Love is in the air, but if you're planning to send flowers or chocolates to your loved one for Valentine's Day, be careful who you order from. That's the warning today from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

More and more people are turning to the internet to find special offers these days. The BBB says consumers need to be on the lookout for posers - businesses and people pretending to be something or someone they're not. "It's no surprise that internet business is booming. It's fast, convenient and offers more choices than your local community," said David Polino, Better Business Bureau President. "The problem is that criminals also troll the sites for consumer victims, hitting them at vulnerable moments with enticing deals and the possibility for a perfect match. Consumers need to keep their guard up and their eyes focused on the truth behind these offers."

The BBB says many consumers will fall for deals while browsing online. They have processed hundreds of consumer complaints from people who say they either didn't receive their gifts on time or were very upset with the quality of them.

Before you buy something special for your sweetheart, the BBB recommends you know who you're buying from. The BBB says company you feel familiar with can pop up with a similar name and be very different from the one you actually want to do business with. Consumers are encouraged to check out the company and all parties affiliated with them first by clicking here.

Know what you've ordered and see if any "extras" have been added to your cart. Terms and conditions for websites can also reveal a lot about the business and the service you can expect. It can be well worth a review before you head to the 'check out.'

When it comes to online dating, some have found success, but the BBB receives thousands of complaints for these services every year as well, from many who lost money to someone they met on dating sites. Some criminals even pose as military personnel saying they're stationed overseas. Others may claim to have a sudden emergency like medical bills for a sick relative, or they claim they're in need of cash because they're stranded or behind on their bills. Often the 'emergency' occurs after weeks or months of online chit-chat, often filled with flattery that makes the victim feel as if he or she has found true love. The BBB urges anyone who uses an online dating service or answers an unsolicited romantic email to be extremely cautious before committing to meet the person, send them money, tickets or anything else of value.

The BBB has these tips to keep you safe online:

- Look at Background. Sites should contain basic information about the company and its products and services. A phone number and physical street address for the company should be posted.
- Look for affiliations. Does the company display a seal to show affiliations with any organizations? Seals often imply credibility and you should check with these organizations in a separate search to find out what the affiliation means and what the company must do to be associated with them. If you can't find them listed, walk away.
- Look for privacy policies. The company should tell you how they use your personal information and, if information is shared with third parties, they should respect your wish not to have it shared.
- Find out what people say about them. Ask friends who have done business with the company. Surf the Web to see what news media and other sites report about them. Check out the company's reliability report with the appropriate BBB.
- Look for special customer services. Many Web sites have features such as "virtual models" for selecting apparel, gardening libraries for buying seeds, music clips for choosing CD's, or other features that help you select products that fit your needs.
- Shop secure sites. When moving to the checkout section, make sure you see the URL in the checkout area that begins with "https:" which confirms you are shopping on a secure server. A unbroken key or locked padlock at the bottom or top of the screen can also be an indicator however these symbols can be replicated easily and are not the best form of security confirmation.
- Pay by credit card. Consumers have all of the same protections shopping online as they have when shopping in retail stores or catalogs. You'll be covered under the Fair Credit Billing Act in the event of non-delivery or fraud.
- Check out Background Policies. Find out whether the dating service does any background checks or fraud scans before a person's profile is posted.
- Take it Slow. Be cautious if a person immediately asks you to communicate on an email or messaging system outside the dating site. Some dating sites monitor exchanges for signs of fraud, and a fraudster may be anxious to lure you away from the site.
- Do a Google search. You can search a name or paste the text of an email, profile description, or pictures into Google and search to see if similar text, pictures or descriptions are used by others. Some criminals create multiple profiles and use the same information over and over.
- Be suspicious. If the person hints that they are in financial trouble or have another sudden need for money you could be in trouble. If the person asks you to wire money-such as by Western Union, MoneyGram or Green Dot MoneyPak-it more than likely is a scam.
- Take a Friend. If you decide to meet the person, consider taking a friend along and go to a place where there are large numbers of people and where you feel safe.