GLOBENEWSWIRE – A TransUnion report shows over 85% of dating app users want platforms to verify age, photos, and location to improve trust, as only half feel profiles match reality. Common complaints include misleading photos and fake ages, with 28% reporting catfishing and 21% targeted by scammers. Most users support background checks, with many willing to pay for them, highlighting a clear demand for stronger identity verification in online dating.
Category: Scammer
Professor Anthony Pratkanis – Deception, Scams, and Protecting Online Daters
LTR – Professor Anthony Pratkanis, a social psychologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, discusses the psychology of influence and deception. From his extensive studies, he explains how scammers affect victims with customized manipulation strategies and how scams adapt according to individual behavior, especially on dating websites. Professor Pratkanis talks about educating people with specific, probing questions to prevent fraud and the harm of victim-blaming. He also gives insight into how life stressors and weaknesses at an individual level make individuals susceptible to scams, focusing on the need for targeted messaging and awareness to protect potential victims.
[**See the video here on Youtube**]
The January LTR was kindly sponsored by Dating Through Curiosity, RealMe, and Courtland Brooks
Steve Baker on the FTC’s ‘Click to Cancel’ Rule: What It Means for Online Dating and Consumer Protection
LTR – Steve Baker, former FTC director and fraud detection expert, discusses the evolution of trust and safety in online dating and the FTC’s new “Click to Cancel” rule. With 27 years at the FTC and 5 years at the Better Business Bureau, he has plenty to share about consumer fraud, deceptive subscription marketing, and the agency’s efforts to protect consumers from confusing auto-renewals and free trial scams. The new regulation, set to take effect on March 31, 2025, aims to provide simpler cancellations and impose more severe penalties for misleading claims, affecting businesses globally. Tune in as Baker breaks down its effects on online dating and consumer protection.
[**See the video here on Youtube**]
The January LTR was kindly sponsored by Dating Through Curiosity, RealMe, and Courtland Brooks
AI-Driven Romance Scams Surge as Deepfakes Flood Dating Apps
GLAMOUR – According to a new study, 75% of UK dating app users have encountered deepfake profiles. Earlier this year, a French woman went viral after being duped out of £700K by scammers who led her to believe she was in a romantic relationship with Brad Pitt. The technology is so advanced that perpetrators can create entirely original images. Deepfake images are unidentifiable by reverse image search, which is normally a good technique for detecting fraudsters. It's the dating apps that need to do more of the heavy lifting. Right now, fake profiles are being created in minutes, and it's left to those affected to seek out the truth or disprove the lie. Often, even if profiles are reported, the profiles remain live, allowing those behind the accounts to continue to deceive people for whatever purpose they choose.
AI Romance Scams Surge: 52% of Online Daters Targeted
BUSINESSWIRE – McAfee’s research highlights a surge in AI-driven romance scams, with 52% of online daters reporting financial or gift-related scams. 21% have been approached by fake celebrity accounts, with 33% losing money, averaging $1,985 per victim. AI-powered deception is rising, with 26% encountering AI chatbots posing as real people and 32% believing they could develop feelings for an AI companion.
Third of Singles Say They Embellish Their Dating Profiles
DAILYMAIL.CO.UK – A survey by Censuswide found that 36% of singles admit to embellishing their dating profiles, while 37% have encountered profiles that seemed “too good to be true.” Common white lies include using old photos, exaggerating jobs or salaries, and fabricating hobbies. Despite this, 46% of singles ignore red flags, and 11% struggle to spot romance scams. 27% have been contacted by a catfish, highlighting the risks of online dating.
A New Industry Code to Protect Dating App Users Has Come Into Force in Australia
SBS NEWS – Australia has introduced a new voluntary industry code for dating apps to protect users from online harassment and violence. Under the new industry code in Australia, dating apps are required to:
- Detect and mitigate potential online harms, including harassment and abuse.
- Take action against offenders by preventing them from creating new accounts or moving to other platforms.
- Establish clear reporting mechanisms for users to report misconduct.
- Preserve data related to sexual assault complaints for collaboration with law enforcement.
- Provide resources and information to support users affected by harassment or abuse.
- Engage more directly with law enforcement to handle serious cases.
The e-Safety Commissioner will review the effectiveness of these measures over a nine-month period.
Rising Financial Scams on Indian Dating Apps Demand Proactive Action
AFAQS – Dating apps in India face a rise in financial scams where women lure men to expensive nightclubs, leaving them with hefty bills. Despite widespread reports, apps like Tinder and Bumble have remained mostly silent. Experts urge dating platforms to be more proactive by addressing the issue openly, providing user education, and implementing stronger safety measures to protect users and maintain trust.
by Yash Bhatia & Ruchika Jha
See full article at AFAQS
Privacy Risks in Location-Based Dating Apps: a Study Analysis
Key findings include:
- Six apps allow pinpointing a user's exact location, posing physical threats.
- Large amounts of personal and sensitive data are shared with other users.
- API leaks can reveal hidden personal data, violating user expectations.
- Easy account creation facilitates targeted or large-scale profiling and tracking.
The study emphasizes the tension between app functionality and user privacy, recommending user control, data minimization, and API hardening to mitigate privacy risks. The authors highlight the need for better protection measures to safeguard user data on LBD apps. The authors of the paper are affiliated with DistriNet, a research group within the Department of Computer Science at KU Leuven, a university in Belgium.
Kaspersky Report Shows How Common Online Scams Are
PR NEWSWIRE – The Kaspersky report, "Digital Uncertainty: Scams, Privacy and Artificial Intelligence," reveals widespread encounters with scams across social media, dating apps, and other online platforms. Key findings show that 42% of users have encountered scams on dating apps and 38% on Facebook, with 29% falling victim to scams overall. The report highlights a 40% increase in phishing attacks in 2023 and a strong consumer call for new privacy regulations in 2024. Concerns also extend to the potential privacy and security impacts of AI, with 38% of respondents wary about its future role.