Unveiling Scams and Deception in Online Dating and How to Avoid Them
By Andrew Hendel, Founder — Marshmallo
Remaining vigilant on dating apps is crucial in today’s world, as falling victim to a romance scam can have catastrophic consequences. According to the US Federal Trade Commission, nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam in 2022, with the reported losses totaling a massive $1.3 billion.
If you don’t want to be the unlucky victim of one of those scams, it is important to practice online dating safety.
Why online dating safety is important
The first step in staying safe on online dating apps is to understand how scammers can attempt to defraud you. By being educated about their methods, you are less likely to fall prey to scammers.
Here are a few common ways that scammers target victims on dating apps:
Catfishing
One of the most well-known online dating scams is catfishing, in which a scammer takes information and images from another person and uses it to create a fake profile. Bad actors have used this method for all sorts of nefarious purposes to trick people into interacting with them when they otherwise would not.
Romance scams
People often use fake profiles on dating apps as part of an elaborate romance scam, where they try to get money out of unsuspecting victims by convincing them that they are in love and need money for an emergency, or even a plane ticket to visit them.
Advance fee fraud
Similarly, scammers sometimes use fake dating profiles to conduct advance fee fraud. The scammer will flirt with users and convince them they are interested in them, only to ask them for money for some sort of fraudulent service, a “business opportunity,” or something else they “need” money for.
Phishing
Believe it or not, scammers can also use dating apps for phishing. By talking to someone through a dating app, scammers can often break down their victims’ defenses and have them share sensitive information that can be used for nefarious purposes.
Blackmail and extortion
Scammers can use fake dating profiles to gather materials and information for blackmail and extortion. Convincing a user that they are romantically interested in them makes it easier for scammers to convince them to send sexually explicit messages or photographs, then blackmail them using these materials.
Identity theft
By sending information over dating apps, users can also make themselves vulnerable to identity theft. These stolen identities can then be used to further perpetuate dating app scams by giving scammers more information to use in their catfishing efforts.
Bots
Some more advanced scams have even begun using tools such as bots to defraud unsuspecting victims. These bots mimic the patterns of realistic human speech to convince users that they are real people, meaning they can defraud their victims without much effort.
Unfortunately, scammers are improving the processes of their schemes to the point where their scam profiles can often be indistinguishable from a real profile. A good rule of thumb is that if something feels askew, it probably is.
For example, if a person asks for money, chances are they aren’t authentic. If they’re over-eager — or on the opposite end of the spectrum, completely refusing to video chat or constantly canceling meetings — be wary. Never fall for something that seems too good to be true.
Luckily, there are some steps that dating apps can take themselves to help create a safer environment for users.
Methods to protect dating app users
Mandatory identity verification on dating apps is one solution to help prevent wrongdoers and fraudsters from taking advantage of unsuspecting victims. Although some apps — such as Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge — offer identity verification options, these are optional, not mandatory, meaning people could still be lying about their name, age, and identity. The only way to protect against fraudulent users on dating apps is through identity verification using a government-issued photo ID.
Because a person’s identity is not verified on these apps, there is no way to know whether the users are criminals or sex offenders. Statistics show that 1 in 10 sex offenders have a profile on a dating app. Not only do these dating apps allow sex offenders to register and use the app, but they also can’t prohibit them from using a fake name. However, when an app uses identity verification from a government-issued ID, users’ names can be checked against several publicly available registries for sex offenders.
Dating apps must also institute better protections when it comes to unwanted messaging and harassment. Although most — if not all — dating apps offer “block” and “report” features, by the time the situation is escalated to the point where someone needs to be reported, someone has already been made uncomfortable. By limiting the number of messages a user can send without reciprocation, dating apps can prevent individuals from being pestered with unwanted communication before they interact.
There are also improvements that must be made in terms of the privacy options and filters that allow users to determine who sees their profile. While some are beginning to allow greater control over certain characteristics, blocking phone contacts from seeing your profile, or even a full-on “incognito mode,” there are limitations to each of these features — and they almost all exist behind a paywall. To be safer and more comfortable, dating app users must have greater control over their experience.
Until these changes are made, people will continue to fall victim to these dating app scams.
About Andrew Hendel
Andrew Hendel is the CEO and Founder of Marshmallo. Before founding Marshmallo, Andrew was a Managing Director at Beach Point Capital, a highly reputable hedge fund managing $14 billion in assets. With an in-depth understanding of financial services, his knowledge extends to the crucial role of compliance with anti-money laundering regulations, where banks and financial institutions are required to thoroughly understand their customers to ensure legal and ethical practices. This involves comprehensive verification of customer details, including name, date of birth, address, and social security number. Andrew recognizes the significance of leveraging technology to streamline and automate this process, making it more reliable and cost-effective.
Motivated by his expertise and passion for innovation, Andrew founded Marshmallo, a cutting-edge company that combines bank-grade financial technology with the world of online dating. Rather than solely focusing on fraud prevention and regulatory compliance, Marshmallo applies financial technology to enhance safety and security for online daters. As the visionary behind Marshmallo, Andrew is dedicated to revolutionizing the online dating landscape. By utilizing his comprehensive knowledge of financial services and advanced technological solutions, he aims to create a secure and trustworthy environment for individuals seeking connections in the digital age.
Andrew holds a B.S. and M.S. in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University’s School of Engineering, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi for academic excellence.
