How to Stay Safe on Online Dating Apps in 2026: The Updated Playbook

Online dating in 2026 is high-tech, but so are scammers. It’s no longer given that the person you’re talking to is real. And even if they are, a romantic dinner might not be what they’re after.

So, how can you catch that catfishing attempt instead of falling victim? Follow our guide and learn how to spot red flags, use built-in safety tools, and keep yourself safe on the stormy seas of romance scams.

Key takeaways

• Online dating has become even more perilous than before. It’s a world where nothing is as it seems, as real-looking matches can easily be computer generated
• This is thanks to AI proliferation. Not even reverse image searches can effectively spot AI-generated profile photos, and deepfake video calls are now being used to add “authenticity”
• Some security best practices haven’t changed though. Verification is still critical, and app or OS platform safety features have considerably improved your chances of avoiding exploitation
• If something does go wrong, the first 24 hours matter the most. See our checklist at the end of this guide for what steps to take

What's changed in 2026 - and what hasn't

In general, online dating is safe, as long as you understand the risks and have a workable strategy for dealing with them. Sadly, staying safe has become harder due to the global growth of organized scam operations and AI-powered efforts designed to exploit lonely hearts

Romance fraud has become a big business. It made scammers at least $929m last year off the back of more than 23,000 cases, according to the FBI. In the UK, Barclays Bank estimates losses hit £7,000 ($9,400) per victim in 2025. But just the same, it’s not inevitable. Understanding how these scams are evolving is the first step to protecting yourself.

What's new: AI and the 2026 threat landscape

Unfortunately, AI is helping malicious actors to conduct convincing scams at scale. AI-generated photos might help to build a back story. Chatbots improve grammar and vocabulary, and can even analyze sentiment to help them reply in the most effective tone. The rise of voice cloning and deepfake video means scammers are no longer necessarily camera shy either. 

What still works: The fundamentals that haven't changed

However, some time-honored tactics are still effective. If the person you’re chatting to is keen to take the conversation off the dating platform ASAP, it should count as an immediate red flag. Ditto: asking you for money. And if they’re generally reluctant to meet in person, your spider senses should be tingling.

The most common dating app scams

Look out for the following:

Catfishing and fake profiles

This sits at the heart of any romance scam. The fraudster builds a fake profile in order to entice and deceive their targets. This is increasingly done with the help of AI, but it doesn’t need to be.

Pig butchering and crypto-investment scams

The crossover between romance and investment fraud is increasingly prevalent. The idea is to "fatten up” victims with romantic words and gestures over a period of time (like a pig before slaughter) before persuading them to make an ill-judged investment. Investment fraud alone made scammers more than any other type of cybercrime last year: over $8.6b, according to the FBI.

Sextortion

Scammers posing as attractive matches suggest taking the conversation onto a private app. They persuade you to send compromising photos/videos and then threaten to forward them to friends, family and colleagues if you don’t pay up.

Verification and code scams

Dating site matches might ask you to "prove" you are legit by clicking on a verification link or sending a confirmation code. Most likely, the link will take you to a phishing page designed to harvest your credentials. And any codes will be generated for legitimate two-factor authentication (2FA) purposes by your account service provider. Sharing them will let the scammer hijack your account.

Celebrity and public-figure impersonation

Impersonation scams rose by 148% in 2025 largely thanks to AI tools. Fraudsters pretend to be celebrities, public figures (such as ESET’s CEO), and others, asking people to invest in something (like crypto) or to send sensitive information. As crazy as it sounds, some people do fall for these.

Military and travel romance scams

Fraudsters want to avoid meeting you. But they do you want your money. One way to combine the two goals is to create a back story whereby they need urgent funds for something. It may be that they’re a member of the armed forces who has been recently deployed (hence not being able to meet) but needs money for a medical emergency, or to pay related expenses. Or that, in order to visit you, they require funds to pay for an emergency passport or similar. 

