But men tend not to think of themselves as potential crime victims when they're meeting strangers for dates or sex, said Andrew Edmonson, a gay rights activist in Houston.

"As men, we are used to having the privilege of going where we want to and when we want to, not having to worry that our lives may be in danger or that we could be attacked," he said, adding that the news about Soliman and Nguyen "makes us realize how very vulnerable we might be." Of course, dating apps aren't new, and this isn't the first time they've been used to hurt someone.

But dating websites need to do a better job of safeguarding consumers’ personal data, according to Internet security experts.

Users of dating sites regularly put their privacy and security at risk, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Aren’t we actually giving people a false sense of security?

” Mussman countered this objection by saying there will always be people who manage to fool background checks.

Online dating services offer a convenient and personalized way to meet that special someone.

But along with matchmaking possibilities, these websites can provide an avenue for thieves to steal your identity and wreak havoc with more than your love life.

Websites providing disclaimers revealing that they conduct background checks could do more harm than help. Now we have the situation where we think there’s a background check and all the information is validated but in reality it isn’t.

authenticates users by connecting to their Facebook profiles.

That means the photos you see are probably legit, because they're the photos users share with their mom, their best friend and their high school basketball coach.

Online dating can be a great way to meet people outside of your normal social circle.

However, it can also compromise your security if you are not careful. Be Safe Make sure that you only use reputable and reliable online dating services that prioritize its member’s safety.