Tinder is implementing new identity checks for users in the UK, requiring a passport or driving licence to be verified against a video selfie. Those who opt into the voluntary scheme will receive an icon on their profile confirming the authenticity of their age and likeness. The dating app has been a target for fraudsters in the past, prompting the move to enhance security measures.
Victim Support, a charity, praised the initiative but urged platforms like Tinder to make ID verification mandatory across all dating apps to combat romance fraud, also known as catfishing. This type of fraud involves individuals pretending to be someone else in order to enter into a relationship with the goal of scamming money from their victims.
Tinder’s new system will give users more confidence that the people they are interacting with on the app are genuine. Those who verify a photo will receive a blue camera icon badge, while those who prove their ID will get a blue ID icon badge. Users who complete both steps will receive a blue checkmark. The system has already been successful in Australia and New Zealand, resulting in a 67% increase in matches for verified users.
In addition to the UK, the tool will also be rolled out in the US, Brazil, and Mexico. This is not the first security initiative from Tinder, which has previously used selfies and blue checkmarks for celebrities. With over half a billion downloads, Tinder is considered the world’s most popular app for meeting new people.
