LoveSaid

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Dating Platforms-Toolkit

Dating Platform Romance Fraud Response Toolkit

Introduction

Romance fraud is a sophisticated and manipulative crime where fraudsters create fake profiles to gain victims’ trust and emotionally manipulate them into financial or personal exploitation. Dating platform staff are often the first point of contact for victims reporting fraudulent profiles, making their response critical to both preventing further harm and supporting affected users.

This toolkit provides guidance on how to identify fraudulent activity, engage sensitively with victims, and take meaningful action to enhance safety on the platform.

1. Recognising Romance Fraud on Dating Platforms

Scammers create fake profiles to deceive and emotionally manipulate users. Common red flags include:

  • Attempts to manipulate platform security – AI manipulated videos and photos to bypass verification.
  • Profile inconsistencies – Stock images or stolen photos, vague bios, or mismatched information.
  • Stories of trust worthy professions or lucrative business owners – A perfect-looking match who quickly expresses deep feelings.
  • Quick escalation – Rushing into a relationship or urging users to share contact information and move conversations off-platform.
  • Avoiding video calls or in-person meetings – Excuses about restrictions, military deployment, or secretive jobs.
  • Financial requests – Asking for money for medical emergencies, travel expenses, investments, or crypto transactions. This is unlikely to happen on your platform.

2. Engaging with Victims: A Non-Judgmental Approach

Victims may feel shame, confusion, or distress when reporting a fraudulent profile. Your response must be compassionate, supportive, and non-blaming to encourage continued trust in the platform.

DO say:
✔️ “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. You’ve done the right thing by reporting it.”
✔️ “We take these matters seriously and will investigate this profile immediately.”
✔️ “Online scammers use advanced tactics to build trust quickly—it’s not your fault for believing them.”
✔️ “You are not alone; many people experience this. Our priority is your safety.”
✔️ “Would you like resources on recognising and protecting yourself from online fraud?”

AVOID saying:
❌ “Didn’t you suspect it was a scam?”
❌ “You should have been more careful.”
❌ “Why did you send money?”
❌ “There’s nothing we can do now.”

3. Handling Reports of Fraudulent Profiles

When a fraudulent profile is reported:

  1. Acknowledge the report quickly – Let the user know their concerns are taken seriously.
  2. Investigate the profile discreetly – Use internal fraud detection tools to verify the reported account.
  3. Take immediate action – Suspend or remove the fraudulent profile if verified as a scam.
  4. Communicate next steps – Inform the user about actions taken while maintaining privacy and security protocols.
  5. Encourage further reporting – Victims may have interacted with multiple scammers; encourage vigilance and further reports.

4. Supporting Victims Post-Fraud

Victims of romance fraud often need emotional support and practical guidance to recover. Offer:

  • Fraud prevention tips – Share advice on spotting and avoiding scams.
  • Support resources – Direct victims to organisations like LoveSaid, re-victimisation is prevalent in Romance Fraud. Fraud reporting agencies, or mental health support services (dependant on your country).
  • Encouragement to report externally – Suggest reporting to authorities such as Action Fraud (UK), IC3 (USA), or relevant local fraud agencies.
  • In-platform safety features – Remind users about reporting tools, security settings, and best practices for safer dating.

5. Strengthening Platform Safety Measures

Dating platforms have a responsibility to proactively prevent romance fraud. Consider:

  • Enhanced verification – Introduce profile verification features to minimize fake accounts.
  • AI-driven scam detection – Use machine learning to flag suspicious activity.
  • Education campaigns – Share fraud awareness content directly within the app.
  • Clear reporting mechanisms – Make it easy for users to report suspicious profiles.
  • Ongoing staff training – Ensure customer support teams are equipped to handle fraud cases with empathy and efficiency.

Final Thoughts

Your response to fraud reports can make a lasting impact on victims and the platform’s overall safety. By handling reports with compassion, urgency, and clear action, you help create a safer online dating experience for everyone.

Empathy matters. Awareness matters. Protecting users matters.