Cryptocurrency scams are becoming a popular way for fraudsters to trick people into sending money, and take on many forms. Most crypto scams appear as emails or texts trying to blackmail or threaten someone, online chain referral scams, or fake investment opportunities. Recently these scams have targeted people looking for love on popular dating sites and apps such as Tinder.

BBB reminds dating app users to not let their quest for love blind them to the red flags of a scam. 

How the Scam Works 

When “swiping right” on an attractive male or female, the app then instantly matches you with them. Once sparking up a conversation, the alleged mate may quickly try to take the conversation off the dating platform and move it to a texting app such as WhatsApp or WeChat. The scammer starts talking about how they have a family member who is a very successful cryptocurrency investor, and have inside trading information that could make you rich! They pique your interest with the idea that you can make lots of money by taking advantage of this exclusive opportunity, and direct you to a fake cryptocurrency trading platform. Once making a deposit on the website, the money is gone forever, and the new “love” blocks you on all platforms. 

One victim reported to BBB Scam Tracker that after talking to a woman on Tinder, she persuaded him to invest on a fake trading platform called Goldencoreex.com. Once he tried to withdraw the full amount, the funds were automatically reversed back into his account by their "system security" to help prevent money laundering. The victim was then told the account needed a balance of up to $3,000 before withdrawing funds without any type of limit. After trying several times, the victim was unable to recoup his money.? 

Protect Yourself From this Scam: 

• Never send money or personal information that can be used for identity theft to someone you’ve never met in person. If they continue to pressure you to invest on a crypto trading platform, research the investment platform first. 
• Stay secure. If a love interest appears to be in a hurry to get off the dating app to an unsecure chat app, that is a red flag. 
• Ask specific questions about details given in a profile. A scammer may stumble over remembering details or making a story fit. 
• Research the dating profile. Many scammers steal photos from the web to use in their profiles. Conduct a reverse image lookup using a website like?tineye.com?or?images.google.com?to see if the photos on a profile are stolen from somewhere else. Search online for a profile name, email, or phone number to see what adds up and what doesn’t. Report what you find to the dating app.