Latest news with #RomanceScamPreventionAct
Miami Herald
21 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Tinder rolls out mandatory face verification for California users
West Hollywood-based Tinder is now requiring facial recognition scans for all users in California as part of its efforts to build trust among users and reduce the prevalence of scams and fraud that plague dating apps. The feature, called Face Check, prompts users to take a short video selfie that is used to verify their identity. The verification data allows Tinder, owned by Match Group, to check whether a person's face matches their uploaded photos. The scan is also used to check other photos on the app to detect if a user is impersonating someone else or operating duplicate accounts. The technology is from a company called FaceTec. Users' verification data will be stored for the lifetime of their Tinder account and deleted within 30 days of account closure. "As part of our continued efforts, we are always testing ways to deliver the best experience for our users to seek authentic connections," a Tinder spokesperson said. While Tinder already offers photo and ID verification features, they are optional. Face Check will be mandatory in some places in hopes of stopping bad actors and bots who rarely opt into voluntary verification measures. The new function is "about confirming that this person is a real, live person and not a bot or a spoofed account," said Yoel Roth, Match Group's vice president of trust and safety. Tinder has been adding safety features to help users feel more comfortable on the app, including "Are You Sure?" and "Does This Bother You?" prompts that pop up to police potentially unwelcome interactions, as well as newer additions like Share My Date. The timing of this pilot program comes as romance scams become more prevalent across the United States. Romance scammers typically create fake profiles on dating platforms or contact victims through social media platforms. They build relationships over time through frequent communication before fabricating emergencies and requesting money from their targets. With over 60 million Americans using online dating services in 2023, the stakes are significant. The Federal Trade Commission reported that romance scams cost victims more than $1.1 billion, highlighting the scale of the problem. Congressional action is also underway to address these concerns. The House of Representatives unanimously passed the Romance Scam Prevention Act on June 23, which would require dating apps to notify users when they have interacted with someone removed from the platform for fraudulent activity. Face Check is already being used in Canada and Colombia. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Tinder rolls out mandatory face verification for California users
West Hollywood-based Tinder is now requiring facial recognition scans for all users in California as part of its efforts to build trust among users and reduce the prevalence of scams and fraud that plague dating apps. The feature, called Face Check, prompts users to take a short video selfie that is used to verify their identity. The verification data allows Tinder, owned by Match Group, to check whether a person's face matches their uploaded photos. The scan is also used to check other photos on the app to detect if a user is impersonating someone else or operating duplicate accounts. The technology is from a company called FaceTec. Users' verification data will be stored for the lifetime of their Tinder account and deleted within 30 days of account closure. 'As part of our continued efforts, we are always testing ways to deliver the best experience for our users to seek authentic connections,' a Tinder spokesperson said. While Tinder already offers photo and ID verification features, they are optional. Face Check will be mandatory in some places in hopes of stopping bad actors and bots who rarely opt into voluntary verification measures. The new function is 'about confirming that this person is a real, live person and not a bot or a spoofed account,' said Yoel Roth, Match Group's vice president of trust and safety. Tinder has been adding safety features to help users feel more comfortable on the app, including 'Are You Sure?' and 'Does This Bother You?' prompts that pop up to police potentially unwelcome interactions, as well as newer additions like Share My Date. The timing of this pilot program comes as romance scams become more prevalent across the United States. Romance scammers typically create fake profiles on dating platforms or contact victims through social media platforms. They build relationships over time through frequent communication before fabricating emergencies and requesting money from their targets. With over 60 million Americans using online dating services in 2023, the stakes are significant. The Federal Trade Commission reported that romance scams cost victims more than $1.1 billion, highlighting the scale of the problem. Congressional action is also underway to address these concerns. The House of Representatives unanimously passed the Romance Scam Prevention Act on June 23, which would require dating apps to notify users when they have interacted with someone removed from the platform for fraudulent activity. Face Check is already being used in Canada and Colombia.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alarming number of Americans scammed out of life savings have one thing in common, prompting lawmaker response
EXCLUSIVE: As romance scams are on the rise, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is introducing new legislation aimed at holding accountable those who seek to defraud retirees and steal their hard-earned savings. U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps and services to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have interacted with a person removed from the app. The move came as Americans are more than ever connected thanks to social media and dating apps that allow us to stay in touch with old friends all over the world and to develop new relationships online. As Americans increasingly go online in search of relationships, scammers are following suit. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2022 almost 70,000 people reported being victims of a romance scam. Romance Scams On The Rise As Americans Look To Dating Apps For Love: 5 Tips To Protect Yourself People aged 40 to 69 are the most likely to report losing money due to a romance scam, and people 70 and older reported the highest individual median losses at $9,475, according to the FTC. Read On The Fox News App Blackburn said that the bipartisan legislation would put "critical safeguards" in place to protect app users. The senator highlighted that in 2023, Tennesseans over the age of 60 lost $43 million due to scams targeting the elderly. "Scammers are merciless in their exploitation of senior citizens who join dating apps to establish meaningful connections but instead end up losing their life savings to con artists who prey on their vulnerabilities," she said. READ THE BILL TEXT: MOBILE USERS Click Here The bill requires online dating service providers to notify members if they've communicated with someone whose account has been banned for fraudulent activity. The notification must include the banned member's profile