As someone once said on here, "You can't expect to find the one for you living next door". Very true, you need to cast a wider net. How far you are prepared to look for a partner is a personal choice, everyone is different, but if and when you do find that 'one for you' maybe distance will not matter at all.
You cast a wider net, and attract many many scammer who are willing to relieve you of all your precious possession. Also impossible to date or know a person in another country, next door neighbor is the only way. If you can't impress your co-worker or next door neighbor, something is wrong with you. You will never be able to get a woman so far far away, trust me.
You are right. You need to tread very carefully, scammers are always there near or far, but you can make it happen you can find 'the one' for you. Nothing in life comes easy is often heard spoken about in many things. There is an old proverb about finding love which I like, it says this :-.
"Love isn't finding someone you can live with . It's finding someone you can't live without."