Panorama Last Night

[lindapalmara]

Did anyone see the episode last night about online dating and how the companies running them steal identities by taking photos and personal dtild from the internet and setting up false profiles. What worries me is that I use my own photo as my Avitar on this site. I do not do Facebook because of the risks and there are no personal details on this website. Am I at risk of my photo being used?

[Old_Geezer]

I guess so.

I didn't see the programme but can't say I'm surprised these places exaggerate the number of clients. Particularly when starting up. Unsure about the legality on using another's photo without permission though. Someone holds copyright to the photo don't they ?

[bazwillrun]

"What worries me is that I use my own photo as my Avitar on this site"
why ?

"and there are no personal details on this website"

no but you have posted a photo you say is of you....ergo you could be tracked and found from it, unlikely but possible, and easier than you might think

[lindapalmara]

It's rife. Wen you join these sites you can put your profile in for free then get inundated with emails but have to subscribe to read them. They draw people in to spending loads of money. Never used one (happily married) but was shocked because I know people who have. There's one called Cupid who have call centre in the Ukrain who employ people to pose as clients with false profiles, these profiles can be bought from unscrupulous people who compile lists of thousands of bogus profiles. Going to chnNge my Avita!

[chelle7272]

yes your photo could be copied from this site, but other details are not accessible on here

[jackthehat]

A former user of AB had his details copied to a variety of 'surprising' Contact sites. He has spent a lot of time accusing people of maliciously signing him up, when I believe that his details (on a site he used in all innocence) have been cribbed across numerous platforms.

If he had used a self-picture in his registration it, too, would have doubtless found itself popping up all over t'interweb.

It is entirely possible that your photo could be lifted from here......although it would be applied to a profile bearing no resemblance to your circumstances, and you would be pretty hard-pressed to ever find it.

[lindapalmara]

Thanks for your advice. As you can see I have deactivated it. Bazwilrun asked me why I used my photo. This is the only forum I use really and I naively thought it would be nice to be more personal for people to talk to areal person. Learnt my lesson. Thanks

[mccfluff]

I use my photo,as you can see. For some reason i'm not getting many hits on the dating sites i frequent :-(

[lindapalmara]

LOL