Catfishing: be careful where your met your darling

PEER, a dating app with a non-anonymous environment, has recently disclosed their stats on scam rates. During August-October 2021 they had to remove over 15,000 unverified accounts due to safety risks. 

One of the major fake identity cases was related to Mike Herring, a US-based doctor. Since July, his profile got copied 6 times on Instagram and linked to different accounts on the dating app. So far, Mike has been trying to remove them from Instagram unsuccessfully.  

Some famous dating apps use Google Image Reverse Search to track scams, but in many cases like  Mike’s, it does not work.

Alarms to watch

• Your match’s account is not verified

• The user gives you  a Whatsapp business account number 

• He\she is a globetrotter or works on an oil rig, military base or with an international organization like the UN, Red Cross, etc 

• Can’t video talk or meet up

• Offers to help you with visa arrangements or wants to cover your flight, so he needs your ID details

• Offers you to invest in a crypto business together or suggests teaching you about crypto trading 

• Asks you to pay for something, including gift cards from Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Steam

Not everyone is a scammer and there are great guys out there. But if  you’ve noticed a few red flags and Google Image Reverse Search of your darling angel’s face does not help, try the following: 

• Request a video call tonight

• Slow down and stop responding for a while 

• Think about what personal info you may have already shared that  can be used against  you 

• Talk to your bank and to a friend about the situation if it’s gone too far. Grooming could last over 6 months.

Where to report the scam

• In the UK, please, contact ActionFraud 

• If you are using a dating app run by a US-based company, report the scam to the US Federal Trade Commission 

Scam has been happening for some time but nowadays more and more apps have devised ways to counter it. By following these tips and being vigilant, you can still enjoy all the conveniences that dating apps bring.