US inquiry finds dating scammers reached millions on Match Group apps
Mary lost nearly $100,000 to a romance scam after meeting a man on Plenty of Fish, prompting renewed scrutiny of dating-app safety. A US congressional investigation found that scammers were able to reach large numbers of users on Match Group platforms, and called for stronger efforts to protect and support victims.
Match Group data showed that nearly 1.5 million suspected scammers or other bad actors on Tinder and Hinge had matched with at least one user in the US by the third quarter of 2025; nearly 500,000 exchanged contact details. The report said Tinder had not updated most of its machine-learning models for years, weakening scam detection. Since the investigation began, Match Group has added measures including Tinder video-selfie verification and a new AI model to identify harmful accounts.
- Mary says a Plenty of Fish romance scam cost her almost $100,000.
- Nearly 1.5 million suspected bad actors matched with Tinder or Hinge users.
- Match Group has introduced new verification and AI detection measures.
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Match Group owns dating apps including Tinder, Hinge and Plenty of Fish. People use them to meet potential partners, but scammers can also use dating profiles to build trust and persuade users to send money or share personal details.
Romance scams can cause serious financial and emotional harm, and victims may find it difficult to seek help. The US inquiry examined how well Match Group detected suspected scammers and supported people affected, raising broader questions about safety and accountability on online dating services.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “‘Like being in a vortex’: US report details extent of ‘devastating’ dating-app scams”.