Though digital dating presents new opportunities for connection, it also brings significant risks, notably online scams. The FBI reported a 25% increase in online scams since 2019, with victims losing over $547 million in 2021 alone to cyber fraudsters posing as romantic interests. The reported financial losses due to romance scams increased by nearly 80% from 2020 to 2021, with the median individual loss to a romance scam being around $2,400 in 2022, indicating the profound impact these scams have on individuals. This alarming trend showcases the growing sophistication and prevalence of online dating scams.

The emotional toll is equally severe. Victims frequently experience heartbreak, depression, and embarrassment, leading to long-lasting psychological impacts. The darkest side is when these victims attempt suicide resulting in tragic loss of lives. These scams target individuals of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations, making no one immune to their reach.

A dear friend of mine fell into what seemed to be a blossoming online relationship with a woman abroad. Their connection, which was initiated on a popular social platform, extended and grew over five years, buoyed by promises of marriage and frequent assurances of future meetings. Yet, despite these assurances, they never met in person, even once. The reasons were endless, ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to her claims of being an only child responsible for her parents and attending to familial responsibilities and functions, among various other excuses. In his desire to be supportive, my friend dispersed over $120,000 throughout these five years. Yet, the financial loss was minimal compared to the profound emotional and psychological distress he endured. Eventually, they broke up, leaving him with a deep sense of uncertainty. The most heart-wrenching part was the doubt that lingered: questioning the honesty of the person he had never met, wondering if her love and care were genuine or merely part of a meticulously crafted illusion. He would probably never know for sure. This ordeal hit me so hard. It revealed the stark dangers lurking behind digital profiles, highlighting not only the financial implications but also the deep betrayal of trust and the severe impact on my friend’s mental well-being and the thousands of people who experienced similar online tragedies.

Motivated by this distressing experience, I embarked on a journey of extensive research and analysis, diving deep into the resources of evolution, science, and psychology. The insights gained from this exploration, supported by approximately 600 references, have been distilled into the book you’re holding now: “Unveiling 11 Relationship Styles: Secrets Nobody Told You.” This work recounts my personal journey and is a demonstration of the resilience and dedication required to transform a vision into reality. This incident was a catalyst for me. It propelled my determination to create a platform where safety, authenticity, and genuine connections are foundational pillars. The story of my friend is a painful testament to the risks of online relationships in their current form - risks that TerriTie aims to mitigate. This is the limit of details I can share about this unfortunate story at this stage, but at its core, it is an illustration of a hurt that nobody should go through and that we wish to prevent.

People often say, ‘It’s a crazy idea!’... Until it works. People tend to support those who don’t need it because they don’t want to be associated with failure, let alone experience failure themselves. However, successful individuals embrace failure time and again. I stand before you today as a nobody. How can I inspire you when I haven’t achieved success yet? I may be a nobody, but I believe in myself, and you should too. That’s how it always starts! We can all start from zero, from the Big Bang, or from God, or whatever you believe marks the beginning of the universe. It’s not uncommon for the initial idea of the business or mission you want to undergo some twists and turns and require some exploring and changes in direction until the right path is found. As you progress on your journey, so will your ideas. They may evolve into something different from what you initially imagined. But the most important thing is not to stop working. I have put in a lot of effort without seeing results yet, but I believe I will start to see the fruits of my labor sometime soon. Faced with a critical decision between buying a house, tied down by a mortgage, or investing in my dream, I chose the latter. It was a hard choice with a significant risk, but one that I was willing to take. Starting something big might mean walking alone for an extended period of time. Taking a rest might be okay, but if you stop, your mission will be over. It’s hard, but if you believe in it, it is worth it, and it will be satisfying one day. It’s definitely easier if you go on this journey with a co-founder, but for me, this choice wasn’t available.

Catfishing, creating fake identities to deceive unsuspecting victims, lies at the heart of most online romance scams. Scamalytics reports that of 3.5 million dating profiles scanned monthly, approximately 500,000 are fake. This form of deceit leads to financial loss and severe emotional distress for the victims, who often believe they have found true love. FBI data revealed over 24,000 catfishing cases in 2021, marking a 30% increase in four years. The Federal Trade Commission reported a whopping $1.3 billion in damages by over 70,000 victims of romance scams in 2022. $4,400 was the median loss recorded, which is around a 200% increase from 2021 in terms of cases and financial loss. Catfishing can manifest in various forms – from financial scams to a means of trolling, blackmail, or a result of personal insecurities. Some catfishers seek romantic attention due to self-esteem issues, while others aim to exploit their victims financially.

Other motives for catfishing include harassment or cyberbullying, with perpetrators creating fake profiles to target individuals for their political or religious views, or sometimes, simply for entertainment. Some catfishers engage in this behavior due to underlying mental health issues like antisocial, narcissistic, or psychopathic personality disorders. Furthermore, catfishers sometimes use their fake identities to coerce victims into sending compromising photos or videos, later using these for blackmail. This tactic underscores the importance of caution in digital interactions, particularly in sensitive or vulnerable situations. Victims are often targeted due to their vulnerability, with widows, widowers, and lonely singles being common targets. Catfishers fabricate scenarios, such as medical emergencies or travel expenses, to financially exploit their victims.

Minors and teenagers, a demographic especially susceptible to online exploitation, face unique risks on online relationship platforms. These risks include exposure to inappropriate content, susceptibility to grooming by predators, cyberbullying, and emotional manipulation. A 2022 study by the Australian Institute of Criminology found that 12.4% of adult dating app users had received a request to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child. Teenagers, still developing critical thinking and emotional intelligence, might not always discern the intentions of those they interact with online. This vulnerability makes them prime targets for individuals with harmful intentions.

To counter these alarming trends, TerriTie has been meticulously designed with comprehensive features aimed at combating online threats, including protecting minors and the broader community from exploitation, fraud, and catfishing. Our platform’s proactive commitment to zero fake profiles is not just a promise but a cornerstone of our user safety strategy. This commitment is supported by our unique technology, which is designed to significantly reduce fraud and ensure that all interactions on the platform are genuine and transparent. Our platform prioritizes user safety in technologies that exceed standard measures, ensuring that the individuals our users interact with are who they claim to be. We are committed to continuously advancing our technology and protocols to stay ahead of potential threats, reaffirming our dedication to creating a trustworthy and secure platform. Our commitment extends to every aspect of user interaction, affirming our dedication not just to building a community, but to protecting it as well.