Kicking Registered Sex Offenders off Online Dating Sites

bConcerned.com introduces a petition to bring safety to online dating websites.

San Antonio, TX, June 8, 2011 – Searching for love online is simple, convenient and very popular! It’s no wonder why millions of people are searching for romance by joining online dating websites. With a single click you can view photos, hobbies and interests of a potential date. But beware, that nice smile may not be someone you really want to date.  With the recent news of a sexual assault surrounding a popular online dating website, dating safety awareness has been a hot topic. “Love seekers should use caution when searching for their true love online, because you never know who you will attract! Sex offenders are also searching for a lonely desperate heart, not for love, but for their next victim.” states Greg Sanchez, a Police Detective and co-founder of bConcerned.com; a free dating safety tool that confirms your safe return home from after a date.

Although, many believe that the online dating websites should be held responsible for conducting background checks of their members; bConcerned.com feels that the individuals who are deceptively using online dating websites to search for their next victim should be held accountable for their actions. “It’s time to take a proactive approach to bring an element of safety to online dating websites, by making it a criminal offense for a registered sex offender to be a member of an online dating website.” states Marcello Saldana, co-founder of bConcerned.com. Greg and Marcello feel that by introducing a petition to make it a criminal act, to be a registered sex offender and a member of an online dating website, not only brings awareness to dating safety but also creates a safer environment for members of the online dating community.

The petition drive will begin in conjunction with a free Online Dating Safety Seminar being presented by bConcerned.com. This free seminar will focus on the importance of online dating safety, steps to protect yourself on your next date and the benefits of using bConcerned.com. The seminar will be held on June 22, 2011, Wednesday evening at 7pm-10pm at Aldaco’s Stone Oak, 20079 Stone Oak, San Antonio, TX, 78258.

Mandatory Criminal Back Ground Checks for Online Dating Sites?

Sen. Leticia Van de Puette, of Texas, filed Senate Bill 488 that would require online dating sites to conduct criminal background check of its members or to post a disclosure that the members have not been through a criminal background check. Sounds like a great idea! With over 20 million Americans using online dating sites, there should be some type of safety involved. While hoping for love and clicking on profiles for your future Mr. Right, searching for compatible hobbies and looking for a lasting relationship; do you have time to determine if he is a sexual predator? Like most of us in this fast paced and busy life, we usually don’t have time to search the web to find out if the guy with the charming smile is a pervert, criminal or an all-around nice guy!

So, Sen. Van de Puette S.B. 488 is a no brainer to keep online daters safe. I agree, it’s a good start! Let’s look at some pros of S.B. 488;
• Criminal background checks will keep criminals off online dating sites.
• Members would feel more comfortable that the profiles they are searching are law abiding citizens.
• Bring awareness to dating safety.

Now let’s look at some of the cons of S.B. 488;
• Just because a person has been arrested for a crime does not mean they were convicted for that crime. They may have beaten the case for several reasons; the victim decides not to prosecute due to fear or retaliation, evidence is lost or destroyed and witnesses refusing to cooperate. Therefore, a lucky criminal is still a criminal, but just hasn’t been found guilty.
• Most criminal background checks that are found on the internet, will only disclose convictions not charges!
• Every criminal once had a clean background! A criminal background check cannot guarantee that a person will not commit a crime in the future.
• Gives a person a false sense of security!
• Will increase the cost of membership of online dating sites.

When it comes to looking for love, the route that you use, whether online or offline, is not important.  What is important is to exercise common sense and good judgment.  And just when you think that you have done all that you can do to ensure your safety, remember to login to bConcerned.com where we monitor your safe return home, because your safety is our priority!