners to have sex with what in the confidence game is referred to as the mark,
to see what they can get out of them. This is disgusting and I believe
these people should be punished for fraudulent dating. A term your humble
author has made up but what else might we call it? I see it as almost a
form of pandering, pimping, and prostitution. Traditionally crimes like
these are punishable under the law and can be classified as felony charges. Using anybody for any form of compensation is very dangerous and
is
an example of
truly flawed moral behavior. It is a well known fact that times may be tough,
but where did the willingness to work hard and make your own opportunities for
advancement get lost? Looking for a quick fix or temporary solution has
replaced the foundations of hard work and diligence that have made this country
great. Advancements of the twentieth century built on
moral fiber and determination have been replaced by individuals taking advantage
of some of the last honest people left. What happens when there are
no more good people left who work hard for their money, and then seek an equal
counterpart to share the riches they have worked so hard to achieve? These
are huge questions our society needs to start asking itself and are not limited
to issues as arbitrary as dating. Who is left to pay for
these things if no one else works hard and earns their own living? The
incentive to work hard and make a living may be lost if most of our country is
receiving some sort of financial assistance provided by the government or from
private citizens.
So out of all the issues raised in this article what is the most important to
you? What stands out? Are you in a relationship that requires outside
financial aid from the government? If so would you pursue outside means as
described in this article to make ends meet? Why and why not?
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Fraudulent Dating Through Facebook |
