Recognise the pattern before trust becomes pressure
Most people on dating services are genuine. Fraudsters, however, reuse predictable scripts to obtain money, intimate material or personal data. Familiarity with those scripts is more reliable than deciding that a polished profile simply feels trustworthy.
A common romance scam sequence
- An unusually polished profile declares intense feelings very quickly.
- The person claims to work abroad and repeatedly avoids a spontaneous video call.
- They push the conversation onto a private messenger before trust is established.
- An urgent request follows for money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, banking access or identity documents.
Never send money to someone you have not met in person. Long conversations, photographs and scanned documents can all be fabricated. A small first request often tests whether a target is willing to pay before the alleged emergency grows.
Sextortion and intimate images
In sextortion, an intimate image or video conversation is recorded and followed by a threat to publish it. Paying usually leads to more demands. Stop responding, preserve the profile, messages, threats and payment details, report the account and contact the police when appropriate.
Practical safeguards
- Keep early messages on the platform so its moderation and reporting tools remain available.
- Do not share your home address, employer, bank details or identity documents.
- Use dating photographs that are not already public on your social profiles.
- Have a short video call before travelling a significant distance.
- Meet first in public, arrange your own transport and tell a friend your plans.
Reporting in Switzerland
- National Cyber Security Centre NCSC: the federal point of contact for cyber information and incident reports.
- Cybercrimepolice.ch: current warnings and prevention information, mainly in Swiss national languages.
- Your cantonal police: contact them when money, threats, coercion or identity misuse are involved.
If money was transferred, contact your bank and police quickly. Do not delete the conversation or receipts. This page is general information and is not legal advice.