Category: Scammer

Rising Threat of Catfishing: Understanding and Combating Online Identity Deception

Posted on January 31, 2024

CatfishingCNN – Catfishing, where a person creates a false online identity to deceive others is a growing issue in the digital age. Common motives include lack of confidence, the desire to explore sexual preferences, or engage in relationships outside of real-life constraints. Studies reveal that catfish are often educated men, sometimes from religious backgrounds, and may exhibit traits of sadism, psychopathy, and narcissism. In the U.S., romance scams from catfishing have led to significant financial losses, with $740M lost in 2022 alone. The UK and Singapore also report high losses from romance fraud. Financial losses are particularly high among older victims. Cybersecurity experts suggest vigilance in online interactions to spot potential catfish, such as inconsistencies in stories and reluctance to meet or video call.

by Sen Nguyen
See full article at CNN

Mark Brooks: The key thing that we aim to deliver with online dating services is real people. That's what users pay for – Introductions to real people that will do them no harm. Most quality dating apps have an arsenal of tools to weed out rogues and catfish. Both internal and external. I would like to recommend to you the dating-context-specific tool RealMe. RealMe is an easy-to-integrate platform to protect your users and build trust through simple user verification and seamless background checks – all while providing a new revenue stream. They are a long-term supporter of OPW and my team and I have worked closely with them so their service is specific for dating. Please email me directly and it will be my pleasure to introduce you to them.

Rising Dating Scams in Netherlands: ~€7.6 Million Lost in 2023

Posted on January 30, 2024

Rising Dating Scams in Netherlands: ~€7.6 Million Lost in 2023NL TIMES – In 2023, Dutch victims lost ~€7.6M to dating scams, a 75% increase from the previous year. Of the 494 reported victims, 264 suffered financial damage, with average losses of €30K each. This rise is linked to investment fraud tactics used by scammers. To tackle this, the Fraud Help Desk, in collaboration with Tinder and Victim Support Netherlands, launched a campaign to educate online daters about spotting fraud.

See full article at NL Times

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Dating Safety: Cost or Revenue, After-thought or By-design and How the Garbo Experiment Actually Proved the Model – Neil Davis, CBO of RealMe

Posted on January 25, 2024

LTR – Neil Davis, CBO of RealMe, delves into the dichotomy of dating safety as a cost or revenue opportunity in his presentation. He challenges the conventional view of safety as a mere expense, suggesting that prioritizing it can lead to increased user engagement and revenue. Davis cites the decline of Spark Networks, emphasizing the real-world impact of safety issues on dating platforms. RealMe offers user verification and background checks as solutions, highlighting their role in compliance with regulations and enhancing user trust. The presentation discusses the flawed Garbo experiment, acknowledging user demand for safety measures. Davis concludes by emphasizing the revenue-generating potential of safety features, citing increased user engagement, lower churn, and higher monetization as potential benefits.

The January LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com

Online Dating Safety Law Takes Effect in Utah

Posted on January 3, 2024

New lawKUTV – Utah's new Online Dating Safety Law, House Bill 18, aims to enhance safety for users of dating apps. Sponsored by Rep. Angela Romero, it requires dating apps to disclose background check policies, provide safety tips, and inform users about banned individuals. The law was prompted by a BYU study highlighting risks of sexual assault from online dating encounters, especially among vulnerable populations. It mandates clear reporting mechanisms for violence or scams and emphasizes the importance of consent. The bill, which received unanimous support and was signed by Governor Spencer Cox, reflects a move towards greater transparency and user protection in online dating.

by Daniel Woodruff
See full article at KUTV

Dating App Down Is Using AI to Catch Catfishers

Posted on December 15, 2023

DOWN AI catfisher detectionWOMEN LOVE TECH – Colin Hodge, founder of the Down Dating App, uses AI to combat catfishing. The app employs AI to detect fake profiles and scams by analyzing user conversations and photos. Initially, terms like "money" triggered flags, leading to false bans, but AI has improved accuracy by understanding context. Face detection technology helps identify and block scammers more efficiently. This approach has significantly increased user matches and overall user satisfaction, making the app both safer and more effective for its users.

by Marie-Antoinette Issa
See full article at Women Love Tech

See the top news on DOWN

State of Internet Scams 2023

Posted on December 14, 2023

State of Internet Scams 2023SOCIAL CATFISH – In 2022, Americans lost a record $10.3B to online scams, a 277% increase from five years ago, with the average loss per victim rising to $12,859. Social Catfish's "State of Internet Scams 2023" study, based on FBI and FTC data, reveals alarming trends:

