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in Scam Awareness
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Jay Shooster, a Florida State House candidate and consumer protection lawyer, revealed that scammers used AI voice cloning technology to impersonate him in a call to his father, claiming he had been in a car accident and arrested for DUI and needed $30,000 for bail. The scammers likely obtained a voice sample from Shooster's recent television appearance, and the fraud was ultimately detected when the callers refused card payment and made suspicious claims. Shooster emphasized the effectiveness of such scams despite his professional expertise and urged public awareness, while noting that voice-cloning technology creates a troubling secondary effect: the difficulty of verifying loved ones' identities during genuine emergencies.
wjhg.com
· 2025-12-08
The Bay County Sheriff's Office issued a scam alert after receiving multiple reports of a jury duty scam targeting residents. Victims received phone calls claiming they missed jury duty and had arrest warrants, followed by fraudulent emails with fake warrants demanding thousands of dollars to avoid arrest. The sheriff's office emphasized that law enforcement never calls about warrants or requests payment to avoid arrest, and urged residents to hang up and contact the BCSO directly at 850-747-4700 to verify any such claims.
peoplenewspapers.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment scams targeting seniors and other consumers have become significantly more costly, with median losses rising from $1,000 in 2021 to nearly $6,000 in 2023, according to a Better Business Bureau study. Scammers increasingly blend romance/confidence tactics with cryptocurrency opportunities, primarily recruiting victims through social media and messaging apps, with Texas residents alone reporting $2.1 million in losses during 2024. Key red flags include guaranteed massive returns, pressure to invest for romantic reasons, aggressive responses to refusal, and unexpected high fees required to access returns.
winnipegfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Winnipeg couple in their 70s lost $32,700—over one-third of their retirement savings—to a "church peer" fraud scam in September 2024. A fraudster posing as a trusted church friend contacted them on Facebook about a fake federal grant, then a second scammer impersonating a government employee instructed them to purchase Apple gift cards for "processing fees"; the couple recovered only $700, with police indicating low prospects for recovering the remaining funds. The incident illustrates growing fraud targeting seniors in Manitoba, with police reporting a 15% increase in fraud cases in 2023 and only a 6% clearance rate.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman named Jane fell victim to a phishing scam when, while emotionally distressed, she received a fraudulent email appearing to be from her bank and unknowingly granted scammers remote access to her smartphone. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, adults over 60 have lost more to tech support scams than all other age groups combined, with some victims remortgaging homes or depleting retirement accounts to cover losses. Wise & Healthy Aging offers a free support group called "Seniors Against Scammers" to help scam victims and provides educational resources and workshops on recognizing and preventing elder fraud and abuse throughout Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud scams cost Americans over $3.4 billion in 2023, with the average victim losing $34,000, according to FBI and NCOA data. Social media expert Marcy Thornhill advises families to have supportive conversations with aging relatives about securing finances, including organizing legal paperwork, gathering passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly monitoring credit cards and credit reports for unauthorized activity. These discussions should emphasize protection and empowerment rather than making elderly relatives feel vulnerable or infantilized.
ncdoj.gov
· 2025-12-08
Following hurricane relief efforts in western North Carolina, scammers are exploiting donors' goodwill through charity fraud schemes including phishing emails, fake websites, and counterfeit crowdfunding campaigns. The article provides guidance on verifying legitimate organizations through resources like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Charity Navigator, avoiding unsolicited donation requests, and donating by credit card or check rather than gift cards. Victims of charity scams are encouraged to report fraud to the North Carolina Consumer Protection Division.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Following Hurricane Helene, scammers targeted disaster victims in Asheville, North Carolina with a tree removal scam charging $280 upfront fees while falsely claiming to be "FEMA-authorized" representatives who would cover 90% of removal costs. Victims were also targeted with charity scams involving fake donations and identity theft schemes. North Carolina's Attorney General advised residents to obtain written estimates, avoid upfront payments, verify company credentials and email domains, and research any business before engaging services.
