Credits: Social Media
Expert exposes 5 most common dating app scams – and how to avoid them
In 2024, the vast majority of matchmaking is done on the internet, with more than 381 million people using dating apps worldwide – but not everyone on there is genuine.
Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Grindr are full of scammers and people who arent who they say they are, so you need to know what to watch out and make sure you dont get swindled.�
5 most common dating app scams
Trevor Cooke, a privacy expert at EarthWeb, has revealed the five most popular dating app scams and how to avoid them.
1. Catfishing scams
Dating apps are full of catfishes, people who pretend to be someone else online to trick or attract others. They use a fake name, false images and create an entire made up persona to fool you into thinking they are someone else.
“Its not unusual for scammers to spend months building trust and affection, only to eventually claim they need money for an emergency,” Cooke explained.
To protect yourself from catfishes, the expert advises being cautious of anyone who tries to move the conversation off the dating platform into other means of conversation too quickly or requests personal information very early on.
2. Sugaring scams
Another common dating app scam is sugaring, which is when older, wealthy people lure younger ones in by promising money, gifts or other financial support. Often, they are seeking companionship in return.
Sometimes, these ‘sugar daddies’ are real people wanting intimacy, but they are often scammers posing as wealthy individuals, with the goal of exploiting their victims later on.
Often, they do it to try and steal money from you, so be wary of anyone asking for a ‘sugar baby’ and don’t send over any personal information.
3. Bot profile scams
Another thing to be aware of is bot profiles, which are not real people at all. They are computer generated accounts which use stolen images and false information to lure people in.
Bots are programmed to initiate conversations and build rapport, ultimately leading to requests for personal information or financial gain, Cooke explained.�
Always be sceptical of profiles that have limited or generic information and reverse image search their profile picture. If the same image of the person appears on several profiles or websites, then it’s most likely a stolen image.
4. Two-factor authentication scams
Another common scam sees fraudsters try to exploit the two-factor authentication process that most dating apps have.�
They pretend to be the dating site to convince the victim to share their 2FA code, usually through phishing emails or messages. This allows them to gain access to the victim’s account and personal information.
Speaking about Tinder specifically, Cooke said: “Tinder will never ask you to share your 2FA code with anyone. If someone claims to be from Tinder and requests this information, it’s a clear red flag.”
5. Promoter scams
Finally, you need to be aware of promoter scams, which is when people claim to be promoters or ambassadors from the dating site you are using.�
They usually tell users they can earn money or get access to free premium features by promoting the app or participating in surveys.�However, this is fake and scammers are trying to access your personal information.
“Tinder does not employ promoters or ambassadors in this capacity,” Cooke warned. “Any unsolicited offers claiming to be from Tinder should be treated with extreme caution.”
