Scams to Watch Out For On: Tinder

1. What is Tinder?
2. Tinder Scams You Should Know About
3. Red Flags of Tinder Scams
4. How to Beat Tinder Scams
5. How Tinder Protects Users

Tinder may be full of chances for meeting the love of your life, but the dating app is unfortunately also home to many scammers who are far more interested in connecting with your bank account than with you. Luckily, some tips and tools may help you look out for these types of Tinder scams and stop someone from swiping your money after swiping your picture.

What is Tinder?

Tinder is an app for meeting people—whether that's for a quick hookup, a friendship, or a serious relationship.

Launched in 2012, the app skyrocketed in popularity thanks to its easy expansion of the dating pool, but possibly even more so for its game-like platform, which turned searching for a suitable suitor into an addictive action.

A carousel of prospective partners in your general area—selected based on several preferences you can set—are presented one at a time, and accepting or rejecting their potential is as easy as swiping right (for 'like') or left (for 'pass'). If someone you've liked also swipes right for you, the budding relationship is honored with the opportunity to start chatting.

And fast-casual daters today have more options than ever, with more than 6.6 million Tinder users worldwide reportedly making more than 1 billion swipes a day. But that rise in use hasn't been without its rise in controversy, as the app's strange straddling of anonymity and opportunity have been exploited for any number of unsavory plots.

Tinder Scams You Should Know About

Unfortunately, Tinder's unique setup makes it an easy platform for scammers to try out all sorts of tricks. Here are some of the most common scams people encounter while using the app.

Tinder Catfishing Scam

Perhaps the most infamous scam impacting the app, the Tinder catfishing scam, involves someone posing as someone else—whether that be someone else entirely or just a more conventionally attractive version of themselves.

The point is: The person on the app isn't real. And neither is their supposed affection.

Tinder catfishers will do or say whatever it takes to gain your trust—and win your love. Then, once you're hooked, they'll start asking for financial help, bank account details, or any other helpful information they can wrangle out of you.

Heartbreakingly, the time and effort typically put into this long con can make detecting it especially difficult.

Tinder Bot Scam

Like the Tinder catfishing scam—but for robots.

The advancement of technology may be impressive, but it's not always used for the common good. These "bots" have enticing profiles and are programmed to swipe right on everyone to cast the widest net possible.

Once the matches start rolling in, the bot will send out messages, masquerading as a person but directing you to malicious websites set up to steal your information, sign you up for pricy website subscriptions, or install malware on your device.

Tinder Malware Scam

Another outgrowth of bot/catfishing Tinder scams, this is typically perpetrated by people swiping right on everyone.

Instead of a bot sending out a potentially easy-to-detect default message with a link, this scam involves someone taking the time to chat with you. They then offer to send more information about themselves, whether to share a bigger picture of who they are or even to prove to you that they are who they say they are.

To do so, they'll send a link, possibly to their personal website, Facebook page, or Instagram account. But, instead, this link will download malware on your computer or phone, which will go on to help the scammer gain access to your details.

Tinder Code Scam

Also known as the Tinder account verification scam or the Tinder verify scam, this is a much more widespread type of trick, just applied to a different platform.

In a Tinder code scam, you'll be informed via email or text that you need to "verify" your Tinder account. Typically, the message includes a few vague reasons why—like that Tinder is "updating its records."

The messages will include a link to follow to verify your account. The site may ask for information ranging from your name and birthday to your credit card number to "verify your identity," but any information you enter will be sent instead directly to scammers.

Tinder Blackmail Scam

One of the oldest tricks in the book—with a modern twist.

People will use their Tinder account to reel in matches and exploit them in many perverse ways.

Some may make a play to elicit illicit photos, then use those as leverage, threatening to disseminate them if you don't pay up. Others may target married individuals or others with a lot to lose and use the connections they make over the app or elsewhere to extract hush money.

Red Flags of Tinder Scams

When it comes to Tinder scams, as with so much else, knowledge is power.

Knowing what to look out for can help you stop a Tinder scam before it even starts. And knowing how to shut down the situation can help, even if it's already begun.

Scammers are constantly evolving their schemes—and the introduction of bots to the mix may make it even more challenging to spot a Tinder scam. Add in the emotional state that guides many people through their use of the app—whether it's the desperation for a relationship or the desire for a hookup—and it becomes even easier for scammers to operate.

But if you notice any of these red flags, they may be signaling a Tinder scam:

• A profile with any of the following:
  • Between 1-3 very similar-looking photos.
  • Just one very provocative photo.
  • Glamour shots or professional modeling shots only.
  • Limited or no information.
• A conversation with a match that:
  • Happens right away. Most bots will almost automatically respond to a match.
  • Gets very suggestive, very quickly.
  • Gets very emotional, very quickly.
  • Involves strange or seemingly unconnected answers to questions. This might be the sign of a chatbot.
• A match that:
  • Sends you a link for any reason.
  • Asks for nude or illicit photos, especially early on.
  • Asks for money or sensitive personal details for any reason.
  • Asks to take the conversation to a different platform, like Whatsapp, Snapchat, or even texting.
  • Lives far away or won't make committed plans to see you.

How to Beat Tinder Scams

If you think you're dealing with a Tinder scam, don't worry. There are a few ways to stop the situation:

• Never send any Tinder matches money, financial information, or sensitive personal details, including your:
  • Social Security number.
  • Home address.
  • Daily routine information for you or your family.
• Keep conversations on the Tinder platform during the "getting to know you" phase. The app offers some protections (more below) that aren't available on other platforms.
• Never open any links sent to you by a Tinder match.
• If you think you're dealing with a bot, ask a very complicated or specific question. The algorithm will struggle to create a coherent response.
• Don't send compromising photos—especially if you haven't met the person in real life.

When it comes to Tinder verify scams, you should also know that the app only asks certain public figures or brands to officially "verify" their accounts or identities.

Further, Tinder will never ask you to verify through a third party.

Contact Details

Tinder

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• General Enquiries
• Report Fraud

Website: https://tinder.com/
Contact page: https://www.help.tinder.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

Contact page: https://www.help.tinder.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

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Verified Contact Details

It's important to verify links and contact details to beat imposters.

How Tinder Protects Users

As the number of Tinder users—and Tinder scams—has continued to rise, Tinder itself has stepped in, rolling out some initiatives to help keep swipers safe.

Keeping your conversations within the app may be helpful, as Tinder has created something called a Safe Message Filter, which scans for inappropriate or chatbot messages and may be able to alert Tinder's scam protection team of potential issues.

You can also report any problems directly to Tinder, either online or through the app itself. Report users through the app by:

• Going to your match list, swiping left on a row, and tapping the report button.
• Going to your message screen and tapping on the flag icon.
• Go to a person's profile page, hit the three dots, and then select the "Report" option.

If you think a Tinder scammer got a hold of your financial information or has stolen your identity, you should:

• Report the incident to:
  • Your bank and credit card companies.
  • The Federal Trade Commission.
• Freeze any credit or debit cards involved.
• Change all of your passwords.
• Keep a close eye on your financial accounts and activity.

And for more severe problems, including stalking or harassment, you can and should also contact your local police as soon as possible.

Remember: You're never sure exactly who you're talking to online. Be safe!