What's the best advice you can give about internet dating sites?

I'm looking for some good, solid advice. What are the pitfalls? What are the pleasant surprises.





I would like to hear from people who have personal experience. Not from someone just mouthing off a bunch of judgemental stuff and have not even tried it.What's the best advice you can give about internet dating sites?
Always be aware that a profile might be a hoax. Anybody can put up a picture of a model, or use Photoshop, to look like someone else or to look better. Of course it's just a lie.





Never share your phone number, address, and any bank account information.





Sometimes men from other (usually poor) countries will only pretend to like you just so they can get a visa, money, or whatever to get to the USA or Canada.





Also, some men online actually already have girlfriends or wives, so be aware of this as well. They just want sex and not a serious relationship.





In addition to that, if you want a serious relationship, don't post bikini shots of yourself, or you wearing very revealing outfits, because that will invite men who want sex and sex only.What's the best advice you can give about internet dating sites?
Watch out for the ';too good to be true'; pages. That is a person who seems to be too perfect in a sense. Many dating sites are littered with scam profiles. Most dating sites try to filter them out, but are not always successful. For example, if you contact a person who says they are from Russia, run. Russia and some other countries are banned from American dating sites because a lot of them set up sites and try to hook particular people with the goal of you sending them money for a ';visa'; so they can come visit you. But when you send them money, you never hear from them again.





Another dead giveaway is when you begin to talk to them through email or messaging, is that their comments are very vague, cut and paste type, heavily misspelled, bad grammar and they want to flatter the heck out of you right away.





In short, just use wisdom and good judgment on who you talk to and what information you give. I have been on several dating sites over the years and have found scams, but on the other hand, I have talked to some very nice girls. Just filter out people yourself by seeing what they are all about and if you'd really like to talk to them.
The positive side is that you have an opportunity to expand your search in meeting potential partners and improve your chance for finding a life partner. You can seek out people who have the same life goals and interests. You can control when and if you meet someone face-to-face. You can start off with email, move to a phone call, and then meet in a public place for a quick cup of coffee before deciding whether you want to go on an official date. Of course, you have to be very careful to avoid any scammers or control freaks (easy to spot because they'll claim to fall in love with you immediately). And, as is always true in searching for love, you have to open your heart up to heartache. But it beats meeting people in a bar!