$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Dating verification scams/Bumble
identity verification phishing scam
A dating app match asks you to verify your identity through a third-party website that collects personal information including your name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
“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
The scammer poses as a cautious dater who wants to make sure you are who you say you are.
2
They send a link to a phishing site designed to look like an official background check service.
3
Victims submit personal information that is used for identity theft, including opening credit accounts in their name.
What to do first
Never share your Social Security number or government ID through a link sent by a dating match.
Related terms
dating ID verification scamidentity check phishingbackground verification phishingDating verification scamsBumbleRisingOnline datersYoung adultsSinglesEducators and studentsRetirees and seniorsUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomdating ID verification scamidentity check phishing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Fatima, 35, a online daters, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate dating verification scams situation while using Bumble. The scammer poses as a cautious dater who wants to make sure you are who you say you are.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They send a link to a phishing site designed to look like an official background check service.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims submit personal information that is used for identity theft, including opening credit accounts in their name.
The outcome
Fatima realized something was wrong when the verification site requests your social security number or government id number. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never share your Social Security number or government ID through a link sent by a dating match. Fatima's experience shows why the verification site requests your social security number or government id number and the url does not belong to the dating platform itself are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- The verification site requests your Social Security number or government ID number
- The URL does not belong to the dating platform itself
- The match becomes aggressive or disappears if you refuse to verify
- 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 share your Social Security number or government ID through a link sent by a dating match.
- ✓Report the user to the dating platform and file a complaint with the FTC.
- ✓If you shared sensitive information, place a fraud alert on your credit reports through Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.
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 FTC reported that consumers lost over 1.14 billion USD to romance scams in 2023, with phishing for personal data being a key vector.
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 share your Social Security number or government ID through a link sent by a dating match.
- ✓Report the user to the dating platform and file a complaint with the FTC.
- ✓If you shared sensitive information, place a fraud alert on your credit reports through Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.
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 FTC reported that consumers lost over 1.14 billion USD to romance scams in 2023, with phishing for personal data being a key vector.
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
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Bumble — 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 FTC reported that consumers lost over 1.14 billion USD to romance scams in 2023, with phishing for personal data being a key vector.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about identity verification phishing scam
How does the identity verification phishing scam work?+
The scammer poses as a cautious dater who wants to make sure you are who you say you are. They send a link to a phishing site designed to look like an official background check service. Victims submit personal information that is used for identity theft, including opening credit accounts in their name.
What are the warning signs of identity verification phishing scam?+
The verification site requests your Social Security number or government ID number The URL does not belong to the dating platform itself The match becomes aggressive or disappears if you refuse to verify
What should I do if I encounter identity verification phishing scam?+
Never share your Social Security number or government ID through a link sent by a dating match. Report the user to the dating platform and file a complaint with the FTC. If you shared sensitive information, place a fraud alert on your credit reports through Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.
Who is most at risk for identity verification phishing scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online daters, Young adults, Singles. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on Bumble.
Is identity verification phishing scam on the rise?+
identity verification phishing scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, UK. 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.