Apr 26, 2026
On first glance, scammy dating profiles have nothing but green flags. They're verified accounts, often posing as handsome men in their 40s. Their photos tell the story of a laid-back, yet exciting life — gym selfies, beach trips, a snowy hike in the Alps — except for the very last picture.
It's not a photo at all, but an illustration, clearly AI-generated, depicting a totally different person's face pasted onto a billboard, a bobble head, an anime character, or an oil painting.
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One weird picture might not be enough to raise alarm bells (seasoned swipers have seen much worse on the apps), but, as journalist Christophe Haubursin uncovered, it is a surefire sign of a romance scammer. And if you're not careful, they can drain your wallet before you go on one coffee date (1).
How the scam works
Haubursin, a former Vox journalist and now independent YouTube creator, first heard about the issue when a friend showed him screenshots of strange Tinder matches. All the accounts were verified, and they all seemed totally normal — except for the AI images at the end. She wondered if this was some kind of subtle signal. Could these people be in a secret society?
It was nothing so romantic as that. Haubursin figured out that, once you chat with one of these users, they quickly try to move the conversations to WhatsApp and steer the topic to cryptocurrency. They eventually pressure their would-be sweethearts to urgently send money. It's obvious scammer behavior.
So what's with the odd images? They're a way to get around security features like Tinder's Face Check. To get a "verified" badge on a dating app, you need to take a video of your face from several angles, much like you would do to set up FaceID on an iPhone. The app's AI system then matches your profile photos to the video, confirming your identity.
But Tinder only requires one photo from a user's profile to match the video. So scammers seem to be stealing or AI-generating several photos of the same person to build out the profile, then adding one highly modified photo of their own real face at the end, in order to get verified on the app and gain users' trust.
Haubursin tested this theory by making profiles filled with fake photos on both Tinder and the similar app Hinge, and adding one heavily modified image of his own face. He completed the Face Check, the systems confirmed the images were him, and he was able to get verified on both apps. The competing app Bumble, however, got wise to his scheme and auto-deleted photos that did not match the video he submitted.
Match Group, the parent company of both Tinder and Hinge, did not answer Haubursin's request for comment. However, it later responded to the news site Mashable, stating, "We're aware of the concerns raised about our Photo Verification and Face Check features. In recent weeks, we've taken action to strengthen our Photo Verification badging logic, including requiring greater consistency across profile photos and additional reviews to achieve higher confidence in cases that warrant extra scrutiny."
The company went on to say, "We are committed to continuously improving and investing in our systems to keep Tinder safe and authentic for our users (2)."
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How to spot a romance scammer
Scammers love to trawl dating apps and social media sites for vulnerable people looking for love. Thanks to AI tools, it's easier than ever to crank out fake photos, videos and voice notes, and generate lovey-dovey messages that sound sincere.
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Romance scams are skyrocketing: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 55,604 reports of romance fraud in the first nine months of 2025 (the most recent data available), up 22% over the same period the previous year (3). Losses totalled over $1 billion.
If you think you've been caught by a catfish, take screenshots of all relevant communications and block the person on all platforms. Report the fraudster to the dating app, local law enforcement, the FTC, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
If you let slip any sensitive information, freeze your accounts, change your passwords, and contact your financial institutions to let them know what happened. The AARP also offers a free fraud helpline that can help walk you through what to do.
That all said, you can avoid this stressful situation by learning a few red flags for romance scammers:
Excuses for not meeting in person
Scammers will make up stories for why they can't meet up or turn on video chat. Common ones include working on an oil rig, serving in the military in a "high-security zone," or having a broken phone.
False sense of urgency
Scammers want you to be in panic mode. They will manufacture some sort of emergency (or a buying opportunity that must be jumped on, now!) to make sure you take action before you figure out what's happening. They may say they need money for a plane ticket to visit you, a surgery for a relative, or a customs fee to have a package released.
Long-con romance scams that use fake crypto investing platforms (also called "pig butchering" scams) will build up excitement over time, making you feel pressured to buy before it's too late.
Payment instructions
The AARP says to assume that anyone who asks for money before meeting you in person is a scammer. And remember, real people aren't picky about how you pay. Scammers specify the exact form of payment they require, and it's often something offbeat like cryptocurrency or Apple gift cards (4).
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
YouTube (1); Mashable (2); USA Today (3); Nord Protect (4)
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Genna Buck is an Associate Editor for Moneywise.com
