Let’s face it – scammers exist, and they’re integrated into every aspect of people’s lives. Dating apps are no exception. There are plenty of individuals seeking to prey upon others’ weaknesses. How can one protect themselves from being scammed on online dating apps? Well, Tinder and other platforms are integrating a series of features to crack down on such individuals and stop the practice of romance scamming.
Introducing the Block Users Feature
Tinder executives recently announced adding a new feature to the dating app. As Rozy Kozoll, head of Safety Product Development, puts it, the initiative is designed to make using the app more comfortable for everyone. Hopefully, the feature will also help the app determine which users are scammers and take the appropriate steps to stop them from interacting with others. That’s not the only new feature, either.
Those who wish to file a complaint can now enjoy a hassle-free, simple, and, most importantly, faster complaint-filing process. The feature is called Long Press Reporting, and it’ll allow users to click on a shady message or hurtful comment and report it right away.
Challenges Dating Apps Have to Overcome
Kozoll has also touched upon many of the challenges dating apps have to face, including spam and scams. Tinder is known as one of the many dating apps emphasizing safety and trust during the world’s busiest love holiday – Valentine’s Day.
Hinge is another dating app trying to remove scammers from the game. Recently, the app sent an email to users with various helpful tips on how to sift through the scamming profiles. Tips include avoiding people in desperate need of money or those who offer a get-rich-quickly scheme.
Other companies have adopted AI-powered tools and manual ones to pick up scams by identifying potential problem profiles. Their aim is to determine which accounts are invalid. Previously, some online apps let users upload a picture that could be removed depending on its metadata.
Skepticism Is Due to Spot Scammers
Michael Steinbach, former Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s NS Branch, says fraud has changed a lot over the last few decades. National security has seen card thefts on the rise, but experts say many scammers get much better rewards when they spend some time getting the trust of their victims. That’s where dating apps come in.
Experts say it’s always advisable to approach online dating with a reasonable amount of skepticism. Looking at statistics, Steinbach advises users to keep all conversations on-platform until actual trust has been established. Moving the conversations to Telegram or other platforms can hide other risks.