U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) have requested information from Match Group, the company behind dating apps such as Hinge, Tinder, and OKCupid, regarding efforts to address romance scams on its platforms. These scams involve individuals forming deceptive relationships to obtain money or gifts from victims and have become a significant form of financial fraud in the United States.
According to data cited by the senators, Americans lose at least $1.3 billion annually due to romance scams. Nearly half of all online dating users in the country reportedly use a Match Group platform, with more than half believing they have encountered scammers.
“Match Group’s platforms have become a breeding ground for bad actors who prey on vulnerable Americans, especially seniors who have lost their life savings because of scams,” said Senator Blackburn. “Despite public promises to improve safety, the company’s practices and algorithmic design raise serious concerns about whether it’s truly protecting users. We’re asking for answers and transparency to ensure these platforms are not enabling bad actors.”
Senator Hassan added, “Romance scams are robbing Americans of millions of dollars every year, and taking a devastating emotional toll in the process. The companies operating dating apps must be honest with the public about the extent to which these scammers have infiltrated their platforms and must do more to protect their users from fraud.”
In their letter addressed to Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff, Senators Blackburn and Hassan outlined several requests for documents and information related to policies on fraudulent activity detection, review processes for suspected scam accounts, algorithmic treatment of such accounts, internal reports on user safety measures, investments in trust and safety operations, and more.
The letter references past allegations by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which claimed that up to 30 percent of new Match.com members between 2013 and mid-2018 were scammers. It also notes that mass emails were sent promoting communication with accounts suspected or known to be fraudulent—a practice Match Group says it has since discontinued.
Concerns were raised about whether resources dedicated to rooting out scammers matched public commitments made by Match Group leadership. Statements from company officials indicate ongoing challenges with sophisticated overseas scam operations exploiting weaknesses in verification systems.
Research referenced by the senators suggests that algorithmic designs may inadvertently foster trust that can be exploited by scammers. Former OkCupid CEO Christian Rudder noted that users were influenced by compatibility ratings even when inaccurate. Studies indicate that algorithms designed for engagement could unintentionally help fraudsters connect with potential victims.
The senators requested responses from Match Group by October 15, 2025.
