Dating applications have become increasingly inundated with fake profiles run by scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting users. While the majority of dating app scams seek to defraud, some scams involve crimes as serious as trafficking and are incredibly damaging to both users and the dating platforms themselves.
Recently published research revealed that three in five users suspect the profiles they interact with to be fake. This has become such a significant issue in the virtual dating space that a growing number of users are now swearing off online dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble in favor of in-person dating.
So how can the tens of millions of people who still use dating platforms remain safe from phony profiles?
Watch out for users who ask to move the conversation to different platforms quickly. Scammers tend to use this tactic because it grants them access to addresses and phone numbers. Additionally, be wary of profiles that look too good to be true. Some scammers will design their profiles and conversations to make them seem more appealing and attract potential matches.
Take everything that users say with a pinch of salt, especially if they seem overly protective, caring or considerate from the beginning. You should also be wary of users who aren’t willing to meet in person after an appropriate amount of time. While it is natural that you would want to know your matches better before meeting in person, a user who continually postpones such meetings could be avoiding in-person interactions to mask dishonorable intentions.
Similarly, scam profiles will regularly make plans to meet in person but then cancel them. If you notice that one of your matches is consistently canceling meet-up plans, you may be interacting with a scammer behind a fake profile. Another major red flag in online dating is requests for financial aid. A scammer’s ultimate intention is to quickly build a relationship with unsuspecting users and solicit financial support.
You should also be suspicious of matches that ask personal questions early into the conversation. This includes asking about information such as your phone number, home address, and driver’s license or passport numbers. With this in mind, you will want to make sure you keep all your personal information to yourself, especially if you are still in the early talking stages.
Finally, make sure you approach online dating with a healthy dose of suspicion. Watch out for profiles that seem suspicious in any way, avoid sharing your personal information, use verification methods such as video calls to confirm a matches’ identity and make sure to report profiles that seem suspicious.
The increasing cases of scams on dating apps are creating the urgent need for entities such as Momo Inc. (NASDAQ: MOMO) to weed out scammers so that genuine users of those platforms can have their needs met.
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