SAN FRANCISCO —
- Over half use dating apps — including one in five age 65+
- 63% of online daters have been contacted by a scammer
- Men more risky with 62% not checking backgrounds
While many single adults are embracing online dating and dating apps as a way to meet romantic partners, it’s important to be aware that the same technology that connects us doubles as an ideal environment for predators and scammers. According to a new Wells Fargo survey, over half of all singles (52%) have used a dating app or online dating site, including one in five singles who are age 65 or over (20%). What’s more, of those 52% of singles who’ve used a dating app or online dating site, nearly two out of three (63%) have been contacted by somebody they thought might be a scammer — including 58% of those who are over 65. Furthermore, of all singles surveyed, one in three (33%) have known somebody who fell for an online romance scam, including 27% of those over 65. Nevertheless, one-quarter of all singles (25%) met or dated somebody online during the pandemic, with a third of all singles (35%) saying the pandemic made them more interested in meeting people online. Few see themselves as vulnerable to online dating scams A third of all singles (30%) have close family or friends whom they consider to be vulnerable to romance scams, though a third as many (just 11%) consider themselves vulnerable. When it…
