As a private investigator specialising in infidelity, I often get asked about the pitfalls of online dating sites like Ashley Madison and whether the over-50’s are particularly vulnerable (since they are not digital natives). In answer to your many questions:

• Yes, true love can happen online.
• No, the online world is not the Real World.
• Yes, there are good people out there online.
• No, not everyone is telling the whole truth online.
• Yes, there are a lot of married men and women on these sites (pretending to be single).
• No, you should never give money to someone you don’t know and have met online, no matter what sob-story they tell you.
• Yes, men and women are different online too: men give love to get sex, women give sex to get love.
• No, you shouldn’t expect perfection.
• Yes, by now you should know what you are looking for.
• No, you shouldn’t settle. You should never try and fix someone by going out with them.
• Yes, you should be careful online: keep your wits about you and don’t trust someone until you can verify what they are saying is true.

And remember…if you have any doubts, trust your gut instincts!