Red flags to watch out for in 2026

(featured snippet) Watch out for the following warning signs, your romantic interest may not be all they appear to be:

• They pester you for money, possibly using outlandish excuses
• They push you to move off platform soon after meeting
• They make various excuses for not being able to do a live video
• They declare strong romantic feelings within days or weeks
• They always have an excuse why they can’t meet in person

Financial red flags

Scammers want your money, and they’re usually in a hurry to get it. They’ll use classic social engineering techniques designed to rush you into making an over-hasty decision, like sending cash for some kind of "emergency". They’ll escalate romantic rhetoric before you’ve even met each other in person. And (if they’re a pig butcherer) they’ll work the conversation around to cryptocurrency investments.

Behavioral red flags (the AI-chatbot tells)

AI chatbots work 24/7. So, if your match seems to be up and about at all times of day and night, it should be a red flag. Similar LLM clues could include flawless vocab and grammar. Even the best of us sometimes mistype. But while machines are great at avoiding human error, they’re really bad at imitating human emotions. Expect “performative empathy” where the chatbot tries to mirror your hopes and fears in order to build trust.

Logistical/situational red flags

Although some scammers may attempt to appear on video, they’re unlikely to want a live call (there’s a caveat to this below), and they most definitely can never meet you in person. Therefore, be on the lookout for a steady procession of excuses: broken camera, slow internet connection, living overseas etc.

How to verify someone’s real - the 2026 playbook

Sadly, as technology continues to evolve, some of the old lessons you may have learned about spotting scammers need to be updated. One thing worthy of comment is the idea that they will never appear on camera, as mentioned above. That’s no longer strictly true, as AI has changed the rules.

Why reverse image search isn't enough anymore

A reverse image search is useful for telling you if a scammer is using someone else’s image, scraped from the internet. But the truth is that AI can help them to generate completely new images which won’t show up on such searches.

The live-video challenge test

Scammers may even try to use deepfake video to try and dispel your concerns. But the technology has some tell-tale giveaways. So, schedule a live in-app video call and ask them to wave a hand across their face or turn their head 90 degrees. Both tend to result in glitches. For further confirmation, ask them spontaneously to hold up an object. And if you’re still not convinced, ask them to do multiple calls over time. AI can’t fake it convincingly every time.

The cross-platform social-history check

Another tell-tale sign someone may be a romance scammer is if their social media history doesn’t add up. Look for profiles on other platforms like Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Any recently created one with only a few followers are likely burner accounts. You’re looking for well-established accounts with plenty of followers, comments, location tags and work-related endorsements.

What an in-app verified badge does (and doesn't) prove

Many dating sites now require new users to perform checks to prove that their faces accurately match their profile photos - using 3D liveness detection, so scammers can’t simply hold a photo up to their webcam. A verified badge will also usually prove their ID has been scanned to show they’re an adult and that their device is real. However, more sophisticated scammers are still able to trick these liveness checks. They don’t prove definitively that the person you’re talking to isn’t a fraudster.

Before you match: Begin with profile and privacy hygiene

You may have chosen the safest dating app you can find. And you’ve taken time out to familiarize yourself with popular scam tactics. But there are some other proactive steps you can take to help protect your privacy.

What to leave off your profile

Your profile should focus on who you are as a person, rather than reveal details which scammers could use against you in phishing and impersonation attacks - like your full name, employer, and birth year-plus-star sign. Nor should you share any information that could put you in physical danger, like the address of a local gym or cafe you visit regularly.

Photo hygiene and EXIF metadata

Photos can also be used in other scams, and they may put you in physical danger. So, avoid any that show your home or workplace, car registration, or children/school. Even school logos can reveal more than you might want to share. Every photo you take on a smartphone contains "EXIF" metadata which could be used to geolocate where it was taken.

Some apps do strip photos of this data for security purposes, but it’s always better to be proactive about such measures yourself:

• On iOS (iPhones), open Settings, then scroll down to Privacy & Security, tap Location Services, find the Camera app and tap Never.
• On Android, open the Camera app, go to its settings, and toggle off the Location tag.

Phone number and email aliasing

Scammers and stalkers can use your phone number and email to find out more about you and/or use them for new fraud schemes. If the dating site itself gets hacked, your data may also end up being used by fraudsters. So, it makes sense to use an alias phone number (e.g. Google Voice) and a dedicated email for that specific profile.

