A scammer is anyone using match.com
disingenuously to trick or scam other
members, normally by asking for money.
HOW TO SAFEGUARD
AGAINST SCAMMERS
Match’s dedicated Customer Care team
works hard to ensure that unwanted
accounts are removed from the site. Our
moderation team manually check photos and
personal ads across the site and a built-in
screening system helps identify suspicious
accounts, remove them and prevent re-
registration.
While we are confident that our measures
ensure a high level of security, we urge
members to maintain vigilance while dating
online and report any suspicious profiles to
safeguard other members.
BEHAVIOUR TO WATCH OUT
FOR
We encourage all members to report any
behaviour they deem inappropriate.
Behaviour we urge all members to report
include:
Asking for money or banking
information
Offering paid services
Claiming to be stationed abroad or
frequently traveling
Refusing to meet in person or speak
on the phone
Pushing a serious relationship before
meeting
Forcefully asking for personal
information
Sending you links to other websites
Repeating themselves frequently and
appearing disconnected in
communication
Avoiding answering questions about
themselves
LANGUAGE AND CHARACTER
TRAITS OF SCAMMERS
Personal ad
Using a combination of words like
“honesty”, “trustworthy”, “loving” and
“caring”.
Being overly romantic e.g “walking
down the beach holding hands” or
“sleeping under the stars”.
Describing themselves as a “simple
person”
Messages
Including phrases such as:
“I will love to get to know you better”
“This is my last day on the website”
“Write me your email address”
“You have a beautiful smile”
General language
Starting sentences with “Am” instead
of “I am”
References to “true love”
Classic traits
Job based overseas, e.g. Pilot, Soldier,
General military personnel.
Sob story – the scammer has a major
setback in life, e.g. kids / partner died.
Overcome with love and affection
despite never meeting you.
Quick to take communication away
from the website, pushing to exchange
email addresses.
Asks many questions about you, while
revealing only very general information
about themselves.
Requests for money, for reasons
including:
– Stuck overseas and need funds for
travel home
– Arranged to visit you but unable to
afford travel costs
– Lots of money stuck in a bank
account which they’re unable to get
to until they reach UK / home.
– Medical issues, sudden need for
treatment
HOW TO REPORT A
SUSPECTED SCAMMER
Click “Report this profile” where you see
suspicious behaviour. Places to report a
user can be found:
At the bottom of the member’s profile
Above the typing area on Instant
Messenger
Beneath an email message
By clicking the three dots in the top
right hand corner of a profile on the
match.com app
SCENARIOS OF SCAMMER
BEHAVIOUR
I’ve met someone online and say they need
travel expenses to visit me, is this a scam?
Using the list of scammer behaviour to
watch out for, this unfortunately, sounds like
suspicious scammer behaviour. You should
never send money to someone to meet
online, whatever the premise. Scammers will
often pocket the money or use the bank
details you have given to gain access to
your online banking and pocket even more
money. Scammers may go as far as sending
fake documentation to corroborate their
claims such as: photocopied plane tickets,
visa requirements and passport information .
Do not trust anyone behaving this way and
report the member to match.com to
safeguard further members.
I’ve been asked to support a charity from a
member I don’t know very well, is this a
scam?
Unfortunately, scammers will often use noble
causes such as charities to get you to
transfer money. There are many reputable
charity websites which are completely safe
to transfer money to, however charities do
not solicit donations through dating websites
and so if you do not know the person well
and they are asking for money, chances are
they are working on a scam. Stay clear and
report the member to match.com
Someone I have been messaging online has
told be of a lucrative business idea, is this a
scam?
Never send money to people who propose
business ventures or suggest sending money
to help get you rich, especially if the offer
requires urgent action for a limited time
only. The scenarios vary in details from
inheritance money that needs to released, to
gold mining in Africa, however the story is
always the same. No matter how earnest or
tempting the offer, never send money or
financial information to anyone claiming to
have a business idea you can cash in on.
These stories are cleverly formulated to
make the scammer rich. Don’t trust them
and report the member for inappropriate
behaviour.
A match.com member needs money to help
a family member, is this a scam?
Never send money to other members;
however desperate the situation may seem.
You could risk your details being used for
identity theft or money laundering which is a
criminal offence.
FURTHER ADVICE
Trust your instincts and ask yourself “is this
person looking for a relationship, and are
they interested in the person I am?”. The
way they communicate and the sort of
photos and information they use on their
profile should help decipher if their interest
is genuine.
Relationships and trust naturally happen
over time, beware of anyone rushed
declarations of affection.
Use match.com messenger for all initial
contact and never disclose personal contact
information without feeling completely
comfortable to.
Requests for money or financial assistance
are not acceptable. You should never send
money to anyone you meet online; just as
you would never give money to someone
you recently met in a pub or cafe.
For more information and advice on staying
safe online, read our safety article .
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