DateableScam screening checklist for sugar daddies before a first date
Check their verification, video call them, watch their story stay consistent, and stop if they ask for money or travel before you meet.
A scammer builds trust for weeks, then asks you for money. You can stop this before it starts by checking six things: their verification, a live video call, whether their story holds steady, and the absence of four red flags. If any check fails, stop talking to them and report the profile.
Why scams happen in sugar dating
Sugar dating is a straightforward deal: you both know what you want, and you can be clear about it before you meet. But scammers use that clarity against you. [Scammers build trust through romance, dating or friendship online, then ask for money, sometimes after a long time 1.] They are patient. They will chat for days or weeks, make themselves seem real, and then hit you with an expense you will feel responsible for.
Because generous members expect to spend money on dates and gifts, scammers specifically target sugar sites. The difference is simple: a real person meets you to get the benefit; a scammer gets the money and disappears.
Check one: are they verified?
A Verified badge means they took a live selfie and a reviewer confirmed it matches their photos. It does not mean Dateable checked their income, their name or their age documents. But it means the person on your screen and the person in the photos is the same human. Scammers use stolen photos, and they will not pass this step.
If their profile says Verified, click it to confirm. If it is not verified, ask why. A real person will say yes to verification or explain if they prefer not to. A scammer will avoid the question or come up with reasons it is not possible.
Check two: will they video call?
Ask for a live video call before you plan a date. [A warning sign is excuses to avoid meeting or video calls 1.] Scammers have stolen photos but they are not the same person, so they will dodge this or delay it.
Make it casual. "Let's video call before we meet." A real person will say yes or suggest a time. If they say their phone is broken, they are traveling, their camera is not working, or their employer forbids it, those are all patterns scammers use. Keep pushing and see what happens. If they refuse to video call or keep finding reasons not to, stop talking to them.
Before we meet in person, can we do a quick video call? Just want to say hi.
Check three: does their story stay the same?
[Scammers keep finding excuses not to meet, such as a tragedy or business travel 2.] Pay attention to what they tell you. Do they say they work offshore on an oil rig, then later say they work in your city? Do they say their mother is sick in one message and their father in another? Do details change when you ask the same question twice?
Write down the key facts: where they work, where they live, what they do, why they are on Dateable. A few days later, ask the same questions again. A real person gives the same answers. A scammer will contradict themselves.
Check four: have they asked for money?
[Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you have not met in person 3.] This is the core rule. If someone you have only chatted with asks for money, travel help, medical bills, or investment tips, stop. Scammers will say their card is blocked, there is a medical emergency, or they need a plane ticket to see you. None of that is your responsibility.
On Dateable, the generous side pays for dates and gifts after you meet. Before that, money stays in your pocket.
Check five: have they asked for gift cards or travel?
[Scammers ask for money for plane tickets, visa fees, or offer to help you invest in cryptocurrency 3.] Gift cards, iTunes codes, or cryptocurrency are money that leaves your account with no paper trail and no way to reverse it. A request for either one is a scam, full stop.
Similarly, if they say they will travel to see you and ask you to book their ticket, pay for their hotel, or cover their expenses, do not do it. A real person arranges their own travel or you discuss it as a date plan you both pay for together.
Check six: do they live near you?
If you are on a dating site and someone lives in a different country or a thousand kilometres away, ask why. A real member on Dateable is looking for actual dates with you. A scammer can be anywhere and does not care about the distance because they will never meet you.
If they say they live nearby but work overseas and will visit soon, that is a classic excuse. Ask them to plan a real date with a specific place and time. A real person will say yes or counter with another plan. A scammer will delay, postpone, or come up with a new problem that stops the meeting.
When one check fails, stop
If they fail the video call check, fail the story check, or ask for money, do not argue with them. Do not give them a chance to explain. Stop replying and report the profile. Dateable's report and block buttons are one press from any profile.
This sounds hard only if you have already spent weeks chatting with them. That is exactly how scammers work: they make themselves feel real, then the cost of stopping feels high. But the cost of not stopping is higher. A scammer will keep asking for more money, and they will not stop because you said yes once.
You can check how to keep your account safe and trust your gut. If a check fails or something feels off, stop. You are not being rude. A real person does not need all six checks; they pass them automatically. Only a scammer has something to hide.
Sources
- Scamwatch (ACCC) (2026). Relationship scams.
- Get Cyber Safe (Government of Canada) (2021). Online dating cyber security: Three ways to stay protected.
- Federal Trade Commission (2022). What To Know About Romance Scams.
