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Scams and fakes
Every common scam, how it works and how to shut it down.
What catfishing is, and how it differs from a romance scam
A catfish uses fake photos or a false life. A romance scammer does the same, but to steal money. Both avoid meeting in person; only one plans theft.
Checklist before you send money to someone you met online
Never send money to someone you have not met in person. Even after, use caution: watch for urgency, secrecy, fees, gift cards, crypto or investment tips.
Should you believe a message saying someone has a video of you?
If you never sent intimate images or undressed on camera, it is almost certainly a bluff: block, report and move on.
How to cope after a romance scam
Expect shame and grief as well as money worry. Tell one person, finish the practical steps, and get support if it lingers.
Should you date online again after a romance scam?
Yes, when you feel ready. One rule stops most scams from working: never send money to someone you have not met in person.
How the sudden emergency money request scam works
After weeks of warm chat, a match hits a crisis and needs money today. This is a scam pattern, and you stay safe by saying no to anyone you have not met in person.
What to say to end contact with a suspected scammer
One line with no reason, then block and report. Don't explain how you worked it out; that gives them another chance to convince you.
How fake cheque scams work on dating sites
A fake cheque shows as cleared in days but bounces weeks later, leaving you to repay all of it. Here is what happens and how to protect yourself.
How to tell a fake payment notice from a real one
Check your own banking app and nothing else. A screenshot, email or text saying money is pending until you pay a fee is a scam, every time.
How the fake "verification fee" scam works
A match requests a verification fee to confirm you are real. The fee and any ID you send go to the scammer, not Dateable.
What to do in the first hour after you pay a scammer
Call your bank or payment provider first, then stop contact, save the evidence and report. Gift cards, crypto and shared passwords each need one more step.
What to say to a friend you think is being scammed
Ask questions instead of arguing. Use scripts to open the talk, handle defensiveness, and offer practical help like a reverse image search.
How gift card scams work on dating sites
A scammer asks you to buy a gift card and send the code; once they have it, the money is gone and they disappear.
Should you give a partner a gift card?
Yes, if you hand over a wrapped card in person to someone you have met. Never send codes by message on request: that is the pattern a scammer uses.
How romance scammers build trust before they ask for money
Scammers groom you first: weeks of attention, declarations of love, and small tests before the first money request, so it feels like helping someone you know.
How sextortion works on dating apps
A scammer flirts, records your intimate image, then threatens to send it to family and friends unless you pay. Never send images to someone you have not met.
How to keep evidence of a dating scam before you block
Screenshot the profile, messages and receipts before blocking, so police and your bank can investigate the scam.
What to lock down after a scammer gets your details
Change your email and banking passwords the same day. Turn on multi-factor authentication, call your phone provider and contact IDCARE if they have ID.
How to make your profile a harder target for scammers
Leave out your phone number, address, surname, workplace and anything about money troubles. A profile that gives nothing away stops scammers before they start.
What to say when a match keeps putting off meeting
If they keep making excuses not to meet, give them one clear deadline. Most delays are life. A pattern is a sign.
What to say when a match sends you a link to another site
Say you'd rather keep talking on Dateable until you meet. Do not open a link to verify you, see private photos, or join another app.
Should you still meet a match who asked you for money?
No. If someone asks you for money before you meet, stop talking to them. It is a pattern scammers follow, a sign of danger, and a request no real person makes.
How to spot a message pretending to be from Dateable
Treat any message asking you to pay, log in through a link, or share a code as fake until you verify it inside the app.
How "we can get your money back" scams work
After you have been scammed, strangers offer to recover your money for a fee or percentage. They will not return it: they take more from you instead.