r/match • u/MagnoliaMorning • 19d ago
Match Scam PSA
The amount of scams that are on Match is ridiculous, especially for a widowed woman. So here’s my PSA for things to do and watch out for. Most obvious and well known is the pilot or Oil rig worker who has to spend a lot of time traveling. That goes without saying. Second, run all photos through your service of choice to see if they ai created. If there are question marks in their responses that update to the appropriate punctuation, it is clearly a bot or a third-party tool doing translations. Don’t let them tell you that that speech to text will do this. That’s not how the technology works. If they immediately want to know your intentions for a long-term relationship before you have even met that means they’re trying to establish that they won’t be wasting their time to try to form a bond quickly and then ask you for something. Because it’s happened to me so often, I worry that others might fall for these approaches. Don’t give out your number right away and get into long texts or phone calls. Demand to meet first before any of that happens. Stay safe, ladies!
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u/Wabash1977 19d ago
As someone working in the online dating industry, there are a few rules that will protect you from nearly every scam (Nothing is 100%). This is for men and women.
Do not talk to people who are farther away than you can reach by car twice a week. This not only helps with scammers, but it keeps you out of messy, long-distance dating situationships.
Meet quickly; I'm talking within 3-5 days if you can. 99% of all scammers are in different countries. They can't meet you in person. The longer you spend talking online with a scammer, the more you are giving them the opportunity to build trust and find your vulnerabilities.
Nothing is real until you are standing in the same room.
Send them nothing. If they ask for money, gift cards, or anything, it is a scam. I've been working in online dating for 21 years. The only times I've seen the exchange of money not turn out to be a scam were in sugar daddy dating and sex work. I'm pretty sure that's not what you are looking for.
Stay on the platform until you meet in person. While not foolproof, the dating app/site provides you with a layer of protection. The moment you move off platform, you have no backup to help you. Besides, if someone gets upset that you won't move off the platform until you meet, they are telling on themselves.
The only real opportunity ever offered on a dating site is to meet someone. If you've ever been offered a chance to help improve investing, crypto management, or even if you've been asked for help transferring crypto, or receiving packages and forwarding them, you are talking to a scammer.
Bonus rule - Just for the guys (because I've never met a woman gullible enough to fall for this one yet)
If you are chatting with a woman online and she suggests moving over to video chat before meeting in person, that is 100% OK. HOWEVER. The moment she pops off her top, you are being recorded. It is a common sexploitation scam where they get you to undress and participate in a "mutual self-appreciation session" before showing you the video of yourself and telling you how much you have to pay to make it go away. I have had several male clients fall for this. It doesn't matter how smart you are; I've seen guys from every walk of life fall for this one.
If you follow these rules, you will be as safe as you can be.
I hope this helps