abc15.com
· 2025-12-08
Last year, over 100,000 seniors reported being scammed, with total losses exceeding $3 billion according to FBI data, and Arizona ranks 6th nationally for senior fraud losses. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is conducting community presentations to educate seniors about scams, including a case where a resident was tricked into providing personal information after being contacted about a billing issue. Authorities emphasize that scammers are sophisticated and encourage victims to report incidents without shame, as doing so can help protect other seniors from becoming victims.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Plymouth, Massachusetts homeowner discovered fraudsters had created a forged purchase and sale agreement for his home when an attorney called to verify the sale; the scammers planned to record a fraudulent deed at the registry of deeds to steal the property, though the scheme was thwarted when the attorney alerted the victim. This incident is part of a rising trend of real estate fraud targeting homeowners, with both the FBI and Secret Service issuing warnings, and the victim has since filed a fraud report and enrolled in free registry of deeds notification alerts to monitor his property.
carolinapublicpress.org
· 2025-12-08
Following Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, scammers have been targeting disaster victims through multiple schemes including door-to-door fake donation collections, insurance fraud, and contractor scams. Police reported several reports of fraudsters posing as relief workers collecting donations in areas like Patton Avenue in West Asheville, while insurance adjusters may underestimate wind damage to shift liability to federal flood insurance programs, and unqualified contractors overcharge desperate homeowners for substandard repairs. Authorities advise residents to verify the legitimacy of donation solicitors and repair contractors, avoid upfront payments, and check online reviews before hiring services.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
During major retail shopping events like Amazon Prime Day and Target Circle Week, scams targeting consumers surge dramatically, with impersonation scams (phishing), fake customer service calls, and fraudulent shipping notifications being the most common types used to steal personal and financial information. Scammers exploit these busy shopping periods through deceptive emails, sophisticated AI-powered phone calls impersonating Amazon and Apple support, fake package delivery notices, and social media ads promoting products that never arrive, with phishing attempts tripling around Prime Day compared to normal periods. Consumers are advised to verify phone numbers independently, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and report suspected scams to retailers and law enforcement.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams linked to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are surging in the UK, with Santander UK reporting £3.8 million stolen from customers over six months—a 27 percent increase from the previous period, with average losses of £4,500 per victim. Scammers use stolen images to build emotional relationships with targets across all age groups (18-93) before requesting money through fabricated sob stories about medical expenses or other emergencies. Research shows that 55 percent of people admit to loneliness, and nearly one-third would provide financial support to online romantic partners within six months of knowing them, creating vulnerability to these emotionally manipulative schemes.
campaignlive.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes a promotional campaign by Tinder featuring Love Island star Rob Rausch to raise awareness about romance scams on World Romance Scam Prevention Day (October 3). The campaign highlights Tinder's new verification tool and in-app safety features, noting that U.S. digital consumers lost $1.14 billion to scams in the previous year according to the Federal Trade Commission.
prweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Tinder launched a World Romance Scam Prevention Day campaign featuring Love Island star Rob Rausch to promote awareness of romance scams and advertise its new verification tool available to U.S. users. The campaign highlights that U.S. digital consumers lost $1.14 billion to scams last year, and Tinder has rolled out over 20 safety features in recent years to combat romance fraud. Match Group plans additional influencer partnerships to further educate audiences about online dating safety.
azcentral.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona residents lost approximately $325 million to romance fraud in 2023, making the state the eighth highest in the nation for cyber scam losses. The FBI's Phoenix bureau emphasized on romance fraud awareness day that perpetrators use online dating platforms to deceive victims into sending money, highlighting the need for caution when using dating apps and websites.
