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.
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:
The e-Safety Commissioner will review the effectiveness of these measures over a nine-month period.
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
Key findings include:
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.
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.
CTV NEWS – According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, 945 Canadians were caught in romance scams, losing $50M. In Ontario alone, victims reported losing $21M.
CBS NEWS – The period leading up to Valentine's Day sees a spike in online dating scams, with a significant increase in the use of bots and AI by scammers. According to Arkose Labs, dating apps experienced a 2087% rise in bot attacks from January 2023 to January 2024. These bots create fake profiles to initiate relationships and eventually convince victims to send money. In 2022, romance scams affected 70K people, resulting in $1.3B in reported losses, predominantly targeting individuals aged 51 to 60. Warning signs of potential scams include overly formal messages, inconsistent information, odd communication patterns, unrealistic photos, and requests for money.
by Ash-har Quraishi & Amy Corral
See full article at CBS News
GOV.UK – The "Stop! Think Fraud" national campaign, launched on Feb 12, 2024 by the Home Office and supported by counter-fraud experts, aims to combat fraud, which accounts for 40% of crime in England and Wales. The campaign introduces an online hub offering clear anti-fraud advice and support for victims. Key supporters include Match Group, alongside other major stakeholders, underlining the collaborative effort to address the UK's most prevalent crime.