Unfortunately, romance scams are common in our modern world. We’re always looking at new ways to stop scammers that find their way onto Feeld, but scammers are always finding new ways to scam.
While we’ll constantly work to keep you as safe as possible on Feeld, there are some things you can keep in mind to help protect yourself as well. This article outlines some ways to keep yourself safe from romance scams when using apps like Feeld.
Know the signs of a romance scam
Here are some signs that someone may be trying to scam you:
- The person wants to move the conversation to another platform (such as WhatsApp, Kik, or WeChat) soon after connecting.
- The person is ‘lovebombing’ you (e.g. showering you with excessive compliments and constant attention) or pushing the relationship to progress very quickly.
- Requests for money or frequent talk of personal financial crises.
- Requests to hold or move money for them.
- They want to teach you about investing or making money, often crypto.
- They change their communication style frequently.
- They avoid in-person meetings and video calls.
- They want you to keep the relationship secret or try to cut you off from friends and family.
Ultimately, trust your gut—if something feels off or you’re feeling uncomfortable or overwhelmed by your interactions, it's worth asking yourself these questions or seeking a trusted second opinion.
Keep the conversation on Feeld
Scammers will likely try to move the conversation to a different app almost immediately. This is a major red flag.
We recommend that you stay on the Feeld app until you trust the person you're communicating with. Even then, always be mindful when you share personal details such as your real name, phone number, address or any other personal information.
Keeping the conversation in Feeld means if anything did happen, we can work with authorities and hand over all communications and profile data we have at once.
Be careful sharing intimate images and videos
Sharing sexy images can be fun, but be aware that bad actors may try to use them against you. Scammers sometimes use nude or sexual images to blackmail you, threatening to expose your images and details online or send them to loved ones.
We suggest not sharing sexual images and content until you’ve built trust with the other person and are confident in their identity.
Feeld offers features that can help protect you, like expiring images in chat and screenshot protection. But these are not 100% effective strategies, so always exercise caution when sharing intimate content.
Keep a healthy skepticism at all times
Online dating is fun, and we’d never want to take that away from the experience, but it’s best to take notice any time something doesn’t feel right to you. Keeping a healthy skepticism at all times while using Feeld will help you spot issues faster if they pop up.
Never send money to people you only know online
We strongly recommend that you never send any money to anyone you don’t know in real life (including gift cards and payment for hotel bookings or transportation). Anyone you don't know in real life who's asking for this is likely trying to scam you.
Never give personal identifiable information to someone you only know online
Scammers have a lot of different scams they try to run. While some will ask for money directly, others may try to gain personal details about you in order to commit identity fraud.
Do not share any banking information with someone you’ve met online. And don’t share personal identifiable information, like passport info, SIN numbers, or the details of your family members.
Report bad actors
If you encounter someone you believe is trying to scam you on Feeld, please report them. This will help keep you and other Feeld Members safe from these bad actors in the future.
If a crime has occurred, we recommend reaching out to the police in your area if you feel comfortable doing so. Feeld will work with authorities when needed and can provide profile and communications data to them when appropriate.