Older Americans can find themselves alone after many years of marriage because of death or divorce. It certainly isn’t an uncommon occurrence today. These people find themselves alone and lonely and more and more often, they are turning on their computers in order to look for the companionship that they so desperately want and need.

These older Americans didn’t grow up in a computerized world. Many of them are very computer savvy, but there are many who are not. They may have used a computer for shopping or banking or emailing family and friends, but the world of online dating is something that is truly out of their realm of expertise.

Back in their dating years, the young man always made the first move. HE called her. HE asked for a date and when she agreed, he showed up with flowers in one hand and a box of chocolates in the other. Dating was courting in their experience, but somewhere along the way the rules got changed…a LOT.

Now don’t misunderstand. Older people are well aware of how the world around them has changed over the years. What they are not aware of, because they haven’t had any need to know, is how the dating scene has changed. Dating online is a completely foreign idea and one that takes some getting used to.

There are online dating sites that are devoted specifically to senior online dating. The members are all supposed to be seniors. Sometimes older Americans will find these senior online dating sites and join one of them, but not always. When they do join a senior online dating site, they sometimes mistakenly believe that all of the other members really are seniors like themselves.

Many times seniors are in a position of being financially secure. They have worked their whole lives, saved and made good investments. Money (or the lack of it) is no longer an issue to them. Sometimes seniors will simply overlook the fact that for many people money (or the lack of it) IS an issue. This can be true for younger people, but it can also be true for some older people as well.

Seniors who engage in online dating should be very, very careful about giving out personal information. The problem is that sometimes seniors will fail to recognize exactly what information in the wrong hands can do them harm.

The very first thing that some seniors do when they begin an online dating relationship is supply their partner with their real name and the name of the city in which they live. Many seniors do not regard this information as dangerous to provide. They wouldn’t hand over their social security number, but they will readily supply their real name and their city of residence.

With no more than these two pieces of information, a person who has motives that are less than honorable can find out the home address, telephone number, what property is owned, and a boatload of other information.

For seniors, as well as for all others who engage in online dating, it is very important to withhold real names and cities of residence until you have established a relationship over a period of months. Scam artists and crooks don’t spend months to gather information. Unless it is readily supplied, these jerks move on the easier targets.

As with any relationship, take your time and let it develop slowly over time. There is somebody out there for everyone and the Internet is a great place to find that special person. However, when you think you’ve found the ‘right’ one, if they are the person you think they are and want them to be, they certainly won’t mind going slowly and cautiously.