Denu... definitely. I agree with you whole heartedly. I've been on the net since before I was 14, and have met MORE than my share of fakes online. Definitely best to be prepared when you meet someone.

If everyone who came online was genuine, there would be no need for the ability to ban people from forums, or to hide your location or picture or identity entirely.

That's not to say everyone is bad, there are plenty of good ones. I have more than few really good friends online as well.