details and a warning that the banned member might be attempting fraud, such as requesting money. How To Not Fall In Love With Ai-powered Romance Scammers The bill is enforceable by the FTC and allows state attorneys general to bring civil actions on behalf of affected residents. It also ensures that no state law can interfere with the process of fraud ban notifications. "This bipartisan, bicameral bill provides transparency, empowers users to make informed decisions, and reinforces best practices to prevent online scams," Valadao said. "I'm proud to help lead the effort to make online dating safer and protect Americans of all ages from financial fraud." One such scam was recently uncovered by Las Vegas authorities in February. The Romance Scam Prevention Act would guard citizens from suspects like 43-year-old Aurora Phelps. "Phelps would meet older men on dating websites or services, then meet them in-person. It was part of her scheme to drug the older men to gain unauthorized access to and steal money from their financial accounts to personally benefit herself and her family members," prosecutors said. Phelps was charged with 21 counts, including seven counts of wire fraud; three counts of mail fraud; six counts of bank fraud; three counts of identity theft; one count of kidnapping; and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada said in a statement. If convicted on all counts, Phelps, who was taken into custody in Mexico, could face a maximum of life in prison. Though she's only charged in one death, an indictment said that at least two men she met and scammed died. In romance scams, a criminal uses a fake online identity to gain a victim's affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. The rise of romance scams led U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide practical tips for people to avoid being taken advantage of. Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls and text messages. Don't answer calls or texts from any unknown numbers. Never give out personal information over the phone or text. Limit what you share online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you to form a connection and take advantage of what is going on in your life. Go slowly and ask questions. Creating a false sense of urgency is a fundamental tactic of social engineering. Don't let the individual rush you to make a decision. Be wary of sending money, bank account information, personal photos or other sensitive personal information to someone you've never met in person. Keep it on the platform. Many times, scammers will push to move the conversation off the dating or social platform. Generally, they request to text or email. This is to avoid the detection controls in dating website chats. Listen to your gut. If the individual seems too good to be true, talk to someone you trust about it. Don't send money or cryptocurrency. Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone. If you meet someone on a dating site, app, or social media, and they want to show you how to invest in crypto, or ask you to send them cryptocurrency, it is a fraud. More information about the department's efforts to help older Americans is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage, For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, at article source: Alarming number of Americans scammed out of life savings have one thing in common, prompting lawmaker response
Fox News
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Alarming number of Americans scammed out of life savings have one thing in common, prompting lawmaker response
EXCLUSIVE: As romance scams are on the rise, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is introducing new legislation aimed at holding accountable those who seek to defraud retirees and steal their hard-earned savings. U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps and services to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have interacted with a person removed from the app. The move came as Americans are more than ever connected thanks to social media and dating apps that allow us to stay in touch with old friends all over the world and to develop new relationships online. As Americans increasingly go online in search of relationships, scammers are following suit. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2022 almost 70,000 people reported being victims of a romance scam. People aged 40 to 69 are the most likely to report losing money due to a romance scam, and people 70 and older reported the highest individual median losses at $9,475, according to the FTC. Blackburn said that the bipartisan legislation would put "critical safeguards" in place to protect app users. The senator highlighted that in 2023, Tennesseans over the age of 60 lost $43 million due to scams targeting the elderly. "Scammers are merciless in their exploitation of senior citizens who join dating apps to establish meaningful connections but instead end up losing their life savings to con artists who prey on their vulnerabilities," she said. READ THE BILL TEXT: MOBILE USERS CLICK HERE The bill requires online dating service providers to notify members if they've communicated with someone whose account has been banned for fraudulent activity. The notification must include the banned member's profile details and a warning that the banned member might be attempting fraud, such as requesting money. The bill is enforceable by the FTC and allows state attorneys general to bring civil actions on behalf of affected residents. It also ensures that no state law can interfere with the process of fraud ban notifications. "This bipartisan, bicameral bill provides transparency, empowers users to make informed decisions, and reinforces best practices to prevent online scams," Valadao said. "I'm proud to help lead the effort to make online dating safer and protect Americans of all ages from financial fraud." One such scam was recently uncovered by Las Vegas authorities in February. The Romance Scam Prevention Act would guard citizens from suspects like 43-year-old Aurora Phelps. "Phelps would meet older men on dating websites or services, then meet them in-person. It was part of her scheme to drug the older men to gain unauthorized access to and steal money from their financial accounts to personally benefit herself and her family members," prosecutors said. Phelps was charged with 21 counts, including seven counts of wire fraud; three counts of mail fraud; six counts of bank fraud; three counts of identity theft; one count of kidnapping; and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada said in a statement. If convicted on all counts, Phelps, who was taken into custody in Mexico, could face a maximum of life in prison. Though she's only charged in one death, an indictment said that at least two men she met and scammed died. In romance scams, a criminal uses a fake online identity to gain a victim's affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. The rise of romance scams led U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide practical tips for people to avoid being taken advantage of. More information about the department's efforts to help older Americans is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage, For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, at
