{"id":25160,"date":"2024-08-19T12:40:54","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T20:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=25160"},"modified":"2024-08-19T12:40:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T20:40:57","slug":"tinder-scams-to-protect-yourself-against","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/tinder-scams-to-protect-yourself-against\/","title":{"rendered":"Too Good To Be True: Tinder Scams To Watch Out For"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of life\u2019s hard truths is that when we go looking for \u2013 or at least swiping for \u2013 love, we often find heartbreak instead.  Sometimes it happens the old-fashioned way, from a relationship that just doesn\u2019t work out for whatever reason.  Other times, it happens when we right-swipe our way right into bad actors, phishers, and other perpetrators of Tinder scams.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plenty of Tinder scams<\/a> go down like any other: fake Tinder profiles and Tinder bots fool you into divulging private info one way or another, and from there get into your bank account \u2013 and a dating app where people put their hearts on their sleeves and their hopes on the line is unfortunately extra vulnerable to these shakedowns.\u00a0 Though no list of Tinder scams is totally conclusive, here are some of the most common threats you might encounter on the app, and how to swipe left on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phishing Scams and Tinder Bots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Often the contact you make after swiping on Tinder is simply the first step in a conventional phishing scam, or a common type of online scam that seeks to grab your private info for monetary gain.  Typically, a fake Tinder profile that you think is a real match will tempt you to click on a dubious link (\u201cWant to see some pictures from my private site?\u201d), where your device will be infected by information-gathering malware or where you\u2019ll be prompted to enter sensitive personal information, increasing your vulnerability to identity theft and financial theft alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we\u2019ll touch on later, the Tinder accounts in these cases are either fake Tinder profiles (i.e. a scammer under the guise of a made-up person, usually using stolen profile pics) or Tinder bots<\/a>, much like the software-driven chatbots companies use for technical support \u2013 and just about as sexy as a customer support bot, too.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, when it comes to Tinder scams, there are plenty of phishers in the sea.
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Tinder Investment Scams <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tinder\u2019s famously hookup-friendly slant isn\u2019t exactly entrepreneurial catnip, but scammers understand that physical and emotional attraction is the enemy of critical thinking, and they\u2019re happy to use this to their advantage by sneaking in some juicy \u201cinvestment opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how it goes down.  The scammer behind the fake Tinder profile (or Tinder bot) you\u2019ve swiped on starts chatting you up about making some easy money, usually leading to a plug for some sort of investment platform or app you\u2019ve never heard of.  Usually, this \u201copportunity\u201d is related to cryptocurrency.  You\u2019ll either end up sending your \u201cinvestment\u201d right to their bank account, or downloading malware disguised as an investing app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Two-Factor Method<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is that annoying-yet-safer login method that layers an extra protection measure on top of your username and password, like sending you an additional code via text message or email.\u00a0 And it\u2019s become so ubiquitous that scammers are jumping in on it. Perps of this Tinder scam will claim to you, after chatting for a while to gain your trust, that they can\u2019t log in to one of their accounts.\u00a0 They\u2019ll ask if they can send you their 2FA code instead.\u00a0 What\u2019s really happening is they\u2019re trying to log in to one of your <\/em>accounts protected by 2FA (like, let\u2019s say, your checking account).\u00a0 They might already have your username and password, and now all they need is for you to tell them that 2FA code.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"tinder<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Straight-Up Romance Scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even on Tinder, despite its quick hookup ethos, sometimes you\u2019ll click with someone but spend a long time interacting before meeting up in person.\u00a0 Not saying that can\u2019t be legit, but sometimes it\u2019s because you\u2019re being played by a romance scammer<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Romance scams play out on Tinder the same way they do anywhere else.  You connect, you vibe, you talk a whole lot (though you never meet in person), and then, inevitably, there\u2019s a request for money.  Usually, the scenario is plausible and relatable \u2014 car problems, a health issue, a bill, a canceled flight that needs to be rebooked \u2014 and can only be solved by a quick transfer of money.  Specifically, money from you to them, and oftentimes more than just once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is catfishing, and it\u2019s way less fun in real life than it is on reality TV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Totally Unsweet Sugar Babies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Related to regular old romance scams are what\u2019s called \u201csugaring\u201d scams<\/a> on Tinder.\u00a0 For better or worse, some people seek sugar babies on Tinder, which is an arrangement in which a wealthier \u201csugar mama\u201d or \u201csugar daddy\u201d pays someone \u2013 you guessed it, their \u201csugar baby\u201d \u2013 to be with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In these Tinder scams, fake sugar\u2026uh, parents pretend to be seeking sugar babies.  In the vein of classic grifts, they\u2019ll send you a large amount of money and ask for a smaller portion to be sent in return.  The money you receive bounces or otherwise gets rejected by your bank, but \u2013 spoiler \u2013 the money you sent to the fake Tinder profile goes through just fine.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Tinder Sextortion Scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s absolutely nothing sexy about these Tinder scams.  Here, a predator (often one posing as a young person to attract younger Tinder users) encourages the victim to share racy photos or videos, eventually pushing them further for more graphic material. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this sensitive media in hand, the scammer then blac<\/a>k<\/a>mails<\/a> the victim by threatening to circulate the photos or videos to real-life acquaintances, social media contacts, and co-workers unless they pony up a payment.\u00a0 Of course, paying them once just sets you up for a fresh set of increasingly large demands.\u00a0 It\u2019s as ugly a crime as anything the online world has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Tinder and\u2026Armed Robbery?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the kind of thing people tend to worry more about in the context of buy-sell meetup sites like Craigslist, but it does sometimes happen on Tinder and other dating sites.  Criminals will arrange a hookup between their \u201ctoo hot to be true\u201d fake Tinder profile and an unsuspecting victim, and then rob them under threats of violence, or worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while women are unfortunately conditioned to keep their guards up around sketchy meetups like this, on-record incidents of this type of crime have specifically targeted men<\/a>, too.\u00a0 It\u2019s as gender-agnostic as it is scary.
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The Tinder Promoter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On a less dire but still kind of annoying note, you can\u2019t escape influencers on Tinder.  These Tinder scams don\u2019t drain your bank accounts, but promoters (people hired by clubs, bars, and events to bring in crowds) will sometimes hide behind fake Tinder profiles to lure you out to an event, maybe pay the cover charge and two-drink minimum, and get their numbers up.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This one\u2019s thankfully more of an embarrassing waste of time than anything else, but no one wants to be ghosted by a lightweight scammer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"tinder<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stay Safe From Tinder Scams <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tinder\u2019s own help pages<\/a> dish out solid advice about protecting yourself on the platform.\u00a0 Don\u2019t sleep on Tinder\u2019s built-in messaging filters, which can detect and warn you about deceptive, potentially damaging behavior.\u00a0 Scammers know this, and will usually want to connect with you directly through WhatsApp or social media instead, which has the added bonus of giving them more personally identifiable information.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tinder scams largely rely on fake Tinder profiles or Tinder bots (autonomous programs that can chat with you) to rope you in.  Obviously, the scammer isn\u2019t out there providing their own name, location, and, likeness, and they\u2019ll often try to sweeten the deal by creating fake Tinder profiles using images of especially attractive models or extra spicy pics.  Use these tips to spot fake Tinder profile red flags, and when in doubt, do a bit of digging.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spot the Red Flags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n