Tinder has been around for a long time now and people have been using it since 2012. Since then, it has become a popular choice among singles looking for love. Unfortunately, for those who enjoy the app, there are some people out there who try to take advantage of their innocence: scammers. They are literally everywhere and use different techniques to get what they want. They may even pretend to be interested in you or even send you messages on the app making you think there is a small possibility for you to find “true love”.
However, this doesn’t mean that all Tinder users are scams. There are also many legitimate users on the platform, but before you give them personal information about yourself, make sure you know how to spot one from another. In this article we will let you know what you need to know about dating scam and how to protect yourself against it.
What is Tinder?
Tinder is an online dating application that allows users to meet new friends and potential lovers – it is all about swiping right if you like someone or left if you don’t. A match is made when you and another user swipe right, which allow the two of you to start chatting with each other to possibly create a connection.
The best part about Tinder is that it only takes a few seconds to find potential matches. That is why it has become so popular as it is one of the fastest online dating platforms available today. However, it is no secret that everything in this life has its dark side – and Tinder is not the exception.
What is online dating scam?
Online dating scam is when someone pretends to be someone else. This happens because of the anonymity that internet dating applications give to users, such as Tinder. Anyone can create an account using a false name, some fake pictures and, sometimes, even fake locations.
To avoid falling pray of online dating app scammers, you should always look closely at the profile before you decide to chat with anyone. Remember, in case you are not very sure if a person’s profile is legit or not, just ask them for a live proof.
What are the dangers of using Tinder?
Danger is not limited to dating scammers, so anyone who uses the app without taking precautions could prejudice their life. When you sign up for Tinder, you choose a username and password. If these are stolen by some scammer, he could access all your personal information and benefit badly form it.
If someone tries to steal your identity, they might do awful things to others using your image, so start protecting your account by never sharing your password with anyone. Also, it is important that you understand the difference between “liking” and “swiping right”. The first one means you just like someone’s picture but do not want to bond in any way, and the second one means you are interested on what you are seeing.
It is very easy to click the wrong button, thus causing unwanted attention from scammers, so be careful when you use this app. Another danger is that scammers can deeply study your profile and the personal things you share on it, learning more about you than they should. This makes it easier for them to trick you into giving them sensitive information as they use everything they have learned to earn your trust.
You should always keep an eye on your app activity and always think twice before swiping right.
How to mask your IP on Tinder?
When signing up for any social media site, not just Tinder, you need to provide an email address and a password. This is done to prevent someone from hacking your account and stealing your information.
A hacker can do this by accessing your computer remotely and logging into your account. If you’re worried about hackers, it is better to ensure that you set all security settings of your device to the highest level.
One of the many things you can to is to mask your IP address when you sign up for Tinder. This will prevent you from sharing your real location with Tinder’s database, although you will find profiles of people in different locations – even very far away from you.
Internet safety tips for online communication
Internet safety is crucial for everyone, especially when communicating with strangers. Never give out your full name or phone number on the internet unless you trust the person you are talking to – and this includes the ones you meet on Tinder.
This is because cybercriminals can easily impersonate others to gain access to your personal details. Make sure to verify a person’s authenticity before disclosing any personal information.
In addition, do not reveal confidential information such as passwords or PIN codes over text message.
Another wonderful tool you can use to avoid sharing your personal phone number on Tinder is to use a virtual telephone number.
What are virtual numbers and how can they be used on Tinder?
Virtual numbers are phone numbers that cannot be traced back to a real individual. They are typically used by users who seek to maintain their real phone number private, as every platform requires personal information in order to store it on its database. Moreover, these numbers can also be used to verify accounts on platforms like Tinder as it requires every user to complete an SMS verification process.
There are plenty of virtual numbers providers out there, but no one can compare to our quality SMS service. Here on Major Phones you can safely use our numbers to successfully verify a Tinder account without worrying about your personal number being shared or stored on a database that could eventually be hacked.
Conclusion
Tinder is free to use, but there are certain things that you should look out for. Even though the app is free, there are still risks involved. By learning how to identify a Tinder scammer, you can stay safe and avoid falling prey to their tricks. Keep your guard up and always pay extra attention to your app usage.
Now that you know how to tell if a Tinder user is genuine or a scammer, you should feel comfortable using the app again. Just remember to read profiles carefully and verify their authenticity before sending any messages.