Online Dating Scam Statistics (2026)
These statistics from the FTC, FBI, academic research, and our own 2026 Dating Safety Survey paint a clear picture of the online dating safety landscape.
Romance Scam Statistics
The financial and personal impact:
- •$1.3 billion+ in reported US romance scam losses annually (FTC)
- •Median individual loss exceeds $10,000
- •Romance scams are the #1 most financially damaging consumer fraud
- •Only 15% of victims report — actual losses are likely much higher
- •Pig butchering scams are the fastest-growing variant
Catfishing and Fake Profile Statistics
The prevalence of deception:
- •84% of women have been catfished or suspect misrepresentation (GuyID Survey 2026)
- •10-20% of dating app profiles are estimated to be fake at any time
- •30-40% of online daters have misrepresented their age
- •AI-generated photos are increasingly used to create undetectable fake profiles
Dating Safety Behavior Statistics
How people actually behave:
- •89% check social media before a first date (GuyID Survey 2026)
- •86% have avoided meeting someone because something felt off
- •57% say ID verification should be standard for dating
- •68% would share a safety tool with friends immediately
- •62% would definitely check a trust profile before meeting
- •Only 34% have a formal safety plan for dates
- •Only 29% use live location sharing while on dates
What These Numbers Mean
The data is clear: deception is the norm, not the exception. Verification and safety preparation are not paranoia — they are rational responses to the statistical reality of modern dating.
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Related Tools & Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do these statistics come from?+
FTC annual reports on consumer fraud, FBI IC3 annual internet crime reports, academic research from institutions like the Identity Theft Resource Center, and our own GuyID Dating Safety Survey (2026, n=37 and growing).
Are dating scams getting worse?+
Yes. Both the number of reports and the total losses have increased every year for the past decade. AI tools are making deception easier and more sophisticated, while the dating pool continues to grow.
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.
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