Keep conversing on the platform

Scammers will always try to get you off the dating platform on which you’ve met as soon as possible. They hate the continuous checks the app is likely running for suspicious activity and mismatched IP address/stated location. For them, moving to WhatsApp, Telegram or a similar app reduces the risk of being caught. So, if someone says they want to move off-app - because their account is "glitchy," they’re "using a work phone” or "so they can see your face" - stand firm.

And whatever app you’re on, never share banking details, verification codes, identity documents or intimate photos with someone you don’t know.

Planning a safe first meeting

If all’s going well and you’re both up for meeting, do some planning ahead of time to ensure it’s going to be a safe experience. Consider making screenshots of any interactions that may be leading toward a face-to-face meeting.

The trusted-contact checklist

Tell a trusted friend or family member where you’re going, who you’re meeting, where and when.

Provide your trusted friend or family member: location, timing, and transportation

Make sure your trusted contact (friend or family member) has both your live location with your phone contact.

The meet up

When you are ready to meet your online acquaintance, make sure to do so in a well-lit, public venue. Make the first meeting a short one and arrange your own transport to and from the venue in order to keep your address confidential.

The exit plan

For the first meet-up it makes sense to have a pre-planned reason for exiting. Keep your phone charged, and ride-share apps on standby. Avoid anything that could compromise your street smarts or situational awareness e.g. alcohol, substances, distractions, other 

What to do in the first 24 hours following a scam

The first 24 hours after a scamming are the most critical. Out of these, the first few hours matter the most. There are several relevant steps you can take to contain the damage (or to prevent it), here are a few:

Stop contact and preserve evidence

The first step is to stop all contact and screenshot any evidence. Don’t let the scammer try to persuade you that you’ve got it all wrong.

Report: to the platform, the FTC, and your bank

If you’ve lost money, report it to your bank immediately. Freeze your cards if relevant. Report the issue to the FTC and if it involved crypto or sextortion, to the FBI’s IC3 or Europol (and applicable local authority). If you’re in the UK, report via Report Fraud. Consider a credit freeze, preventing anyone opening new lines of credit in your name.

Over half (55%) of romance scam victims who lose money never report the incident. That speaks to the shame many feel about their experience. But there’s no shame in being defrauded. Reporting is the best way to get the help you need and ensure you’re doing everything to stop your scammer from defrauding someone else.

Protect your accounts and identity

Other than monetary fraud, scammers can also be after your accounts/personal details. So, change any passwords on accounts the scammer may know, starting with your email. Add multi-factor authentication to the most sensitive ones, if you haven’t already.

Support for emotional recovery

Romance scams can be emotionally intense. Reach out to friends and family, or even a trained therapist, for advice or just a chat to talk through what you’re feeling.

Spot the red flags - and block the real threats.

Smart dating habits must come first. But advanced scam and phishing protection can help catch malicious links, fake sites, and risky downloads before they cause harm. See how ESET HOME Security Premium supports safer online dating without replacing your judgment.

Extra considerations for specific groups

Certain members of society may experience more nuanced challenges and risks when it comes to romance scams.

Older adults

Scammers often deliberately target older adults as they perceive this group to be lonelier, more wealthy, potentially divorced or widowed, and less familiar with technology. Pig butchering is a common tactic. Always get a sense check from friends or family if you’re not sure about an individual. If they try to persuade you not to share any information with family members, that should itself be a red flag.

LGBTQ+ users

The risk of sextortion may be particularly acute for members of the LGBTQ+ community concerned about being outed. Scammers may also hide behind an obfuscated profile, claiming it’s to protect their identity. Be alert to phishing links which may be sent under the pretense of you signing up to a safety register. Be mindful of travelling to countries where same-sex relationships are still criminalized. And of requests for money that may be tied to a story about the scammer living in one of these jurisdictions.

People leaving or recovering from domestic violence

Your physical as well as digital safety is paramount. So be sure to follow the advice above on using a phone alias service and dedicated email, and steps to avoid your geolocation and privacy being revealed.

What platforms and governments are doing

Romance scams may be making fraudsters hundreds of millions of dollars every year, but they’ve not gone unnoticed by lawmakers and dating site owners. In the US, the Romance Scam Prevention Act is making its way through Congress. It will mandate that if an individual is banned from a dating site, everyone the scammer messaged must be notified. In the UK, there are already laws criminalizing "cyber flashing" and forcing tech firms to take down sextortion images/videos within 48 hours.

