who've posted a profile but haven't joined -- and thus aren't accessible. That means when you get no reply, you're left scratching your head:
Was she not interested or just unable to respond to you? Either way, Epstein chalks it up to one of the basic hazards of Internet dating: "It's
very easy to get hurt or be disappointed online."
So how many posted profiles at paid dating sites belong to active members? Experts say that, at best, subscriber services convert between
10% and 15% of browsers into members. That means 85% or more of the profiles at a subscriber site could belong to unreachable browsers.
The problem is, there's no incentive for the sites to change, since the more profiles they list, the better they look. How to avoid the heart-
break? One way is to stick to free sites such as Plentyoffish.com or OKCupid, where every profile you see belongs to a member.

5. 'Fall in love too quickly and you could end up broke'
As if navigating between the white lies and the false starts of the online dating world weren't enough, you also have to be on the lookout for
scams. Just like every Internet venture, online dating is full of folks looking to make a quick buck. These con artists "prey on people who fall
for pretty faces on the Internet," says Brian Erickson, the director of operations at Mate1, an online dating service.
The romance scam is the most prevalent on dating sites and the hardest to stop, Erickson says. It happens when male members start getting
messages from a too-attractive-to-be-true woman who says she's from a distant location-. The two will hit it off a little too quickly, then she'll
want to come visit but needs a plane ticket or money for gas. The mark sends her the money -- and never hears from her again.
Recession brings out the scammers
When you click with someone online, "it's easy to say, 'Wow, this could turn into something,'" says Erickson, but if someone asks you for
money, that should send up an immediate red flag. Another giveaway: When a profile says the person is local but you find out she's actually
in Eastern Europe.

6. 'Our guarantees are only guaranteed to keep you here'
According to the statistics for online dating success, you're just as likely to meet your perfect match while shopping for groceries. So how can
sites such as Match.com and Yahoo Personals offer "guarantees" and six-month "promises"?
Because these assurances aren't about finding love. If you read the fine print, you'll see they're careful not to promise you'll meet that certain
someone -- just that if you don't during your six-month subscription, you'll get more time to keep trying, on the house. You don't even have
the option of a refund. (Match.com had no comment. Yahoo emphasized the success of its six-month program, adding that if subscribers
want to quit, they have "the option of removing their profile. Dating sites do this because it's an easy, low-cost way to keep up traffic and a
great marketing tool, says David Evans, an industry consultant. But some people who've done a stint in the online dating world have no de-
sire to go back.
"I get knots in my stomach just thinking about it," says Match.com veteran Claire Berger, a Florida resident who recalls a litany of outdated
photographs and interminable first dates that never led to anything.
7. 'Don't expect quick results'
You've signed up with a service, crafted your profile and even cleared your weekend. So you're all set to meet your match, right? Unfortu-
nately, it's not that simple.
"You can't just throw up a profile and expect to go on a date," says Mark Brooks, an industry consultant for online dating services. The world
of online dating has its own rhythms and rituals, which often take some time.
How to get things moving? For starters, say less in your profile. It sounds counterintuitive -- you want your potential dates to know you're an
ardent heavy-metal fan, right? Not necessarily: One study found that the less specific a profile was, the more responses it got. "People
tended to fill in the blanks with things they liked," says Frost, the social-sciences researcher.
Also, take advantage of sites that offer a chat feature. It's a more natural and faster way for two people to get to know each other than
traded e-mails. Once you're ready to meet the person offline, most experts suggest doing it sooner rather than later. And keep that first date
light. Get together for coffee or a beer -- in other words, something less committal than dinner. That way, if there's no connection, you can
easily leave. "You're going to know by the second sip of your latte if there's something there," says Trish McDermott, the "VP of Love" at
Engage.com 
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