According to cybersecurity company Kaspersky, romance scams occur when someone believes they have made a connection or match through a dating site or app, but in reality, the person speaking is a scammer.
These people with malicious intentions manipulate the real profile to gain their trust and over time be able to ask them for money or obtain enough information about them in order to steal their identity.
According to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers lost $1.14 million to romance scams in 2023. Bumble research reveals that globally, respondents point to fake profiles and the risk of scams as one of their main concerns when using online dating apps.
46% of women expressed anxiety about the authenticity of their matches on such platforms.
What actions has Bumble taken?
Bumble pointed out that to differentiate real people from fake profiles it uses the DeceptionDetector function, which uses Artificial Intelligence together with a human support team dedicated to “prioritizing a safe community.”
One of the security tools that Bumble uses is that it links the profiles of its platforms with the users’ social networks; However, it is recommended to do a quick investigation to find the profiles of the person in question if you have suspicions about their profile.
The platform also has photo verification, which reviews the images that users upload to ensure their authenticity.
Scammers often ask for money urgently, avoid meeting in person or answering questions about themselves, or try to move the conversation off the app quickly; In this sense, the app recommends going slowly and consulting with a friend or close person before acting.
“Never hesitate to ‘Block and Report’ someone if you suspect they are trying to scam you or if they make you feel uncomfortable in any way,” the app said.
The FTC notes that anyone can be a target if they are on a dating app or simply have a social media presence and respond to a message from someone they don’t know. Even people who know how online threats work or are more “sophisticated” have been fooled by romance scammers. “So keep your guard up at all times,” he adds.
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