Is Scamming in Dating Apps Becoming Prevalent?

In the local digital dating scene, love is no longer the only thing people are searching for.

Increasingly, users on popular dating apps are encountering a different kind of match, one that is looking to scam, deceive, or exploit.

Photo for illustration purposes only. Via Unsplash

A recent Reddit post has sparked an honest and worrying discussion about the types of scams users are facing on dating apps today.

From money laundering setups to sextortion threats, users are beginning to question whether dating apps have become more dangerous than dependable.

“He Told Me He Earned $40,000 a Month”

The original poster shared a recent match who claimed he earned $40,000 a month, owned a studio condo, drove a Porsche, and spoke often about carbon credit trading.

While the poster was not sure if it was a scam, they suspected it might be “too good to be true.”

Several commenters responded that they had seen similar ‘red flags’ and had even been targeted by scammers using the same themes, especially involving shady investment platforms.

Photo for illustration purposes only. Via Canva

One commenter recounted a story they had heard from a friend, where an acquaintance lost their parents’ life savings to someone they met on a dating app who lured them into a carbon credit investment.

The victim had been shown screenshots of the platform, which appeared real, until the money was gone.

Sextortion via Video Call: “She Asked Me to Have Some Fun.”

Another commenter described matching with a woman on a dating app, even with a verified profile, who quickly moved the conversation to another communication platform.

Once there, she asked for his Instagram and then requested a video call, saying she wanted to “have some fun.”

The tactic was to get the user to expose themselves or do something compromising on video, then threaten to send the footage to their Instagram followers unless they paid money.

This kind of sextortion scam, especially when paired with a fast escalation to video calling, is a growing tactic among scammers posing as romantic interests.

When Verification Isn’t Enough

Another Reddit user shared that certain dating apps now have two types of verification: the white tick, which is based on photo verification, and a newer blue tick linked to Singpass.

The commenter explained that the white tick verification seems to have been compromised. He matched with someone who asked for his WhatsApp number right away.

After giving his number, he was unmatched, and no message ever came through. The next day, he received a cold call.

It made him suspect that phone numbers were being collected and sold in databases.

Investment Traps That Start With Compliments

Another theme in the comments was the “money talk”.

Multiple users shared that scammers often began by talking about how much they earn, or how well they’ve done financially.

Then, gradually, they would steer the conversation toward investment opportunities.

One commenter said the scammer was “pretty good and very patient,” which made it hard to suspect anything at first.

But soon, the commenter noticed something odd, especially when the person suggested they quit their job and invest in an online store.

Another echoed this point, stating: “Anytime anyone starts talking about investment or helping with money, it’s a scam, ok? No need to ask more.”

When Dating Turns Into a Pitch

Not all scams are elaborate. One user said they matched with a woman who tried to sell them insurance.

While that is not technically illegal, it is an uncomfortable and misleading use of dating platforms. It shows how some people may use apps with hidden agendas unrelated to dating.

What Users Are Learning: The Hard Way

From the experiences shared, it is becoming increasingly obvious that users are starting to recognise the patterns behind dating app scams.

A common takeaway among commenters was that, if someone starts talking about investments, boasts about how much they earn, or quickly asks for your contact details, chances are, it is not romance they are after.

Featured images courtesy of Canva.