Lot's of chatter (whining? here about the increase percentages of bogus profiles.  We all have to deal with them, and we all are looking for tips on how to spot them (preferably before we go through all the steps that proceed "her" ask for money upfront).  

 
Here's a list of what I consider yellow and red flags.  No single "flag" is necessarily definitive. But each additional flag adds the likelihood of a scammer/GPS Rob/Pig Butcher/Simp Farm disaster.  I'll break this into several categories:
1. Pics
2. Profile text
3. Logical flaws
4. Communication modes
5. Timing
6. Real world verification results

 
I will make a separate post for each of these. This is Part 4-Communication Modes  

 
Congrats! You completed preliminary vetting and it's time to message. There are three paths to messaging:  
1. She favorites your profile. (I don't consider her "viewing" your profile here. Just looking doesn't = meaningful intent.)
2. She messaged you after favoriting your profile, or without favoriting your profile.
3. You messaged her, either after favoriting her or without favoriting her profile.

 
When she sends the first message:  
Generally, a longer message is better than a short, or one to two word message.  

Simple messages like "hi" or "hey" or "hello handsome" tell you that she is either shy, inarticulate (could be poor writing skills-good, or ESL-English as a second language-Not as good), or inexperienced in the Sugar Bowl. Or its the opening gambit of a scammer following a script. A scammer will await your reply and will react based on that script. But a legit POT may not really know or be skillful in how to open this conversation.  

 
Either way, the best approach to your reply will be to acknowledge her interest, and ask one or two simple, general questions. I suggest you make these open-ended questions, which means they cannot be answered by a simple "yes" or "no."  Examples: How is your search going? What did you do today for fun? I see in your pics you were at Disneyland. What was your favorite experience there?   The objective is to get useful info from dialog. Her reply will give you some idea of her writing style, personality, and her value system (good search/bad search, what does she consider fun or favorite type of experience).  This dialog can give you indications towards legit or scammer. Her grammar is one key area: Does she say "I live in Boston" or "I stay in Boston"?  A euro- or Asain-based speaker may say "I stay..."  This is also where you parse her replies carefully for logical flaws (see part 3)

 
Move the conversation along to arrangement objectives like meeting frequency, activities (keep it PG or G rated), etc., Of course NO DISCUSSION of allowance or relies about allowance from her questions on the site.  As youy star to duiscus details, it's time to slide off the site to text. Either give her your (real or burner) number or ask for hers.  

 
If you send the first message, my suggestion stands with one addition. I recommend you start with a brief reference to somethin in her profile.  Don't make it too up the middle - unless her profile specifically asks for that ("Please say PURPLE RAIN so I know you read my profile"). Try to use a more witty or nuanced reference to her profile like "I see you like 80's Rock. I had so many great times going to Van Halen concerts back then. Who is your favorite band?"  Then follow the path above and look for those logical flaws and/or correct/incorrect cultural references.  

 

I won't cover text messaging here, except to restate our most critical rule: Never agree to send, or actually do send cash before you meet face to face. Vid chats don't count. Only when you can physically put it in her hands and even then only when you are comfortable doing so.  

 
I will talk about timing in Part 5.  

 
Feel free to add comments, questions or other tips on any of the 6 parts.  

 
Life is good

 
The Cat