At Coffee Meets Bagel, our goal is to help people build genuine, lasting relationships. While most members join with good intentions, scammers sometimes use dating apps to target others through romance scams.
Our Trust & Safety team works hard to detect and remove fraudulent accounts, but knowing the warning signs is one of the best ways to protect yourself. Here are some common red flags to watch out for.
They move too fast
- They give you a lot of compliments or say they love you very early.
- They want to move to text, calls or other apps (such as WhatsApp, LINE or WeChat) right away.
- Some scammers are patient. They may build your trust for weeks or months first, especially in cryptocurrency scams.
They tell emotional stories
They may say they work overseas, serve in the military, lost a partner, or are caring for a sick family member. These stories are often used to explain why they can’t meet, or later, why they need money. Check whether their actions match what they say.
They avoid meeting
On Coffee Meets Bagel, getting to know each other should lead to meeting in person eventually. If your match keeps saying no to a video call or a date, and always has a reason, such as working abroad or being “too shy,” be careful.
They ask for money or information
Stop talking to them immediately if a match:
- Asks for money, gift cards or your account information, often because of a sudden “emergency.”
- Talks a lot about investments or cryptocurrency, or sends you to investment websites.
- Threatens you or tries to blackmail you.
Only share personal details, such as your address, full name or private photos, with someone you fully trust.
How to report a match
If you think a match is a scammer, or if they have broken our Community Guidelines, please report them. Reporting helps us stop them from targeting other members.
To report a bagel, tap the flag icon labelled “Hide or Report” at the bottom of their profile.