Dating sites raided over misleading fake profiles

This week the Netherlands authority on consumers and markets ACM raided a number of companies that run dating sites. They are suspected of getting money out of customers by misleading them with fake profiles. According to the ACM, it is often vulnerable people that fall victim to this practice, NU.nl reports.

According to the ACM, visitors to the sites receive messages from fake profiles, which are sent by employees of the companies. The visitors then have to pay to respond to messages from these fake profiles.

As long as the investigation is ongoing, the ACM will not reveal which companies are being investigated. The Authority warns dating site users to be alert when they have to pay per message, because this could be an indication of a fake profile.