What is a Dating Scam?
Online dating can be a great door opener to meaningful connections. Sadly, it also opens doors for fraudsters to exploit. A dating scam is where an individual (or group) creates a fake profile often with fake photos to build trust and establish a connection with – you. When this is done, the scammer can then ask for money to help them out of a fix, then shut down the ‘relationship’ and leave you devastated – and poorer.
Dating scams are very common. In February 2025, the Economist estimated that online scamming may be the “largest illicit industry in the world,” valued above $500 billion”annually1. Even more sad is that they often result in psychological impact2.
Is this Easy to Detect?
No, dating scams are increasingly sophisticated. Images are often very difficult to authenticate as ‘real’ or ‘fake’. Can you spot the real and fake images below?
How can I avoid this?
Here are some steps used by fraudsters that you can look out for:
- Fake Photo and Profiles: These are appealing, but details can be vague or mismatched.
- Emotional Manipulation: Scammers try to bond with victims with heartfelt stories.
- Financial Exploitation: Once trusted, the scammer may make unusual requests for money.
- Pressure to Act Quickly: Scammers will call on you to urgently send money or other details.
- Isolation Tactics: Scammers mostly avoid meeting in person or with others in video chats.
How can I protect myself?
- Verify Profiles: This is where RUFake can tell you if a photo is likely real or fake. You can also use reverse image searches and check other social media platforms to confirm identity.
- Avoid being rushed: Help sites tell you to build trust gradually and be cautious.
- Keep Private Information Private: Don’t share sensitive details until you’re sure.
- Trust Your ‘Inner Compass’: If something feels off, it may be! Get advice or consider ending the interaction.
What is RUFake?
RUFake is an app that will tell you if a photo you upload is real or fake! We will maintain the highest levels of privacy and ethics, we will not store any of your information, and we will give you confidence intervals around our output.
- Our goal is to help you verify that photographic material is unaltered – or fake.
- We are focused on dating app users, since romance scams are a massive problem.
- Future expansions of the app will extend to data scientists and Tech support staff who can use RUFake? to screen photo IDs.
Why RUFake?
RUFake was developed by a team of engineers at Berkeley who are passionate about protecting folk from fake information. Sadly, misleading people is a growing business, especially on dating apps and anytime where your photo is a form of ID. The impact is worrisome – on the way people feel, their interactions with others and on their bank accounts!
References
A comprehensive literature on online scams can be found here. The selected references cited on this page are:
- The Economist. February 2025. Online scams may already be as big a scourge as illegal drugs https://www.economist.com/briefing/2025/02/06/online-scams-may-already-be-as-big-a-scourge-as-illegal-drugs
M. T. Whitty. The scammers persuasive techniques model: Development of a stage model to explain the online dating romance scam. British Journal of Criminology 2013 Vol. 53 Issue 4 Pages 665-684