  • 81% of romance scam victims didn't report their experiences, often due to shame.
  • Only 4.2% of stolen funds were recovered, mainly due to jurisdictional issues, as most scams originate outside the U.S.
  • Young people (under 20) showed a 2,500% increase in money lost over five years, though seniors remain the most victimized group.
  • Most online scams occur on social media platforms like Facebook, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Plenty of Fish.
  • The emergence of AI technologies like voice cloning and deepfake videos raises new challenges in online scams.
  • The United States leads in the number of online scam victims.

by Osaji Obi
See full article at Social Catfish

Romance Scam Victims Launch Support Website, Seek Greater Police Action

Posted on November 28, 2023

LoveSaidTHE GUARDIAN – Cecilie Fjellhøy and Anna Rowe, victims of romance fraud, have established LoveSaid, a platform to support others similarly affected. Fjellhøy, conned out of $250K by a man posing as a high-level diamond trader, and featured in Netflix's "The Tinder Swindler," is taking action after experiencing a lack of serious response from law enforcement. Rowe, deceived and sexually exploited by a man she believed loved her, faced initial police dismissiveness and became a self-made investigator, uncovering multiple similar cases. Data from Lloyds Bank shows a 30% increase in romance scams last year, affecting more men and particularly targeting individuals aged 65 to 74. The City of London police reported ~8K fraud cases resulting in losses exceeding £92M in the last financial year.

by Diane Taylor
See full article at The Guardian

Garbo Founder Kathryn Kosmides Calls for Systemic Online Safety Reforms Amid Silicon Valley’s Waning Interest

Posted on November 14, 2023

Garbo logo for social mediaFORTUNE – Kathryn Kosmides, founder and CEO of Garbo, developed technology to reduce violence against women in online dating. Despite initial interest from Silicon Valley, companies quickly shifted focus once they received positive publicity and regulatory pressures eased. Kosmides observes a decline in the tech industry's commitment to trust and safety, with significant cutbacks in teams and budgets. She highlights three challenges exacerbating gender-based violence online: high costs and limited access to background checks, underreporting of offenses by victims, and tech platforms' failure to address repeat perpetrators effectively. Kosmides calls for government action, including a unified reporting system for gender-based violence, updating the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and regulating access fees to public records. She emphasizes the need for systemic change to ensure online safety and hold tech companies accountable.

by Kathryn Kosmides
See full article at Fortune

Scams Targeting Veterans Are on the Rise

Posted on November 14, 2023

ScammersMARKETWATCH – Fraudsters often focus on veterans because of the benefits and programs available to them. Government officials and the Department of Veterans Affairs warn that scams are on the rise. The FTC received 150k+ reports of scams from veterans and military retirees that cost them over $414 million in 2022, up 50% from 2021.

  • Romance Scams – target widows and widowers. "If you are a senior citizen and a veteran, scammers have more than one way to play on your heartstrings," said Mark Kapczynski, of OneRep, a service that helps people remove personal information from the web.
  • Imposter Scams – Fraudsters masquerade as a government agency or company helping veterans access programs. Charging for military records – Unscrupulous actors have sometimes set up and advertised  sites where one can collect military service records or medical records for a fee.
  • Military pension fraud – Veterans' pensions are a big target for scammers. Most of these offers propose to invest money for a fee.
  • Mortgage fraud – Illegitimate agents get veterans to refinance their loans for high fees. Some fraudsters ask to sign over title of a property!

by Lukas I. Alpert
See full article at Marketwatch

Bipartisan Bill Cracks Down on Dating App Scams That Cost Victims $1 Billion a Year

Posted on November 1, 2023

Dating appsFOX NEWS – House lawmakers, led by Republican Rep. David Valadao and Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen, are proposing the Online Dating Safety Act to combat the increasing scams on dating apps that led to victims losing ~$1B in a year. If approved, the bill would mandate dating apps to notify users if they've interacted with banned individuals who've used fake identities or intended fraud. The Federal Trade Commission reported that in 2022, about 70K individuals were victims of romance scams, with a median loss of $4,400, totaling losses ~$1.3B. Most scams involved claims of personal emergencies, investment insights, or being in the military.

by Elizabeth Elkind
See full article at Fox News