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
Twenty Hong Kong residents lost over HK$12 million (US$1.5 million) to online romance scammers in a single week, prompting police warnings about online dating risks. Police noted that while women remain the majority of victims, men now account for 35 percent of cases, including educated professionals such as doctors and engineers. In a related crackdown on September 16, authorities arrested 11 people connected to a fraud syndicate that defrauded 99 men of more than HK$20 million over nine months.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about elder fraud or scams—it is an English language learning lesson from SBS Learn English that uses scam-related vocabulary and scenarios as teaching material. The lesson teaches intermediate English speakers about phishing emails, scam terminology, and passive voice grammar through a dialogue about Gloria, who nearly fell for a fake Australian Taxation Office message but recognized it as suspicious and did not click the link. The educational content includes definitions of scam-related terms, colloquial expressions, and grammar explanations focused on discussing fraud experiences.
which.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines five common tourist scams encountered in 2024, including taxi overcharging through false meters or long routes (one traveler lost her deposit through a fraudulent app booking), fake currency exchange schemes, hotel closure scams where drivers redirect tourists to alternative hotels for commissions, pickpocketing distraction tactics, and restaurant bill padding. The article provides practical advice such as using established ride-hailing apps like Uber, exchanging money only at official banks, verifying hotel bookings directly, and remaining vigilant against theft tactics.
birminghammail.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A travel content creator warns visitors to Italy's major cities (Rome, Venice, Milan, and Catania) about the "rose scam," where street vendors throw roses at tourists, then demand payment when they pick them up and refuse to take them back. The scammer claims the rose is now the tourist's property and demands 1-2 euros or more, exploiting the victim's politeness and confusion. The recommended defense is simple: ignore the vendors entirely and do not pick up any roses left on the ground.
gigazine.net
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity researchers discovered fraudulent apps disguised as calculators and financial news apps on Google Play and the App Store that facilitated "pig butchering" scams, where victims were tricked into depositing funds on fake trading platforms after providing personal and identification documents. The malicious apps, which evaded store review mechanisms by displaying legitimate-looking screens during testing, were downloaded thousands of times primarily in the Asia-Pacific region before being removed, though scammers have since shifted to using phishing sites instead. Experts recommend that financial institutions implement fraud monitoring systems and educate users to verify links and research investments thoroughly.
birminghammail.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Online romance scams surged 25% in six months, with one bank reporting £3.8 million in losses from hundreds of victims between March and August. A survey found that half of 2,000 respondents received suspicious messages, and nearly a third would consider lending money to romantic partners known for less than six months, despite two-thirds believing they wouldn't fall victim to such scams. In a separate case, a man was sentenced to over three years in prison and ordered to repay £32,000 after defrauding a woman he met on a dating app.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. The text provided is a website navigation menu and interface elements from AARP.org, not an article about a specific scam, fraud incident, or elder abuse case. To create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide the actual article content describing a fraud case, scam, or elder abuse incident.
weareresonate.com
· 2025-12-08
80-year-old Alice Lin from California lost her entire life savings of $720,000 to a "pig butchering" scam on WeChat, where a fraudster built trust with her over three weeks before convincing her to make seven wire transfers for a fake investment. Lin is now suing JP Morgan Chase for failing to identify red flags and alert her trusted contact about the unusual account activity, and she has testified in support of legislation requiring banks to delay large transactions when elder fraud is suspected.
channel3000.com
· 2025-12-08
Last year, over 100,000 seniors reported scams totaling more than $3 billion in losses, with Arizona ranking 6th nationally for senior fraud losses. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office held awareness presentations at senior communities after resident George Wilen fell victim to a sophisticated billing scam where fraudsters transferred him between fake departments to steal personal information. County officials emphasize that scammers are highly skilled and encourage seniors to report incidents without shame, as doing so can prevent others from becoming victims.
grandforksherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Long Leaf Trading Group, a Chicago-based boiler-room operation announced in 2020, cold-called victims to promote a commodity-trading scheme that promised 6%-12% annual returns; nearly all customers lost money while the company collected $1.2 million in commissions. The article contextualizes this case within a broader fraud epidemic, noting that consumer fraud cost Americans a record $10 billion in the previous year, with AI-enhanced scams using voice cloning, personalized data, and imposter tactics now replacing older low-tech fraud schemes and making it increasingly difficult for law enforcement to combat modern scammers.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan residents lost approximately $80 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with scammers impersonating government agencies and demanding payment via bitcoin or gift cards for fines and tickets. Michigan State Police and local law enforcement agencies warned residents that legitimate government agencies never request payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards, and advised victims to contact the actual agency directly if contacted by such scammers. One Northville Township resident was defrauded of roughly $300,000 in a similar scheme.
