How to Spot Romance Scams on Hinge, Tinder, and Online Dating Platforms

What are Romance Scams?

Romance scams are when a scammer uses a fake online identity on dating apps or dating sites to show affection and gain trust from a victim. Popular dating apps, such as Tinder, Hinge, or Bumble, are trending platforms that all users should be careful of.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2022, roughly $1.3 billion was lost to romance scams and 70,000 people have reported they encountered a romance scam. The average loss per victim is estimated to be $4,400.

Love is a powerful force that can make people do some crazy things. No matter how sensible we usually are, when it comes to matters of the heart, our decision-making abilities can become skewed. That would explain why romance scams, also known as confidence scams, are one of the most common scams affecting people today. They result in the highest amount of financial losses compared to other Internet-facilitated crimes. 

Military Romance Scam

A military romance scam is a scammer claiming to be a deployed military member serving far away, such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and more. These scammers will do the following:

• Steal real images from the official military personnel
• Request cash from you to apply for “leave request” in order to visit you
• Request money from you to pay for their food and medical treatment
• Ask for care packages by directing you to a fake military website that looks official
• Confess their love for you instantly
• Express that they can’t wait to be with you
• Cannot talk on phone or go on FaceTime or in front of webcam
• Improper grammar or English

While love may cloud our judgment at times, there are some glaring red flags you can look out for to make sure you don’t fall victim to a scam while falling in love. 

Red Flags in Romance Scams

1. They rush the relationship

Scammers tend to create a sense of urgency in their victims by proclaiming their love for them early in their online relationships. They often insist on moving their conversations to private platforms outside the dating app to create an “intimate setting.” This is one of the earliest warning signs of a scammer as they are trying to isolate their target.

2. They won’t video chat

While chatting privately, they may offer to send non-consensual pictures or even ask for nude photos. They may hesitate to video call with their victim despite providing multiple reasons for avoiding it. However, with the advent of generative AI, scammers have been reported to exploit deepfake technology and voice generators to execute video chatting. Look for unnatural blinking, uneven skin tones, distorted audio, and inconsistent elements.

3. They use cliches 

Often you’ll find that online scammers use cliches, such as “happily-ever-after,” or tell their victims what they want to hear, i.e., “we’re meant to be.” They might also have difficulty explaining specifics about their personal life, such as where they went to school or what they do for a living. Be curious and ask lots of questions. 

4. They always have a reason not to meet

Scammers often offer reasons why they can’t meet immediately. This could be anything from canceled flights to lost passports. If you’ve been messaging for a long time and they still can’t meet, you are likely dealing with a scammer (or someone who is just not that into you). 

5. They ask for money

Once they’ve established a connection, online romance scammers create scenarios that require a large sum of money, such as an unexpected family emergency, expensive medical bills, or travel visas to meet their victim. If you end up paying them once, they will keep asking repeatedly. If someone asks you for money while courting you, remember the wise words of Jennifer Lopez, “Love don’t cost a thing.” 

Tips to Avoid Romance Scams

Scammers pay close attention to the information you share online and use it to build rapport with you. If they sound too good to be true, they probably are. To stay ahead of the scammers, remember these tips:

• Limit the personal information you post online, and be cautious about the audience you share it with.
• Don’t accept messages or friend requests from people you do not know (no matter what they look like)
• Never send money to someone you have not met in person, especially if they ask you to send it through cryptocurrency. 
• Remove your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from people search and data broker websites to prevent it from getting into scammers’ hands. 

What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed

If you suspect you or someone you know may be involved with a romance scammer:

• Stop contact with the person. 
• Report the scam to the police or the FBI.
• File a complaint at ic3.gov
• If you paid the scammer, contact your bank (or other financial institutions) to mark the charges as fraud to get your money back. 
• Know that you are not alone – this is a common mistake, and resources are available to help you get back on your feet. 

It’s important to remember that there are many online romance scammers out there who are experts at crafting elaborate stories to manipulate their victims emotionally and financially. Always stay vigilant and be safe while navigating the world of online dating. 

Online Dating Scammer List

• Initiating a Video Call: Profile pictures looks too good to be true. They either look like they’re a model or actor with no flaws. For these situations, consider initiating a video call through platforms like FaceTime, SnapChat, or verify their identity by asking for their social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
  • Try this dialogue: “I always feel more connected when I can see the person I’m chatting with. Would you up for a FaceTime or Skype Call sometime?
• Avoid direct questions: They avoid responding to direct questions, such as being asked about their personal life, history, or occupation.
  • Try this dialogue: “I feel like we skipped over some of the fun getting-to-know-you questions. Can your share more about your hometown?”
• Rushing intimacy: If someone is expressing their love or interest in you prematurely or deeply, try to engage in longer conversations. This can be done through voice prompts, voice notes, or video messages.
  • Try this dialogue: “I’m really enjoying getting to know you, but I prefer to take things slow and build a solid foundation. I hope you understand.”
• Asking for Money: Always be skeptical of financial requests, especially if they try to incorporate emotion into the situation. Reach out to friends, family, or trusted ones for a second opinion.
  • Try this dialogue: “I’m concerned about your situation, but I’m not comfortable sending money. Maybe I can help you find other solutions or resources?
• Unknown links or attachments: Never click on links or attachments from unknown senders without thoroughly verifying the sender’s email address. Educate yourself on digital safety and scan the URL for malicious intent.
  • Try this dialogue: “Just as a precaution, I avoid opening direct or unknown links. Can you provide a brief about what it’s about?

Female Scammer Pictures Search

Concerned about being catfished, scammed, or want to verify an image? Then, go to Google and click on the camera icon in the search bar. If you want a thorough run through via video, then watch this 2 minute clip on how to spot scammers using Google images.

Remember, the purpose of romance scams is to hurt the victim financially and steal one’s identity. Learn more about red flags of identity theft.

Categorised in: Scams

This post was written by Staff Writer