Fake online dating safety verification subscription scam — scammer asks dating app match to complete "safe dating certification" or "age verification" with credit card "just for verification" but enrolls victim in recurring adult-content subscriptions

Dating app verification scam where scammers (posing as potential matches or as the dating platform itself) ask targets to complete a "safe dating certification," "background check," or "age and identity verification" through a third-party website — supposedly for safety before meeting. The site collects credit card details with assurances like "it's free," "no charge will be applied," or "just to verify your age" — but secretly enrolls the victim in recurring monthly adult-content subscriptions ($39.99-$99.99/month). Key facts: (1) FTC 2024: romance scam losses exceeded $1.14 billion — the single largest fraud category; (2) Legitimate dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, Hinge) perform identity verification within their own apps — they never require a credit card for verification, and they never redirect users to third-party verification sites; (3) Any site that says "enter your card for verification only — you won't be charged" is a classic billing trigger disguise; (4) The "safe hookup certification" and "safe dating ID" brands rotate constantly to evade detection; (5) The scammer often disappears after the target visits the verification link. Warning signs: request to verify at an external site before exchanging numbers, credit card required "for verification only," promise of no charges.