INTERNET DATING

How can it be done safely and successfully?

There is a new way to meet the love of your life and all at the touch of a button - Online dating.

Thousands are meeting on the Internet But is it safe? Are checks made?

There is a new way to find the love of your life, at the touch of a button.

Millions are meeting Online

And the great thing about cyberspace is you can be whoever you want to be.

Ashley Blake, Inside Out's intrepid reporter, checking out Internet dating for himself, chose a site at random and logged on.

"All you have to do is type in a name, address and your age … and click.

"But, I have registered using the personal details of somebody who is in prison for assaulting several woman he targeted over the Internet.

"Within a few seconds, my advert is online."

For a new Midlands company, cyber love is big business. And they claim it is safe.

They are offering lonely hearts the chance to have their mug shot and email details posted on huge billboards.

For the housewives who came up with the idea it's boom time.

Natalie paid £60 a week to advertise on the billboards

Olga Walters is the joint owner of the company

The nerve centre for this cutting edge, 'would like to meet', operation is a converted barn and a hut in Sutton Coldfield.

The staff here don't just believe they're the best, they also think they're the safest way for singles to find love.

It seems an unusual approach, but single people are stumping up £60 a week to have their pictures posted on billboards. Love seekers like Natalie.

Saul Hudson thought he'd fallen in cyberlove. That was until the beautiful Ukranian girl he met online turned out to be something and someone completely different.

Realising something was wrong Saul logged out of the relationship, and decided to set up a website to warn others of the dangers. The site gets 300,000 hits a month.

Saul and Sasha eventually found true love online

Saul also discovered that organised criminals are behind the deception.

Despite everything Saul did find love online. He met Sasha … from Kiev in the Ukraine. They have been happily married for two years.

Intrepid reporter, Ashley Blake, thought it was about time he tried out the dating game.

"I have got an invitation to a party where hundreds of singles, who've all met on the net, are seeing each other for the very first time."

Scare stories good news

Private investigators have noticed an upturn in business as suspicious singletons seek their advice

Marc gets calls from people wanting to check out Online contacts.

The company even offer what they call an anonymous chaperone service. For around a £1000 they will follow your date and even film them.

Marc Ingram believes this is something that will prove popular as more and more suffer blind date disasters.

And finally, what about the criminal in whose name our intrepid reporter Ashley Blake registered. Did anyone fancy a date with him?

We will never know, as we only left his details on for two minutes.

But one thing is for sure, there are people, not unlike him, logging on right now!