Internet Dating Scam List: Your Guide to Safe Online Dating

Telegram Romance Scams

Because Telegram is so popular and user-friendly, scammers are drawn to it. After all, you can create an account with just your phone number.

Telegram romance scams are fraudulent schemes that either occur on the app itself or are meant to draw users off of it and into a more dangerous third-party site.

For example, suppose you’ve been talking to someone you met through a Telegram channel. After a while, you find yourself sharing intimate details about your life.

Then out of the blue, they tell you they have an emergency and request financial assistance. By sending them money or personal information, you risk losing it forever and revealing private information about your identity to a stranger.

Other examples of common scams that happen on Telegram are traditional phishing schemes and sophisticated bot attacks that have operators posing as customer service representatives to gain your trust.

WhatsApp Romance Scams

WhatsApp is another known platform that you can use to communicate with friends and family. However, romance scams on the app are also something you need to be aware of.

Someone you met on another app suggesting you move your conversations to WhatsApp is very common.

Over several weeks, if not months, the scammer encourages a romantic relationship with you, gaining your trust before asking for money or convincing you to share sensitive personal information.

If someone you are chatting with has a suspicious profile picture, such as one that appears too perfect, does not show their full face, or even features a celebrity, be wary.

It is highly possible that they are lying. A common indicator of catfishing dating scams is a fabricated online persona used to deceive others.

Coffee Meets Bagel Scams

Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) is an app that promotes genuine chances for love.

Although it acknowledges that fraudulent users negatively affect the dating experience, scammers have been known to circumvent its protections and infiltrate the platform, making it part of this internet dating scam list.

One typical example is when a woman you met there starts talking about saving money through investments. Their primary goal is to establish a romantic relationship with you before persuading you to sign up for their cryptocurrency program.

On websites like Reddit, some users have voiced their dissatisfaction, pointing out issues with CMB’s lack of openness in handling incidents and possible data leaks.

This is why it’s important to remember that while searching for love across hundreds of dating apps, you should carefully select those that have demonstrated superior data security over time.

Intimate Activity Scams

Intimate activity scams, a type of romance scam, typically involve criminals creating fake online identities to gain a victim’s trust. They often use stolen photos to attract victims to dating or social media sites.

Victims are then asked to connect with them through a video call so they can chat. The scammer’s camera, however, is mysteriously broken, and they use flattery and manipulation to persuade the victim to undress or perform intimate acts for them.

The scammer will eventually reveal their true identity and claim to have recorded your video calls. They will threaten to share it on social media or with mutual friends unless you send them money. Once you comply, the scammer’s demands rise, and they will continue to extort as much money as they can out of you.

Malware Scams

Even legitimate dating sites are not exempt from the widespread threat of malware scams.

For example, a match may have several exchanges with you and then offer you further information on their personal web page or even a fake Facebook profile.

However, these are not authentic pages. Instead, you are being taken to a website that is infected with spam and malware, which can let scammers steal your personal information and cause financial fraud and identity theft.

Claiming that your device has a problem and offering to "fix" it, these scammers also pose as tech support agents. This way, they obtain remote access to install malware.

So make sure to avoid opening attachments or clicking links in emails or messages right away. If anyone on an online dating site ever wants to direct you to another platform, it’s good practice to consider that a red flag and respond accordingly.

Romance Inheritance Scams

In romance inheritance scams, fraudsters use fake online identities to build a romantic relationship. They then manipulate you into believing they need money to inherit a large sum, often gold, from a deceased relative. They might also say that their relative’s will requires marriage for them to inherit the money.

Once the scammer has established rapport with you, they will offer to fly to your country to prove their authenticity, putting you under pressure to send money for their flight with the promise of sharing the inheritance once the issue has been resolved.

Obviously, the scammer never shows up after you give them their requested funds.

Even though receiving a sizable inheritance from someone seems like a dream come true, it is crucial to spot the warning signs of these scams.

Think about it: why would a complete stranger leave you with a large sum of money?