wkow.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reported over 100,000 seniors were scammed last year with total losses exceeding $3 billion, prompting the Maricopa County Attorney's Office to conduct fraud awareness presentations at senior living communities in Arizona, which ranks 6th nationally for senior fraud losses. A local senior named George Wilen shared his experience of being targeted by a sophisticated scam involving a fake billing department that extracted personal information from him. County officials emphasize that seniors are deliberately targeted for their assets and encourage victims to report scams despite feelings of embarrassment, as reporting can help protect other potential victims.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
Employment scams ranked among the top five most common fraud schemes in 2023, with median losses exceeding $2,000 per victim, often targeting job seekers through fake job listings via text, email, or phone calls that request personal information like Social Security numbers or bank account details. Common tactics include fraudsters impersonating real companies, sending fraudulent checks for "supplies" then requesting refunds, and pressuring victims into communication on unmonitored platforms like WhatsApp. Job seekers can protect themselves by verifying company contact information, watching for unrealistic job offers, maintaining records of applications, and avoiding sharing personal information until directly confirming employment with the actual company.
governor.ohio.gov
· 2025-12-08
Following Hurricane Helene, Ohio's Governor DeWine and the Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions warned residents to research charitable organizations before donating to avoid storm-relief scams. The advisory recommends donating only to established charities like the American Red Cross and United Way, verifying organizations through resources like BBB's Wise Giving Alliance, and using secure payment methods such as credit cards rather than cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
thedailybeast.com
· 2025-12-08
Truth Social users, particularly retired older adults, have lost thousands to millions of dollars in scams on the platform over the past two years, with complaints to the FTC documenting "pig butchering" investment schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, and romantic scams that exploited victims out of amounts ranging from $21,000 to $500,000. The scams typically involved fraudsters creating fake investment accounts showing fictitious gains to lure victims into larger contributions, or posing as romantic interests to extract money for supposed emergencies or investment opportunities. Truth Social's parent company stated it has a team actively searching for and removing scams and bots from the platform.
postandcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
Rose Sherrie Davis, a 66-year-old woman, was arrested in September 2022 and faces felony charges including exploitation of a vulnerable adult and financial identity fraud after allegedly stealing $102,109.04 from a nursing home patient at NHC Healthcare West Ashley between November 2021 and April 2022 using her power of attorney access. Davis used the victim's bank accounts and debit cards for her personal expenses and was released on a $25,000 bond; the charges carry potential prison sentences ranging from six months to 10 years.
independent.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A new mandatory bank transfer fraud reimbursement code took effect in the UK, requiring banks to reimburse victims of purchase scams, romance fraud, and investment scams where money was sent via bank transfer. The code protects individuals, small businesses, and charities, with an £85,000 reimbursement limit (covering 99% of claims) and a required refund timeline of 5 business days, though refunds may be denied if the victim was complicit or grossly negligent in the fraud.
union-bulletin.com
· 2025-12-08
Long Leaf Trading Group, a Chicago-based boiler-room operation announced in 2020, cold-called unsuspecting customers to promote a fraudulent commodity-trading scheme promising 6%-12% annual returns, resulting in nearly all customers losing money while insiders collected $1.2 million in commissions. The article contextualizes this relatively straightforward scam within the broader modern fraud epidemic, where AI-enhanced voice cloning, personalized targeting using social media and data breach information, and imposter schemes have driven consumer fraud losses to a record $10 billion annually, with law enforcement struggling to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated technology-enabled cons.
