Muzz, Coffee Meets Bagel step up safeguards as romance scams evolve
KUALA LUMPUR: Dating platforms are stepping up verification, moderation and user-safety measures to combat scammers who exploit online relationships to build trust before targeting victims for money and personal information.
Dating applications are enhancing security measures to counter romance scams targeting users' personal information and finances. Muslim matchmaking app Muzz has introduced compulsory selfie verification for new users, scrutinizing photos against verification images and employing additional signals like location and device data to spot fake accounts.
Users can voluntarily undergo identity verification using government identification, earning a blue badge on their profiles. Muzz's 24/7 community team assists users in addressing abusive behavior, with all-female support believed to foster a safe environment. The platform restricts communication to within the app, enabling voice and video calls without sharing personal contact details.
Muzz warns users against sending money, sharing financial data, or engaging in recommended investment schemes. Trust & Safety head Rachel Tee at Coffee Meets Bagel details a multi-faceted approach, incorporating selfie verification, automated systems, message moderation, human review, and in-app reporting tools. Users can flag suspicious activity, which the Trust & Safety team reviews alongside behavioral indicators and account histories, aiming for a 24-hour response.
Serious violations may lead to account bans. Tee emphasizes the importance of combining technology, human oversight, user education, and collaboration with law enforcement to deter scams. The company encourages scam victims to report incidents to authorities, supporting the investigation process while adhering to privacy laws.
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