Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on Wednesday pressed Match Group, the parent company of the popular dating app, for information about its handling of romance scams.
“Given Match Group’s stated commitment to improving upon its historical practices relating to user safety, we write today to request documents and information about the company’s policies, procedures, and practices related to fraudulent activity on its platforms,” the senators wrote in their letter to Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff.
The bipartisan duo is seeking “all documents and communications concerning the design, development, effectiveness, or consideration of fraud prevention measures” and “itemized quarterly investments in trust and safety.”
Romance scams are a leading form of financial fraud in the U.S., resulting in at least $1.3 billion in annual losses, Hassan and Blackburn noted.
These scams typically see fraudsters use fake online profiles to form relationships with victims and convince them to turn over funds.
“Over the years, many events have raised questions about whether Match Group—in its business practices and algorithmic design—has contributed to the proliferation of romance scams online,” the senators added.
They underscored that the FTC accused the company of exposing dating app users to fraud in 2019.
In a statement to The Hill, Match Group’s trust and safety head Yoel Roth reiterated the company’s commitment to user safety, citing investments in fraud detection as well as partnerships with law enforcement.
