Is that dating profile real or a scam?
Fraudulent dating profiles are operated by scammers — sometimes entire criminal organisations — who build fake identities using stolen photos, AI-generated images, and scripted conversation flows. Their goal is never romance: it is money, personal information, or both.
The most financially damaging variant is the 'pig-butchering' scheme (see the Romance Scammer guide), but a large category of dating scams are shorter-cycle: the match quickly moves off the platform, establishes emotional intimacy, and then requests money for a 'crisis' — a plane ticket, medical bill, stuck customs shipment, or visa fee. The money is sent; the person disappears.
Modern AI voice and video tools mean scammers can now fake video calls convincingly enough to defeat basic verification attempts. The profile photo being real or moving is no longer a guarantee of legitimacy.
🚩 Red flags to watch for
- ▶Profile photos look professionally lit or model-quality; reverse image search finds them on stock sites or other profiles.
- ▶Match moves to WhatsApp, Telegram, or another off-platform channel within the first few messages.
- ▶Despite apparent deep interest, they have never been able to meet in person or video call with audio.
- ▶A sudden crisis — medical emergency, stuck package, travel problem — requires you to send money urgently.
- ▶They claim to be working abroad in a profession that explains why they cannot visit (military, offshore oil, international contractor).
- ▶Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer payment apps rather than traceable methods.
✅ What to do
- 1Reverse image search their profile photo immediately: drag the image into Google Images or TinEye.
- 2Keep all communication on the original dating platform for as long as possible — platforms have fraud detection off-platform does not.
- 3Never send money to someone you have not met in person, regardless of how real the relationship feels.
- 4If you've already sent money, contact your bank or payment provider immediately to attempt a recall.
- 5Report the profile to the dating app directly — most have a one-tap report function on the profile.
- 6Report to the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), FBI IC3 (ic3.gov), or your country's equivalent fraud authority.
📣 Where to report (by country)
🇺🇸 United States
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Action Fraud
- Police Scotland — call 101
🇦🇺 Australia
🇨🇦 Canada
🌍 Everywhere else
- Contact your local police and your bank immediately
- If money was sent, ask your bank about a recall request — act within hours
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Common questions
The person video-called me. Doesn't that prove they're real?
Unfortunately no. AI deepfake tools can now render convincing real-time video of a different face. If you're suspicious, try unexpected requests during the call — ask them to touch their nose with their left hand or hold up a specific number of fingers — deepfake tools often struggle with unexpected rapid movements and hand detail.
I've been talking to this person for months. Surely it can't be fake?
Pig-butchering and long-form romance scams deliberately invest weeks or months building trust before any financial request. The length of the relationship is not evidence of legitimacy. If the person has never met you in person and is now requesting money, treat it as a strong red flag regardless of the history.
I sent money. What do I do?
Act immediately. If you sent via bank transfer, call your bank's fraud line to request a recall — time is critical. If you sent cryptocurrency, recovery is very unlikely; report to IC3 and your local police for documentation. If you used a gift card, call the card issuer — some can freeze unused balances. Cut off all contact with the scammer.