Last night ABC’s Primetime Crime aired a segment on Jeffrey Marsalis, the 35 year old match.com “Mr. Right”, who pretended he was a doctor, astronaut and CIA agent to facilitate his serial rape scam on single women. As I watched the story unfold, I had to admit he took the “player” process to an all time low! Previously acquitted on numerous rape charges over the course of several years, Marsalis was finally convicted and sentenced to LIFE imprisonment, with eligibility for parole in 15 years.

His nonchalant, flippant attitude in the courtroom exemplified his sociopathic perspective, clearly displaying he felt he had not committed a crime at all. Amazingly, there are a multitude of  players in cyberspace and on the streets who have a similar mindset. The prey on innocent single women and are ultimately dismissed as jerks, claiming they did not intentionally commit a crime.

When someone intentionally fabricates a profile on an internet site with the explicit intent to target vulnerable singles with their romantic allure and entice them into a “temporary” relationship to fulfill their own needs, it is a RAPE CRIME! You can’t make choices based on lies! I hear stories from people all the time, and honestly, I have experienced jerks more times than I care to admit. When you are searching for a committed, serious relationship, even intelligent, successful women are susceptible because the players are so convincing. They romance you, make you feel you are the woman of their dreams and tell you what you want … and need to hear.  If you are attracted to them, their expertly executed lies make you totally vulnerable.

It’s nice to know the court system finally recognized the severity of Marsalis’ actions, but the sad thing is, there are so many other players out there still luring innocent women into their web. In this age of Internet Dating, it’s more important than ever to be alert to the dangers lurking on your own computer. Match.com and all of the other dating sites provide a great way to meet eligible singles, but BE SMART! Most sites give you safe ways to meet. Beyond that, use your common sense and take things slowly. If someone sounds too good to be true, they probably are and if you see red flags, DON’T IGNORE THEM!

DON’T BE A VICTIM!  The good guys are out there, but so are the jerks. Trust your instincts an don’t let your guard down.

Happy dating …

Casi