‘Like being in a vortex’: US report details extent of ‘devastating’ dating-app scams
A new congressional investigation highlights the severe financial and emotional toll of romance scams on dating platforms such as Tinder, Hinge, and Plenty of Fish. In 2025 alone, romance scams cost Americans almost $1.5 billion, while more than 1.5 million scammers matched with users on Tinder and Hinge. Fake profile views on dating applications also surged by more than 700 percent. Victims describe the experience as being caught in a vortex, facing constant contact, pressure, and repeated financial demands from fraudsters who are increasingly difficult to catch.
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- ✓ In 2025, romance scams cost Americans almost $1.5 billion.
- ✓ More than 1.5 million scammers matched with Tinder and Hinge users in 2025.
- ✓ Fake profile views on dating apps soared more than 700 percent.
- ✓ A victim named Mary lost $100,000 to an app scammer after meeting a man on Plenty of Fish in 2024.
What changed
A congressional report detailed the soaring financial losses and prevalence of fake profiles across major dating apps.
Live updates
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US Report Details Devastating Extent of Dating-App Scams
A new congressional investigation highlights the severe financial and emotional toll of romance scams on dating platforms such as Tinder, Hinge, and Plenty of Fish. In 2025 alone, romance scams cost Americans almost $1.5 billion, while more than 1.5 million scammers matched with users on Tinder and Hinge. Fake profile views on dating applications also surged by more than 700 percent. Victims describe the experience as being caught in a vortex, facing constant contact, pressure, and repeated financial demands from fraudsters who are increasingly difficult to catch.
Why it matters
Online dating platforms face intense public and legislative pressure to improve safety features and protect users from sophisticated fraudsters. A joint economic committee investigation into Match Group platforms revealed that Tinder failed to update the majority of its machine-learning scam-detection tools. Congress is now pressing companies like Match Group to take greater responsibility for helping victims who lose their life savings.
What is confirmed
- In 2025, romance scams cost Americans almost $1.5 billion.
- More than 1.5 million scammers matched with Tinder and Hinge users in 2025.
- Fake profile views on dating apps soared more than 700 percent.
- A victim named Mary lost $100,000 to an app scammer after meeting a man on Plenty of Fish in 2024.
- A US Senate joint economic committee investigation into Match Group found that Tinder had not updated most of its machine-learning scam-detection tools.
What to watch next
- Response from Match Group and other dating app executives to congressional pressure
- Potential implementation of updated machine-learning scam-detection tools by platforms like Tinder
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (11)
- NBC News — Romance scammers are getting harder to catch. The consequences are costly.
- Yahoo — More than 1.5 million scammers matched with Tinder and Hinge users in 2025
- The Guardian — ‘Like being in a vortex’: US report details extent of ‘devastating’ dating-app scams
- The Boston Globe — Romance scams are evolving. Dating apps face pressure to keep up.
- U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (.gov) — In 2025, romance scams cost Americans almost $1.5 billion
- Yahoo — $1.5 Billion Lost in Romance Scams as Fake Profile Views on Dating Apps Soar More Than 700 Percent
- www.theguardian.com — ‘Like being in a vortex’: US report details extent of ...
- www.europesays.com — ‘Like being in a vortex’: US report details extent of ...
- www.thedailybreakingnews.com — ‘Like being in a vortex’: US report details extent of ...
- daily.dev — US report details extent of 'devastating' dating-app scams
- www.nbcnews.com — Romance scammers are getting harder to catch. The ...
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