$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Dating verification scams/Tinder
age verification link scam
A dating app match sends you a link to an external site claiming you need to verify your age before meeting, which harvests your credit card information.
“dating app scam”
↑ 198%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline daters
Often hitsEducators and students
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
A scammer on a dating app builds rapport quickly and suggests meeting in person.
2
Before the meetup, they share a link to a fake age verification site that looks official.
3
The site collects credit card information under the guise of a free identity check, then charges recurring subscription fees.
What to do first
Never click external links sent by matches — legitimate dating apps handle verification within the app.
Related terms
Tinder age verification scamdating age check scammeetup verification linkDating verification scamsTinderRisingOnline datersYoung adultsDating app usersEducators and studentsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaTinder age verification scamdating age check scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Carlos, 35, a online daters, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate dating verification scams situation while using Tinder. A scammer on a dating app builds rapport quickly and suggests meeting in person.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Before the meetup, they share a link to a fake age verification site that looks official.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The site collects credit card information under the guise of a free identity check, then charges recurring subscription fees.
The outcome
Carlos realized something was wrong when a match insists you click an external link to verify your age before meeting in person. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never click external links sent by matches — legitimate dating apps handle verification within the app. Carlos's experience shows why a match insists you click an external link to verify your age before meeting in person and the verification site asks for credit card details for a free check are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- A match insists you click an external link to verify your age before meeting in person
- The verification site asks for credit card details for a free check
- The match refuses to continue the conversation until you complete the verification
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Never click external links sent by matches — legitimate dating apps handle verification within the app.
- ✓Report the profile to the dating platform and block the user.
- ✓If you entered payment details, contact your card issuer immediately to block the card.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The BBB reported that online romance scams were the riskiest scam type in 2023, with dating verification links being a common tactic.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Never click external links sent by matches — legitimate dating apps handle verification within the app.
- ✓Report the profile to the dating platform and block the user.
- ✓If you entered payment details, contact your card issuer immediately to block the card.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The BBB reported that online romance scams were the riskiest scam type in 2023, with dating verification links being a common tactic.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Online daters, Young adults, Dating app users
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
Tinder — Dating verification scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Online daters are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The BBB reported that online romance scams were the riskiest scam type in 2023, with dating verification links being a common tactic.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about age verification link scam
How does the age verification link scam work?+
A scammer on a dating app builds rapport quickly and suggests meeting in person. Before the meetup, they share a link to a fake age verification site that looks official. The site collects credit card information under the guise of a free identity check, then charges recurring subscription fees.
What are the warning signs of age verification link scam?+
A match insists you click an external link to verify your age before meeting in person The verification site asks for credit card details for a free check The match refuses to continue the conversation until you complete the verification
What should I do if I encounter age verification link scam?+
Never click external links sent by matches — legitimate dating apps handle verification within the app. Report the profile to the dating platform and block the user. If you entered payment details, contact your card issuer immediately to block the card.
Who is most at risk for age verification link scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online daters, Young adults, Dating app users. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and typically appears on Tinder.
Is age verification link scam on the rise?+
age verification link scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Recent reports
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.