FBI Alerts Online Daters: Fake Verification Sites Are Charging Monthly Fees for Nothing

A common pattern reported to the FBI's IC3 begins with a dating app match who expresses interest but says they need the other person to complete a "safety verification" before agreeing to meet. They send a link to a website branded with safety and security imagery — logos resembling law enforcement badges or dating platform branding — and ask the target to enter their credit card details to "verify their age and identity."

The website charges a nominal fee on the first visit, then enrolls the card in a recurring monthly subscription of $30 to $120. The scammer disappears after the card is charged, and the "match" never existed.

The FBI's IC3 published a public service announcement warning that these fake verification schemes are "widespread" and have cost victims millions of dollars collectively. "No legitimate dating platform or law enforcement agency will ask you to pay a fee to verify your identity through a third-party link sent via chat," the PSA states.

Victims are advised to report fraudulent charges to their card issuer immediately and to file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Card issuers typically reverse charges when the transaction is reported promptly.

Legitimate dating platforms conduct verification within the app — they do not send external links. Any match who asks you to click a link and enter payment details for "safety verification" is almost certainly operating a scam. Additional red flags include:

• The site domain does not match the dating platform's official domain
• The URL was shared via chat rather than appearing as an in-app prompt
• The site asks for a credit or debit card number rather than just an email
• The match becomes unavailable or moves platforms after you click the link

Real identity verification on dating apps — such as Tinder's Face Check or Bumble's photo verification — happens entirely within the app, requires no payment, and checks whether your face matches your profile photos using liveness detection. It never requires entering financial information.

If you want to verify a match independently before meeting, the appropriate tools are external: a name search, a reverse face search of their profile photo, and a video call where you can confirm in real time that they match their photos.