If someone asks for money, stop. Never send cash, bank transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency or account details to a person you have met through online dating. Contact your bank immediately if you have already paid.

Romance scam warning signs

Scammers build trust before asking for anything. They may be patient, attentive and willing to message for weeks. One sign alone does not prove fraud, but a pattern of urgency, inconsistency and financial requests should be taken seriously.

  • They quickly describe the relationship as love or destiny.
  • They repeatedly avoid video calls or in-person meetings.
  • Their photos, location, work or life story do not remain consistent.
  • They claim to be overseas, on a remote work assignment or unable to access their own funds.
  • An emergency appears and only you can help.
  • They ask you to receive, transfer or invest money.
  • They pressure you to move immediately to private email or encrypted messaging.
  • They tell you to keep the relationship or payment secret.

Protect your personal information

Use the dating service’s messaging tools while you are still getting to know someone. Avoid publishing your surname, home address, exact workplace, regular routine or financial position. Check photos before uploading them: mail, number plates, work badges and location details can reveal more than expected.

Use a unique password for your dating account and email. Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever available. Never share verification codes, passwords or copies of identity documents in a conversation.

Use verification as one signal, not a guarantee

SeniorMatch offers profile and photo-verification features intended to improve confidence in who is using an account. Verification can reduce some uncertainty, but it cannot guarantee a person’s intentions, relationship status or future behaviour. Continue using the same privacy and meeting precautions with every match.

Check a suspicious profile

  1. Read the complete profile and compare it with what the person tells you.
  2. Use a reverse-image search if a photo looks unusually polished or appears inconsistent.
  3. Search distinctive phrases from their messages; copied scam scripts may appear elsewhere.
  4. Ask ordinary questions about their claimed location and daily life.
  5. Save relevant messages before blocking or reporting the account.

Do not confront a suspected scammer with all the evidence you found. Stop contact, report the account and preserve the information needed by the platform, your bank or authorities.

Plan a safer first meeting

  • Choose a busy public place and meet during daylight or early evening.
  • Tell a trusted person who you are meeting, where and when.
  • Arrange your own transport in both directions.
  • Keep your phone charged and accessible.
  • Do not invite a new match to your home or go to theirs.
  • Limit alcohol and do not leave food or drinks unattended.
  • Leave immediately if you feel pressured or unsafe.

Reporting and getting help in Australia

Block and report suspicious behaviour through the dating service. If money or financial information is involved, contact your bank without delay. Australian guidance and reporting options are available through:

If there is an immediate threat to your safety, call Triple Zero (000). If you need non-urgent police assistance in Australia, call 131 444.

What to do after a suspected scam

Feeling embarrassed can delay action, but romance scams are deliberately designed to exploit trust. Stop payments, contact the relevant financial provider, change exposed passwords and tell someone you trust. Keep screenshots, receipts, profile details and phone numbers. Fast reporting may improve the chance of limiting further loss.

SeniorMatch safety habits

Keep conversations within SeniorMatch until you feel comfortable, use available block and report tools, and never treat profile verification as permission to lower your guard. A genuine match will respect a careful pace and will not need your money, passwords or financial help.