Device, System, and Method of Enhancing User Privacy and Security Within a Location-Based Virtual Social Networking Context

A method of reducing fraud in a location-based virtual social network, comprising:

• prompting, via a graphical user interface on a first mobile computing device of a first user, the first user to upload a first electronic photograph representing an appearance of the first user who is a participant of a virtual social network;
• receiving, via the graphical user interface, the first electronic photograph uploaded by the first user;
• receiving, from a second user who is also a participant of the virtual social network, an electronic voucher redeemable for a merchandise item that is offered by a physical venue corresponding to the virtual social network;
• and
• generating a screen that contains both the electronic voucher and the first electronic photograph.

A method of reducing fraud in a location-based virtual social network, comprising:

• causing a profile picture of a first user to be displayed on a mobile computing device of a second user;
• receiving an offer from the second user to purchase an item for a first user, the item being offered at a physical venue;
• detecting, from the first user, an acceptance of the offer;
• generating, in response to the acceptance of the offer, an electronically scan-able digital code for redeeming the item at the physical venue;
• and
• displaying, via a mobile electronic device of the first user, the digital code adjacent to a digital copy of a profile picture uploaded by the first user, the profile picture being uploaded by the first user prior to the receiving of the offer;
• wherein the first user and the second user are participants of a virtual social network that is geo-fenced to the physical venue.