Dating Safety Statistics (2026)
Original data from the GuyID Dating Safety Survey combined with FTC, FBI, and industry research. Updated quarterly.
84%
of women have been catfished or lied to on dating apps
89%
check social media before a first date
57%
say ID verification should be standard for dating
$1.3B
lost to romance scams annually in the US (FTC)
Methodology
The GuyID Dating Safety Survey is an ongoing study of adults who actively use online dating platforms. Current sample: n=37 (growing quarterly). Survey conducted via anonymous online questionnaire distributed through dating communities and social media.
Industry statistics are sourced from FTC Consumer Sentinel reports, FBI IC3 annual reports, Pew Research Center, and published dating app data. All sources are cited inline.
Last updated: March 2026. Survey data is updated quarterly as sample size grows.
📋 Cite This Research
Journalists, researchers, and bloggers are welcome to cite these statistics with attribution. Suggested citation:
Retrieved from https://guyid.com/dating-safety-statistics
Please link back to this page when citing. For media inquiries or full dataset access, contact us through the contact page.
GuyID Dating Safety Survey (2026)
Original research · n=37 and growing · Updated quarterly
🎭Deception & Trust
of women have been catfished or suspect someone misrepresented themselves on a dating app
check a match's social media before agreeing to a first date
have avoided meeting someone because something felt 'off' about their profile or messages
believe identity verification should be standard on all dating apps
🔍Verification & Safety Behavior
would definitely check a trust profile before meeting someone from a dating app
would share a dating safety tool with their single friends immediately
would make asking for a trust verification a standard part of their dating process
have a formal safety plan for dates (telling someone where they're going, check-in system)
⚠️Safety Gaps
use live location sharing while on dates
have a formal safety plan for dates
do NOT have a designated safety person for dating
do NOT share their live location on dates
Industry & Government Data
From FTC, FBI, Pew Research, and industry reports
💸Romance Scam Impact
Source: FTC / FBI
in reported US romance scam losses annually
median individual loss per romance scam victim
most financially damaging form of consumer fraud
of victims actually report — real losses are likely 5-7x higher
📱Dating App Landscape
Source: Industry Reports
of new relationships now begin online
of dating app profiles are estimated to be fake or misleading
of online daters have misrepresented their age
people worldwide use dating apps
What These Numbers Mean
The data paints a clear picture: deception is the norm in online dating, not the exception. When 84% of women have experienced catfishing and the average romance scam victim loses over $10,000, dating safety is not a niche concern — it is a mainstream necessity.
The gap between awareness and action is striking. While 89% of people check social media before dates (showing high safety awareness), only 34% have a formal safety plan and just 29% share their live location. This gap between knowing and doing represents the core problem GuyID's tools address — turning safety awareness into safety action through simple, structured assessment tools.
Perhaps most significantly, 57% of respondents want identity verification to be standard on dating apps. This is not a fringe request — it is majority opinion. The market is demanding what GuyID provides.
Turn Data Into Action
Use GuyID's 55 free tools to evaluate your matches, detect red flags, and plan safe dates — based on the same patterns identified in this research.
About the Author
Ravi Shankar
Founder, GuyID · Dating Safety Researcher · 13+ Years in Data Analytics
Ravi Shankar is the founder of GuyID and a Principal Data Analyst with over 13 years of experience in data and analytics. He created the 2026 Dating Safety Survey and built GuyID's suite of 60 free dating safety tools to bring data-driven verification to online dating. His research on catfishing, romance scams, and dating manipulation has been cited across the dating safety community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this data come from?+
The GuyID Dating Safety Survey is original research conducted by GuyID. Industry statistics are sourced from FTC Consumer Sentinel reports, FBI IC3 annual reports, Pew Research Center, and published dating app company data. All sources are cited inline.
How large is the survey sample?+
The current sample is n=37 and growing. We update the data quarterly as the sample expands. We are transparent about sample size because methodology matters more than impressive numbers.
Can I cite these statistics?+
Yes — journalists, researchers, and bloggers are welcome to cite any statistics with attribution to GuyID and a link back to this page. For full dataset access or media inquiries, use our contact page.
How often is this data updated?+
Quarterly. Each update expands the sample size and may introduce new questions based on emerging dating safety trends.
Are these statistics US-only?+
The GuyID survey includes respondents primarily from North America. FTC and FBI statistics are US-specific. Dating app landscape statistics are global unless otherwise noted.