As mentioned, industry players are also rolling out enhanced checks in-app to improve verification and fraud detection. Tinder is reportedly rolling out eye-scanning technology to help users attain a "proof-of-humanity" badge. Things are moving in the right direction, but that’s not a reason to let your guard down.

ESET expert insight

“AI has completely changed the dating scene as we’re no longer just dealing with stolen photos—now there are fully fraudulent identities that can pass during phone and video calls that build trust on their sites. These can also be generated on a large scale, because fundamentally, there are criminal enterprises behind them. The biggest risk today isn’t just being tricked, it’s how quickly and convincingly trust can be engineered, therefore, people need to be more vigilant than ever.

Verification is absolutely vital in any online relationship—personal or business—so it’s important to confirm authentication where possible. 

Using other platforms can help improve verification but, for platforms, safety needs to go beyond basic photo checks as these can be faked. Where people have not met in person before, we need continuous identity verification tools, but they are not officially standardized as of yet. When dating apps finally implement ways to authenticate their users as real people, people will be better able to use these apps with far more confidence. 

But, before this becomes the norm, it’s best to take things slowly and never hand money over to anyone you haven’t met and trust.”

-          Jake Moore, Global Security Advisor

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common dating app scams?

The most common dating app scams in 2026 are catfishing (fake profiles built from AI-generated or stolen photos), pig butchering (long-con investment scams), sextortion (using intimate images as leverage), and verification scams (a match sends you to a third-party site to "verify" yourself and steals your data).

Is online dating safe in 2026?

Yes, online dating is still safe, but the rules have evolved. AI has made fake profiles and deepfake video calls more convincing, so the traditional advice to "do a reverse image search" is no longer sufficient on its own. The fundamentals still work: stay on the platform, verify identity with a live unscripted video call, never send money, and meet in a public place.

Does reverse image search still work in 2026?

It still helps in some cases - particularly against scammers who steal photos from real people. But it no longer catches AI-generated profile photos. These are unique synthetic images with no history on the web, so a reverse image search returns nothing. Don't treat a "clean" reverse image search as proof the person is real. Use a live video call with a spontaneous challenge (ask them to wave a hand across their face, turn their head 90 degrees, or hold up a random object) instead.

How do I know if someone on a dating app is real?

Ask for a live, unscripted video call on the platform itself - not a pre-recorded clip, and not a move to WhatsApp or Telegram. During the call, ask them to do something specific in the moment: wave a hand across their face, turn their head 90°, or hold up a nearby object you name. Current real-time deepfake tools still struggle with those physical occlusion tests. Also, multiple short video calls over time are harder to fake than one long one.

What should you never do on a dating app?

Never send money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or verification codes to someone you haven't met in person. Not even if they claim it’s for an emergency, a plane ticket, an investment opportunity, or some other reason. Never share your home address, workplace, banking details, or government ID information. Never move off the app's messaging system until you've verified the person is real. And never ignore your gut instincts because you feel bad about "being rude."

What's the safest dating app?

There isn't a solitary “safe” app - the right choice depends on what you're looking for and the security features those apps offer.  Bumble's women-message-first architecture and its Deception Detector and "Are You Sure?" prompts are strong. Hinge, another dating app, offers photo verification. Match and eHarmony offer optional background checks. Feeld, is a privacy-first app for open-minded daters, HER is LGBTQ+-focused with strict moderation. Whichever app you use, turn on its verification features and report suspicious accounts.

What do I do if I've been scammed on a dating app?

Stop all contact immediately and don't explain yourself. Take screenshots of the conversation and any transactions before blocking. Contact your bank or payment provider - many have fraud windows that only work if you act within 24-72 hours. Report to the platform, to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and (if you’ve sent crypto or money internationally) to IC3.gov. Or try Report Fraud in the UK (basically any local fraud authority).

Change passwords on any accounts the scammer could have learned about. If intimate images were involved, report sextortion to the FBI. Talk to someone you trust - shame is the scammer's last weapon.