inyourarea.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost UK victims an estimated £6.8 million over 12 months, with individual losses averaging £4,500 across victims aged 18-93, according to Santander UK data. Scammers exploit loneliness and emotional vulnerability by building trust before requesting money, with 28% of survey respondents willing to provide financial support to romantic partners known for less than six months. Protective measures include removing emotion from financial decisions, reverse-image searching photos, refusing to send money to online-only contacts, and reporting suspected scams to Action Fraud or local police.
lmtribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Idaho Attorney General Larry EchoHawk warned residents about companies using patriotic-sounding names to conduct fraudulent or deceptive business practices, with his Consumer Protection Unit taking enforcement action or investigating eleven businesses involved in sweepstakes scams, living trust sales, loan brokering, and magazine subscriptions. The attorney general cautioned consumers not to judge businesses solely by their names and to scrutinize what is actually being offered, regardless of how patriotic the company's branding appears.
dailycommercial.com
· 2025-12-08
A Leesburg woman named Kimberly Bitting and two accomplices allegedly stole approximately $350,000 from a senior widow over 18 months by abusing power of attorney authority to issue fraudulent checks and purchase property. Bitting is charged with three counts of elderly exploitation and one count of organized fraud (both first-degree felonies), while co-defendants Lara Larsen and Ashton Silvis face lesser fraud charges; all defendants have pleaded not guilty. The case highlights the vulnerability of grieving seniors to exploitation by those posing as concerned caregivers, with law enforcement recommending that families remain vigilant about monitoring relationships and financial decisions involving elderly relatives.
masslive.com
· 2025-12-08
A 24-year-old New York woman, Yuxin Fu, was arrested at JFK Airport in September 2023 after fleeing to China, in connection with a government impersonation scam that defrauded a Cape Cod resident of $46,000 in December 2022. The scammer posed as a DEA agent and convinced the victim that their Social Security number was linked to a Texas investigation, instructing them to transfer money to a "safe" government account to prevent seizure. Fu was charged with larceny and receiving stolen property, held on $100,000 bail following her arraignment.
wdrb.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam targeting thousands of drivers impersonated AAA, offering a free emergency car kit via email to collect personal and credit card information for supposed postage fees. Henry Dorfman fell victim after receiving the fraudulent email, attempting to pay with two different credit cards before realizing the scam when he received error messages. AAA officials have issued alerts warning customers to verify unexpected emails before providing personal information, as similar scams have also targeted customers of companies like Aldi and Amazon.
rollingstone.com
· 2025-12-08
Truth Social users, predominantly older adults, have reported losing tens of thousands to half a million dollars to romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment schemes ("pig butchering"), and recovery scams originating on the platform, according to FTC complaints. One 72-year-old victim lost $21,000 to a romance scammer, while a North Carolina resident lost $150,000 to a fake investment scheme falsely claiming Trump and other Republican figures as co-founders. Many victims are Baby Boomers withdrawing retirement savings, with scammers using fake identities, false promises of investment returns, and fake banking websites to perpetrate the frauds.
dtnext.in
· 2025-12-08
A Tamil Nadu businessman lost Rs 2 crore ($238,500) in an email spoofing scam in September when he received a fraudulent email impersonating his legitimate supplier and transferred funds via SWIFT to a fake bank account in the US. Thanks to quick reporting through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and coordinated efforts between Tamil Nadu Police, the Union Home Ministry's I4C, and Regions Bank, the full amount was recovered and returned to the victim. Police advise verifying email authenticity, checking for spelling errors or urgency tactics, and reporting suspected fraud immediately through the Cyber Crime Toll-Free Helpline or official portal.
