Millions of iPhone and Android owners have been warned about money-hungry criminals lurking in popular apps – 4 warning signs to watch out for

TINDER users have been warned about malicious fraudsters looking to steal their money.

Statistics show that around 7.6 million people in the United States use the dating app Tinder.

Founded in 2012, the platform has solidified itself as the leading service for finding love.

However, users can get more than they bargain for on Tinder if they’re not careful, say experts at TerraWeb warned.

This is because the platform is full of romance scammers who want to steal users’ money.

WHAT IS A ROMANE SCAM?

Romance scams involve criminals using perceived trust and romance to steal a user’s money.

The scammer typically creates a fake online persona on apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, WhatsApp or even Facebook.

Then, after developing an online relationship with a person, they will manipulate or steal from the victim, according to the FBI.

Criminals may persuade victims to send them money, disclose bank details or purchase items online.

The Federal Trade Commission reported in 2023 that a combined total of $1.1 billion was stolen from unsuspecting victims through romance scams.

“The scammer intends to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear himself to the victim, and gain trust,” the FBI said.

“Scammers may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person, but this will never happen. Eventually, they will ask for money.”

To help people avoid this scam, privacy expert Trevor Cooke of EarthWeb shared five warning signs to watch out for.

They don’t share much about themselves

One of the biggest red flags on a dating app is someone refusing to share even basic information about themselves, like their age or where they’re from.

If someone is constantly making up excuses to avoid answering valid questions, there’s a high possibility that they’re a catfish trying to lure you into a scam.

“Before you date someone for the first time, you should at least know how old they are and where they live,” advises Cooke.

Cyber ​​Expert Advice on How to Detect a Romance Scan

A cyber expert with knowledge of romance scams spoke to The US Sun and warned users of warning signs to watch out for. Roger Grimes, defense evangelist at cyber firm KnowBe4, listed eight key questions to ask:

• Is the person trying to get you off the dating site and onto an unmonitored app?
• Are they asking too many questions before revealing information about themselves? This could be an attempt to establish common ground and build trust.
• Are they avoiding phone calls and video chats and making excuses?
• Do they say they travel a lot or are not in the same country? This is often a profitable part of the scam as they need money.
• Have you ever said that you are going to travel on a certain day and something unexpected happens, so you need money to get there?
• Do they ask for deep, dark secrets or incriminating or nude photos? This could be used for blackmail later on.
• Have they said they were scammed before? Sometimes this is a strategy to build trust and convince you that they are not scammers.
• Do they have a sob story? Like if your spouse died suddenly or left unjustly? Or are they left with kids or huge bills to pay?

Read more here.

They fish for your personal information

Likewise, if you’re talking to someone on Tinder who is asking you very deep personal questions or sending you inappropriate messages before you meet, that could be a sign of a scammer.

Scammers try to foster a personal connection as quickly as possible to manipulate you.

Fishing for your personal information may include:

• Excessive messages
• Impatience when you don’t respond immediately
• Asking awkward personal questions that don’t fit into the conversation
• Divert your questions about them to ask more questions about yourself
• Asking for money after meeting him for a short time

One way to avoid these profiles is to establish limits immediately, as your financial and personal security may depend on this.

“If you ever feel uncomfortable with anything the other person is telling you, trust your instinct and tune it out. Break up the person and move on to the next person,” says Cooke.

They keep insisting on meeting

If you match with someone who is very eager to meet in person after just a few exchanges, it could be a potentially dangerous situation.

“If every other message asks when you can meet up and you’re not even having a real, substantial conversation, then it might be time to decompress,” encourages Cooke.

“Remember, when you meet someone in person for the first time, always do it in a public area or take a friend with you,” he added.

They have unbelievable photos

If someone’s profile indicates that they live a lavish lifestyle or constantly show off their wealth, that could be a huge red flag.

Things to look out for include:

• Unrealistic photos of sophisticated modes of transportation such as yachts and private jets
• Photos that are trying too hard to be displayed (posing with fancy sports cars, holding big fish, smoking cigars, etc.)
• Only one photo on the entire profile

Cooke says, “A quick way to find out if your photos are legitimate is to ask them to take a photo of themselves doing something very specific. If they can’t produce it, they’re probably a catfish.”

HOW TO STAY SAFE

There are several steps you can take to mitigate your risk of falling victim to a romance scam.

Firstly, you should never send money to someone you have only communicated with online or over the phone.

Be careful about the information you share or make public, as fraudsters may use it to target you.

You should also search a person’s photo and profile to see if their image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.

Lastly, be wary of an individual who tries to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information, as this could later be used to extort you.