Imagine this: You've been chatting with someone for weeks who seems absolutely perfect. Then come the requests for money. And later you find out the dating app already knew this person was a scammer. But didn't warn you.
That's about to change. 40% of dating app users have been targeted by scammers, and the US House of Representatives responded in June 2025 by passing the Romance Scam Prevention Act. If signed into law, dating platforms would need to alert users when they receive messages from accounts that were previously banned for fraud.
About time, honestly. According to the FTC's 2024 Consumer Sentinel Data Book, romance scam and online dating fraud victims lost over $1.3 billion in 2024. More than 64,000 Americans fell victim. The problem is global: In Bavaria, Germany alone, police recorded 450 romance scam cases in 2023, totaling 5.3 million euros in damages.
What the Law Actually Requires
The Romance Scam Prevention Act demands transparency from dating platforms. When someone reports an account for dating app scam and it gets banned, the platform must warn other users if that scammer returns with a new profile.
The bill passed with bipartisan support and would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. Whether the Senate approves it remains to be seen. But the message is clear: lawmakers recognize the scale of this crisis.
Why Traditional Warning Signs No Longer Work
You probably know the standard advice for catfishing detection. Watch for bad grammar. Request a video call. Do a reverse image search.
Bad news: That advice is outdated. Scammers now use ChatGPT for flawless text. They clone voices with just seconds of audio. And yes, deepfake video calls are real. The "show me your face live" argument? Doesn't work anymore.
According to Norton's 2025 cybersecurity report, deepfake fraud in the US surged 700% in early 2025. A Gen Digital study found that 60% of online daters believe they've chatted with AI-generated profiles. Seeing is no longer believing.
The New Tactics: Friendship Scams and Pig Butchering
Here's where it gets sneaky: Scammers realized that "I love you" after three days sounds too obvious. So they changed tactics.
Melanie McGovern from the Better Business Bureau told AARP it plainly: "We're starting to call them friendship scams instead of romance scams. A lot of times it's somebody wanting to be your friend, talking you up. And then there's the ask of, 'Hey, I'm investing in this great crypto platform. You should get involved too.'"
This is the "pig butchering" scheme. The name comes from the Chinese phrase "sha zhu pan" and means exactly what you think. Victims are "fattened up" over weeks with trust and small investment gains before the slaughter: bigger investments demanded, and suddenly everything is gone.
Red Flags: Spotting Catfishing in 2026
Classic warning signs still apply, but they need updating. Here's how you can spot catfishing:
Profile red flags when identifying fake profiles:
Photos look too perfect or unnaturally smooth
Occupation: military, oil rig worker, overseas doctor
Profile was created recently
Behavioral patterns in catfishing:
Unusually fast emotional intensity
Avoids phone calls, keeps postponing meetings
Wants to move communication to another platform
The biggest alarms:
Any request for money, regardless of reason (Spoiler: There's NO good reason)
Investment tips from someone you only know online (Would you give $5,000 to a stranger at a bus stop? Exactly.)
Pressure to act quickly ("This opportunity is only available today!" is classic manipulation)
How to Protect Yourself
The most important advice? Slow down. Sounds basic, but it's your strongest weapon against catfishing.
Scammers need speed. Emotional pressure is their business model. When someone declares eternal love after three days while they haven't even told you their real last name, you know something's off.
Security.org recommends one iron rule against dating app scams: Never send money to someone you've only met online. No exceptions. Not for plane tickets, not for medical emergencies, not for investments.
Verify through other channels. Use dating apps with mandatory identity verification against catfishing. At SparkChambers, we prioritize profile verification because genuine connections need a foundation of trust. More tips in our safety guidelines for secure online dating.
What This Means for Europeans
The Romance Scam Prevention Act is US legislation, but the problem is worldwide. In Germany, catfishing itself isn't a crime. However, once someone obtains money through false identity, fraud charges under Section 263 StGB can lead to up to five years in prison.
If you're thinking "that would never happen to me," that's what all 64,000 victims thought too. Professional scammers are trained manipulators. And while policy is slowly catching up, your best protection lies with yourself.
If you've been scammed: Report it to police. Document all messages and transfers. And don't blame yourself. Professional scammers are trained manipulators. This can happen to anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: January 2026
