This Valentine’s Day, OneID® is taking online safety to the next level. We’re bringing together voices from across the dating industry to help people navigate online connections safely. Our campaign, Catch the Red Flags, is all about simple, practical tips that help daters stay safe from scams, impersonation, and image misuse.
Romance scams, revenge porn, underage grooming, and online sexual exploitation are on the rise. With AI tools making it easier than ever for bad actors to manipulate others, dating apps and social platforms have become breeding grounds for fraud.
When people are in a dating mindset—whether on an app or a social media platform—they are often emotionally vulnerable, which can make them more open to deception. Scammers exploit this to draw victims into schemes that result in financial and emotional harm. Worse, many victims hesitate to speak out, feeling ashamed or blaming themselves.
Londoners have been hit hardest by dating scams, with the estimated cost of romance fraud topping £400 million. According to Action Fraud, over 8,000 cases of romance scams were reported in the UK in 2023 alone, with victims losing an average of £10,000 each. The NSPCC has also warned about the increasing risks for young people, as underage users on dating platforms are more susceptible to online grooming and exploitation.
While online dating is just one of the industries the UK's Online Safety Act looks to regulate, it is one of the most critical ones — especially with the risks mentioned above.
Once something enters the digital space, it becomes harder to control. Whether it’s your images, financial details, or interactions on a dating app, prevention is the best defence. Recognising red flags early on can save people from emotional distress and financial loss.
That’s why this Valentine’s Day, we’re helping people make safer, smarter connections online. By being informed, looking for verification badges, and choosing platforms that prioritise security, daters can protect themselves from potential harm.
We’re teaming up with leaders from different spectrums of the dating industry to root this campaign in reality.
Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing insights and advice from these experts to empower daters with the knowledge they need to stay secure.
Dating apps have a responsibility to protect their users and must invest in robust safety features.
Sizzl, in partnership with OneID®, has already taken steps to keep underage users and scammers off its platform. By integrating highly effective age assurance and other verification measures, they’re creating a safer space where users can trust the profiles they engage with.
For platforms that treat online safety as just a compliance requirement, age verification may seem like a box-ticking exercise. But when dating services embrace safety as a core value proposition, they create a differentiated experience that attracts and retains users. Sizzl is proving that security can be a competitive advantage, not just an obligation.
By prioritising online safety, dating platforms can build trust, protect users, and create spaces where genuine connections can thrive.
Stay tuned as we roll out expert insights, practical safety tips, and real-life stories.
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