Watch out for mistaken identity dating website text scams

If you receive a text from someone claiming they recently met you on a dating website such as PlentyOfFish, Hinge or Tinder, and asking if you’d like to meet up, it’s probably not a case of mistaken identity as much as it is probably a scam.

In this article we discuss the “We met on a dating website mistaken identity” text scam. It is a specific version of the “mistaken identity” text scam which we discuss here.

Imagine the scenario…

You get an SMS text message from someone calling you by the wrong name, claiming they had previously met you on an online dating website, and asking if you’d like to meet in person since they’re in the area. Take the examples below…

heyy r ya Sterling? its Nevaeh.. we chatted on eHarmony last time I went to come see my grandma but we didn’t connect offline. I’m back in the area for a little bit if you wanted 2 really go out while I’m here, r you open 2 that?

Heya are you Greyson? Its Manda, we matched on plentyoffish before when I came to come see my aunt but we didn’t meet 4 lunch,, im back in the area right now if u wanted to actually go out this time, are you available?

Hey is this Alex? this is Amanda,, we matched on tndr last time I cam to chill with my aunt but we never met 4 coffee. I’m back in town rn if u still want 2 actually go out this time, are u available?

hi are u Roger? im Manda,,, we matched on Hinge last time I came down to hang with my aunt but we didn’t meet for coffee,, I’m back in town again if ya wanted 2 really go out while I’m here, r u available?

These are certainly not the sort of texts we’d expect to land in our inbox every day, and it’s likely that most of us will reply so as to politely tell the sender that it looks like they’ve been given the wrong number.

But wait – after you send your response, the sender, unperturbed, apologises for the mistake but seemingly wants to keep the conversation going. Take the example below…

A recipient of an unattached disposition may be tempted to keep the conversation going. What a way to meet a potential true love, after all? A story just like the movies. Certainly something to tell the kids when they’re older.

And it isn’t long before this mysterious sender is firing over pictures of herself over the chat, and surprise surprise, she’s a good looking lady.

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But as the conversation progresses, the scam soon becomes apparent. The sender wants you to see their photos. We mean, they’re naughty photos – wink wink! But first you need to sign up for an adult website since the photos are – naturally – behind a paywall.

It’s a trending scheme to essentially lure men to dating/adult/escort websites and cough up the registration fees for the privilege. And it’s a pretty convincing hook, though we can’t imagine there is much success towards the end game.

But be warned – not only are the people behind these text messages trying to lure innocent chaps towards naughty XXX websites, they could also be harvesting your details and pairing your phone number with information they learn about you during these text conversations. This can then make a person vulnerable to targeted scams.

It’s also worth mentioning that it’s probably not going to be long before the more orthodox “romance scammers” will be trying their luck with this particular method in order to try and find vulnerable singles to scam out of money.

So if you get a text message peddling some made-for-TV case of mistaken identity, it’s probably a good idea just to hit the delete button instead.