The FBI is warning users of dating apps like Tinder and Bumble about a new verification scam. Hackers, behind fake profiles, ask their victims for identity verifications which then lead to the theft of their personal and financial information.
Dating apps like Tinder and Bumble have become a favorite breeding ground for scammers. According to a recent alert from the FBI, they have developed a identity verification scam to exploit users looking for love.
This new method consists of make their victims believe that they doubt the authenticity of their profile by requesting a so-called identity verification. It quickly transforms into theft of personal and financial data. Additionally, scammers are often hidden behind fake, verified profiles, making these scams almost undetectable.
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Dating sites: don’t click on external links to verify your profiles
The ploy is simple but effective: after establishing a quick link on the application, the scammers offer to move the conversation out of the application for security reasons and then request a verification via external link. This link often leads to a fraudulent site that asks for personal information, including credit card detailsunder the guise of a free verification.
These malicious sites lure victims into promising no-cost services, but then redirect users to low-quality dating sites with expensive subscriptions. These charges appear as mysterious transactions on victims’ bank statements. The FBI strongly advisesavoid clicking on external links and not share any sensitive information with people you meet online.
To avoid falling into these traps, it is essential to remain vigilant and report any suspicious profile to dating app administrators. Users should also avoid transferring the conversation outside of the apps’ secure messaging services. Because these offer additional security features.
Source: FBI