Tinder: Suspended sentence after romance scam using a fake woman’s profile

A man pretended to be a woman and defrauded a man in Suffolk of more than £9,000. According to the BBC, contact began on Tinder. He received a suspended prison sentence and must pay £9,165 in compensation.

This concerns misuse by other users, not the service's own security, and does not count in the score.

What happened

A man created a false female identity and made contact with a man in Suffolk. According to the BBC, this happened via Tinder. The fake profile claimed to be seriously ill and in financial difficulty. The two exchanged intimate messages and talked about moving in together. The victim transferred money in 78 transactions in 2019. According to the BBC, the perpetrator spent the money on living costs and his horse, and thwarted every attempt to meet. He admitted acquiring criminal property from fraud. The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended, and ordered him to pay the victim £9,165.

What is documented

• Suffolk County Council, whose Trading Standards team investigated the case, confirms the guilty plea, suspended sentence and compensation amount.
• The BBC reported from court, linked the case to Tinder and obtained a comment from Tinder about its safety work.

What has not been established

• The council’s own account does not name the app used. The Tinder connection is based on the BBC alone.
• The sources give slightly different durations: ten versus eleven months.
• It has not been established whether the victim has actually received the compensation or whether the sentence has been appealed.

What this means for you

1. Never send money to someone you have not met in person.
2. If you are unsure about an online relationship, talk to friends or family.
3. If something does not add up, report it. Avoiding meeting in person is a classic warning sign.