Dating apps and websites
Learn how to help keep safe while using dating apps and how to get support. You can also report cybercrime to us online, by phone, or in person
Risks of online dating
Online dating can come with risks, which include:
- fake apps and sites that aim to steal your personal information
- people who try to trick you into sending money
- people who target you with investment fraud or crypto scams
- users who create fake profiles (often with stolen images)
How to report suspicious online dating behaviour
If you want to tell us about suspicious online behaviour, you can report it online, by phone, or in person.
Get support from other organisations
You can get support from other organisations:
- Brook offers relationship and dating advice
- Get Safe Online for advice on how to protect yourself online
Support for scams and fraud
You can get support to help protect you from scams and fraud, such as romance fraud:
- Stop! Think Fraud is the UK government’s fraud advice service
- Take Five for tools and advice on how to avoid scams and fraud and what to do if it happens
- Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland for advice and tools to protect yourself from fraud
- Cyber and Fraud Hub for advice, self-help tools like scam checkers, and a scam response hotline (phone: 0808 281 3580)
Ways to make online dating safer
To try and make online dating safer, you can:
- use trusted sites and apps
- avoid sharing personal information
- be careful meeting someone in person (meet in a public place, go during the day, bring a friend)
- be aware that many online dating profiles are fake (read our advice on romance fraud)
- read seven tips for safer online dating from Brook
Sharing intimate images
There can be big risks around sharing intimate images with someone you’re dating online.
Read our advice on revenge porn and sextortion to learn more about these risks and what you can do to stay safe