It always feels like there’s a little extra love in the air as we approach Valentine’s Day. There’s likely a bit of love in our phones, too, especially for single folks this time of year, as many rush to online dating platforms in hopes of meeting someone special. 

Cupid’s arrow may not always hit true, as identity theft or catfishing can plague those looking for love. Make sure to partner up with Integrity this Valentine’s Day to ensure you and your loved ones are protected. 

Online Dating and Identity Fraud

The hit MTV show, Catfish, was a first glimpse into what online dating has become for many.  While websites like eHarmony or apps like Bumble might be great for connecting with a wide variety of people, you’re reliant on a stranger’s word.  This has opened the door for many to be scammed.

While putting yourself out there to meet new people is great, putting your personal information online can be risky.  Photos, personal details, like age and location, and even your interests can open you up to identity theft.  On the flip side, it is also easy to match with a profile whose information is stolen from someone else. 

Types of Online Dating Scams

Like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’ll find when looking for love online.  With an estimated $650 million lost in online romance schemes in America in 2023, it’s important to know what to look out for.

1. AI Generated Profiles: These are quickly becoming one of the most popular dating site scams.  While many people find AI useful for creating a profile that captures other users’ attention or crafting sweet messages, it’s becoming increasingly popular for users to use AI to enhance or replace their photos all together. 
2. Pig-Butchering Schemes: While “pig-butchering” doesn’t sound like a romantic phenomenon, it is commonly used by scammers.  Instead of just trying to scam money out of you, fraudsters will play the long game to get to know you and get more information out of you.  The more you tell them, the more likely you are to give up information that can lead to your identity being stolen. 
3. Love-Bombing: Love-bombing, or the practice of moving too quickly for comfort in relationships, is another common tactic used by fraudsters.  By buttering up matches with affection, scammers are much better suited to ask for favors or money. 
4. Long Distance Relationships: Most peoples’ goal when using online dating platforms is to eventually leave them and meet someone in real life.  However, many scammers will use distance as an excuse to keep from meeting in person.  They will often ask their matches to send money to help them afford a trip to finally meet in person. 

How to Protect Yourself Online 

With 7 out of 10 Americans losing money or being subject to identity theft because of online dating, it’s important to take precautions.  Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Be wary of what you put online: This may seem obvious, but it’s important to be cognizant of what you’re posting on your social media and dating profiles.  Are you giving away information that can be used against you or used to steal your information?
2. Take love offline: Get off the apps and meet in person! If you’re given excuse after excuse of why they can’t meet, it might be a red flag.  Suggesting a phone call or video chat can be a happy compromise, just make sure to listen closely to ensure that it isn’t an AI-generated voice or video. 
3. Do your homework: Look into your potential sweetheart and see if you can find their social media.  Does a picture look a little too good to be true?  Try reverse image searches to see if you’re being scammed.  
4. Use trusted platforms with verified profiles: Be careful when signing up for dating websites or apps.  Read their privacy policy to make sure your data is protected and that they verify users with pictures and/or document verification. 

Find a Partner with Integrity 

Integrity, a division of Aristotle, is here to help you protect yourself against online fraudsters and scammers with our orchestration approach to identity verification and validation. 

• Integrity AutoDoc and Integrity Document: We offer both automatic and manual document verification options to ensure that you’re compliant with local regulations and have a solution that fits your verification needs.  Our partners and agents are ready to help and are tested regularly to find potential fraud in document review and identity verification.
• Integrity Face-to-Face: We use secure video streaming to capture real-time photos for identity verification. The system integrates video technology, independent data verification, and two-factor authentication, rapidly responding to high-risk transactions. It is suitable for in-store processing, call centers, and online applications.

How can Integrity help you protect yourself against online romance scams this year? Click the “FREE DEMO” button in the upper right corner and a representative will suggest the proper solution to meet your needs.