alternet.org
· 2025-12-08
Truth Social users, predominantly older Americans, lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to scammers using "pig butchering" schemes and romance scams, according to FTC complaints obtained by a tech reporter. Victims included a 60-64-year-old from Minnesota who lost $500,000 to a cryptocurrency investment scam, a septuagenarian who lost $21,000 in a romance-based scheme, and a 70-74-year-old from Oregon who lost $120,000 in a fake gold trading scam. Scammers typically build trust on Truth Social before moving victims to other platforms and convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency, stock, or precious
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
An Atlanta resident fell victim to a spoofing scam in which fraudsters impersonated a JPMorgan Chase fraud representative using a spoofed phone number and tricked her into authorizing a $17,900 transfer to a Wells Fargo account. Despite the customer discovering the fraud in real time and rushing to both a Chase branch and a Wells Fargo branch, neither bank recovered the funds, with Chase refusing reimbursement and Wells Fargo claiming to have investigated but taking no action. The incident highlights the vulnerability of customers to sophisticated phone spoofing attacks and the challenges in recovering stolen funds once they are transferred between financial institutions.
citizen-times.com
· 2025-12-08
Following Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, authorities warned of increased scam activity targeting disaster victims, including FEMA impersonation fraud, fake fundraisers, home repair rackets, and land theft schemes via text messages. The North Carolina Attorney General's office had already received over 200 complaints about price gouging as of the article's publication. Residents are advised to verify contractor licenses, research charities through the Better Business Bureau, confirm FEMA representatives' credentials, and report suspected fraud to local police or the Attorney General's office at 877-566-7226.
newsbytesapp.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters in India are impersonating Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) officials and targeting pensioners through WhatsApp, sending fake forms and threatening to halt pension payments to extract sensitive information including bank account details and Pension Payment Order numbers. Pensioners can protect themselves by remembering that government agencies never request such personal information via WhatsApp or phone calls, and should verify any suspicious communications by contacting official agencies directly using verified contact numbers. Reporting these scams to authorities is critical to prevent further victimization of vulnerable senior citizens.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
From 2018 to 2020, Medicare paid out over $1 billion in fraudulent claims for orthotic braces (neck, back, and other supports) that were sold to beneficiaries through unsolicited telemarketer calls and advertisements without required doctor consultations or prescriptions. The scheme involved 24 defendants across 17 federal districts who submitted $1.7 billion in false Medicare claims, often sending unrequested or medically unnecessary braces to seniors, which put recipients at health risk and potentially disqualified them from future legitimate brace coverage.
kq2.com
· 2025-12-08
Nick Gertsema delivered a seminar at Benedictine Living Community in St. Joseph, Missouri, educating senior citizens on preventing identity theft and scams. Key prevention strategies include never sharing personal information with unknown contacts, verifying the identity of those requesting information, and recognizing that requests for payment in cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency are scam indicators. Individuals who suspect fraudulent contact should hang up and contact their bank and authorities.
irishnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A new AI-powered scam detection tool called Ask Silver has been launched in the UK, allowing users to upload screenshots of suspicious texts, emails, or websites through WhatsApp to verify their safety. Developed in partnership with Get Safe Online, the tool provides instant analysis and recommended next steps, including scam reporting options. The launch coincides with new UK banking regulations requiring banks and payment providers to jointly refund consumers who lose up to £85,000 to scams.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
Southeast Asian scam operations generated between $18 billion and $37 billion in fraudulent losses during 2023, with criminal networks expanding their use of sophisticated technologies including malware and generative AI to conduct crypto fraud, romance scams, and money laundering across the Mekong region. Beyond direct victims, thousands of people have been trafficked to work in "scam centers" embedded in casinos, hotels, and special economic zones, while organized crime groups have professionalized their money laundering operations to become global market leaders in moving illicit proceeds.
brand-innovators.com
· 2025-12-08
Tinder launched a romance scam prevention campaign featuring reality star Rob Rausch to educate users about avoiding online dating fraud, which caused $1.1+ billion in losses across digital platforms last year. The campaign includes social media videos, in-app safety reminders, and educational content about suspicious behaviors like requests to move conversations off-platform, overly rapid emotional escalation, and avoidance of in-person meetings. Tinder's parent company Match Group invests $125 million annually in safety measures, including ID verification features and machine learning systems to detect fraudulent activity.