Category: Scammer

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

Half of Gen-Z Have Been Catfished: Should Dating Apps Have Mandatory Verifications?

Posted on October 24, 2023

Should Dating Apps Have Mandatory Verifications?YAHOO LIFE – Dating apps are under scrutiny as calls for mandatory profile verification grow louder. This demand comes in response to concerns about issues like catfishing and sextortion that can negatively impact user experience and the reputation of dating platforms. According to studies by The Cyber Helpline, 49% of Gen Z have been victims of sextortion catfishing crimes, with 90% having to make changes to their everyday life because of this, and 74% feeling it has impacted their physical safety. Mandatory profile verification can enhance user trust and reduce the risk of users encountering misleading or fake profiles.

by Hannah Millington
See ull article at Yahoo Life

Why Did Garbo Fail? Unraveling Its Unmet Potential With Match Group & Tinder

Posted on September 27, 2023

RealMeREALME – Dating apps are facing trust issues due to many fake profiles and a 800% increase in scams. Match Group incorporated Garbo in an attempt to enhance user safety, but despite its substantial user base and noble goals, it failed to deliver. Here's why Garbo failed and how RealMe could potentially fill the gaps left by Garbo.

User Experience Dilemma: Despite having 2.5M users, Garbo provided a fractured experience, forcing users to leave the primary dating platform, impacting user retention and Match's credibility.
Information Dependency: Garbo didn't work well because it needed users to know a lot about their potential matches early on, which is hard during the beginning of online interactions.
Absence of User Verification: Garbo didn't check if users were real, which is important for correct background checks.

The RealMe Solution
Integrated User Experience: By partnering with apps like Say Allo, The RealMe offers an uninterrupted, in-app experience, maintaining user engagement.
Simplified Search Process: A simple click on any profile initiates the search, with no need for users to know extensive info about their matches.
Comprehensive Background Checks: RealMe's extensive scan across 389 data sources offers a complete background check.
User Verification: The distinctive badge on profiles verified by The RealMe ensures genuine interactions and significantly reduces the risk of encountering fake users.
Ease of Integration: The service can be easily integrated into existing platforms.

Garbo's endeavor with Match Group showed there is a substantial demand for trust-building tools in online dating. However, the lack of a seamless user experience and comprehensive services hindered its success. The Real Me addresses these limitations, offering a more inclusive and robust solution. 

See full article at RealMe

Australian Government Threatens Regulation on Dating Apps to Boost User Safety

Posted on September 18, 2023

Dating apps on screenABC – The federal government in Australia is threatening to regulate dating apps unless they improve user safety by the middle of next year. A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology revealed that three-quarters of online daters had experienced some form of online sexual violence in the past five years. Experts highlight the need for better complaint handling and clearer communication from the apps when reports are made. The government suggests that the industry could develop technology to proactively protect users and is willing to enforce this through legislation if voluntary measures fail. Key areas for improvement include complaint handling, collaborating with law enforcement, and embedding safety features into the apps.

by Matthew Doran
See full article at ABC

FTC Charges Two Online Background Check Companies for Allegedly Deceptive Practices

Posted on September 15, 2023

FTC Charges Two Online Background Check Companies for Allegedly Deceptive Practices8KPAX – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charging online background check companies Instant Checkmate and TruthFinder for allegedly deceiving customers. The FTC claims that the companies inaccurately reported criminal or arrest records based on minor infractions like traffic tickets and failed to verify the accuracy of their data. By advertising their services for tenant and employment screening, the companies fall under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and have violated it by not ensuring the accuracy of their reports. The FTC is seeking a combined fine of $5.8M. Despite these allegations, both companies maintain A+ ratings with the Better Business Bureau.

See full article at 8KPAX

Tinder Combats Romance Scams in Southeast Asia

Posted on August 29, 2023

TinderMARKETING INTERACTIVE – Tinder has launched a campaign to protect Southeast Asian users from romance scams. Users are alerted about potential scams upon app launch and provided safety resources. In Singapore, users are directed to Scam Alert SG, while others access Tinder's Romance Scam guide. The initiative is part of Tinder's commitment to safety, with their parent company, Match Group, removing ~5M spam accounts in early 2023.

by Camillia Dass
See full article at Marketing Interactive

See the top news on Tinder

Background Check Provider Garbo Ends Its Partnership With Match Group

Posted on August 18, 2023

Tinder Garbo background checksTECH CRUNCH – Tech nonprofit Garbo has ended its collaboration with Match Group, which began in 2021 to enhance user safety. Garbo offered background checks focusing on violent histories for Match's apps, including Tinder. However, after criticisms and reported internal disagreements, Garbo is ceasing its background check service to concentrate on new digital safety technologies. The move comes amidst leadership changes at Match and differing views on the implementation of Garbo's tools. Garbo expressed disappointment in Match Groups' lack of commitment.

by Sarah Perez
See full article at Tech Crunch

Also read the Wall Street Journal article

Mark Brooks: Background checks are a very tough nut to crack and require extremely nuanced knowledge on how to combine numerous databases to properly serve our dating context. This challenge remains undone, but there are a couple of promising providers.

See the top news on Match Group

BrightSwipe Introduces Person Verification Tool

Posted on August 10, 2023

BrightSwipe logoPRESS RELEASE – BrightSwipe has released a person verification and criminal history check solution. Available for iPhone and on the Google Play Store, the tool aids users in confirming the identities of potential matches in online dating or social interactions. It provides checks against catfishing, offers reports on a match's criminal background, and validates social media accounts to determine authenticity. The aim is to bolster confidence and safety in online interactions.

See full article at PR Newswire

RealMe and Unpack’d Technologies Join Forces to Eliminate Fake Profiles on Dating Apps

Posted on July 12, 2023

Sayallo logoPR NEWSWIRE – RealMe, an online safety platform, and Unpack'd Technologies, a smart dating app developer, have partnered to eliminate fake profiles in dating apps. This move will introduce enhanced profile and background verification features, starting with the "smart dating app," Say Allo.

See full article at PR Newswire

See the top news on Say Allo
See the top news on RealMe