The Internet is actually a valid place to meet a potential romantic partner. According to the Pew Research Center, 59 percent of Americans now consider online dating a “good way to meet people.” And over the last three years, the number of people using online dating tools has increased in nearly every age group.

Though online dating may be more appealing to everyday people that doesn’t mean it’s safer. There are still a ton of sickos in the world, who are easily disguised online. It’s heartbreaking that people would use your desire to find love as a way to take advantage of you, but you have to be just as discerning as you would a normal stranger. Singles should take great caution with whom they meet and how they meet dates.

So what could you do? For instance, if you are interacting with someone online, are you looking into their other profiles on the various other social media outlets? If so, it can tell you a lot about your potential date…or very little at all—which can be just as telling.

According to a survey from Consumer Affairs, many online daters investigate their potential dates to uncover deal breakers. The study says people look for things such as the types of photos they post, if they have written any previous comments/posts that sound troubling or immoral and if they have any existing online arrest records (remember, many arrests are public record and many of those records are available online). The survey even says more than 10 percent of people would go as far as to run background checks on their online dating prospects.

At BMWK, we love celebrating love and we embrace all the ways to find love. We hear countless positive stories of love connections found online, so we don’t want singles to close the door to a potential online romance. But after reading this tragic Jet magazine article, we thought it was important to remind singles that they still have to be vigilant.

Read the Jet Magazine story below:

A Florida man was looking for love but ended up dead after meeting a woman on an online dating site, officials say.

WGN reports that 27-year-old Adam Hilarie of Auburndale, Florida, was found shot to death in his apartment Friday. Police say he had arranged a date the night before with Hailey Rose Bustos, 18, who he met on the popular online dating site, Plenty of Fish.

According to reports, after a night of bowling, Bustos texted Hilarie saying, “I had a good time and would like to see you again.”

https://twitter.com/NYDNVideo/status/768153050125074432

Officials say the pair arranged to see each other the following evening, but police say Bustos brought three men to Hilarie’s apartment to rob him. During the incident, one of the men allegedly shot Hilarie in the head.

Tragedies like this are rare, but anytime you decide to date someone from a website, they are possible. In real life (for lack of a better phrase), it is also a possible outcome.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Hilarie lost his life by trusting a stranger. And while, it isn’t his fault that he didn’t suspect Bustos of having ill intentions, it’s always best to proceed with caution when meeting up with a stranger.

R.I.P Adam Hilarie and condolences to his family.