$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
date location check-in scam
A dating match asks you to check in at a specific venue through a link before your date for safety purposes, but the link is a phishing page that steals your personal data.
“dating app scam”
↑ 198%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline daters
Often hitsEducators and students
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
The scammer suggests a safety check-in at the date venue, framing it as a responsible dating practice.
2
The link leads to a phishing site that collects name, phone number, email, and sometimes payment details.
3
The scammer never shows up for the date, and the victim's data is used for spam, phishing, or identity theft.
What to do first
Share your location with a trusted friend using built-in phone features instead of external check-in links.
Related terms
meetup location check scamdate check-in phishingvenue verification scamDating verification scamsSMSRisingOnline datersYoung adultsSinglesEducators and studentsUnited StatesCanadaAustraliameetup location check scamdate check-in phishing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jessica, 35, a online daters, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate dating verification scams situation while using SMS. The scammer suggests a safety check-in at the date venue, framing it as a responsible dating practice.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The link leads to a phishing site that collects name, phone number, email, and sometimes payment details.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The scammer never shows up for the date, and the victim's data is used for spam, phishing, or identity theft.
The outcome
Jessica realized something was wrong when the match insists on a specific check-in process through an unfamiliar link before meeting. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Share your location with a trusted friend using built-in phone features instead of external check-in links. Jessica's experience shows why the match insists on a specific check-in process through an unfamiliar link before meeting and the check-in site requests personal details beyond what a normal venue reservation would require are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- The match insists on a specific check-in process through an unfamiliar link before meeting
- The check-in site requests personal details beyond what a normal venue reservation would require
- The match refuses to use standard location-sharing features built into messaging apps
- 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
- ✓Share your location with a trusted friend using built-in phone features instead of external check-in links.
- ✓If you want to verify a venue, search for it independently — do not click links from matches.
- ✓Report the user to the dating platform if they insist on unusual verification procedures.
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.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
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.
- Consumer reports to the FTC indicate that romance scammers are increasingly incorporating fake safety measures to appear legitimate and lower victims' guard.
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.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Share your location with a trusted friend using built-in phone features instead of external check-in links.
- ✓If you want to verify a venue, search for it independently — do not click links from matches.
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.
Consumer reports to the FTC indicate that romance scammers are increasingly incorporating fake safety measures to appear legitimate and lower victims' guard.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 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, Singles, Dating app users
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
SMS — 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
- Consumer reports to the FTC indicate that romance scammers are increasingly incorporating fake safety measures to appear legitimate and lower victims' guard.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about date location check-in scam
How does the date location check-in scam work?+
The scammer suggests a safety check-in at the date venue, framing it as a responsible dating practice. The link leads to a phishing site that collects name, phone number, email, and sometimes payment details. The scammer never shows up for the date, and the victim's data is used for spam, phishing, or identity theft.
What are the warning signs of date location check-in scam?+
The match insists on a specific check-in process through an unfamiliar link before meeting The check-in site requests personal details beyond what a normal venue reservation would require The match refuses to use standard location-sharing features built into messaging apps
What should I do if I encounter date location check-in scam?+
Share your location with a trusted friend using built-in phone features instead of external check-in links. If you want to verify a venue, search for it independently — do not click links from matches. Report the user to the dating platform if they insist on unusual verification procedures.
Who is most at risk for date location check-in scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online daters, Young adults, Singles, Dating app users. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, Australia and typically appears on SMS.
Is date location check-in scam on the rise?+
date location check-in scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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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.
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