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How to spot a dating scam in Singapore

By Vincent Emmanuel Lee, founder of Steade · Last reviewed 17/Oct/2026

Most dating scams follow the same path. Someone matches with you, is unusually warm very quickly, moves the chat to WhatsApp or Telegram, and then asks for money or pushes an “investment”. If a person you haven’t met asks for money, gift cards, crypto or your banking details, stop. Don’t pay, and call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799 if you’re unsure.

How common are dating scams in Singapore?

Common enough to take seriously. The Singapore Police Force’s Annual Scam and Cybercrime Brief 2025 reports:

  • 917 internet love scam cases in 2025, up from 852 in 2024.
  • About S$24.9 million lost to love scams in 2025, an average of about S$27,202 per case.
  • 886 scam cases of all types in 2025 where scammers first reached victims through dating apps or websites.
  • Where scammers used messaging apps, WhatsApp (53.5%) and Telegram (37.9%) were the most common.

Love scam cases rose while scams overall fell: total scam cases dropped 27.6% in 2025, to 37,308.

How a dating scam usually works

ScamShield, the national anti-scam service, describes four stages:

  1. Contact: “Scammers create fake profiles on dating apps or social media using stolen photos and fabricated details.”
  2. Trust: they build an emotional connection “through constant communication and declarations of love.”
  3. Urgency: they claim an emergency, such as business or money trouble, immigration or rental problems.
  4. Money: they ask for urgent help repeatedly before you’ve met, then disappear once they’re paid.

A second pattern ends in an investment pitch instead of a plea for help. The match mentions a trading app or a crypto platform that has made them money, offers to show you how, and asks you to start small. The SPF says investment scam victims often found the “opportunity” through “recommendations from online friends”.

Warning signs

Before you’ve met, watch for these:

  • They say they love you, or talk about a future together, within days.
  • They want to move to WhatsApp, Telegram or another app straight away.
  • They always have a reason not to video call or meet.
  • They live or work overseas, or are “about to fly in”.
  • Their photos look like a model’s, or appear under another name in a reverse image search.
  • Their story changes, or their messages feel scripted.

When money comes up, watch for these:

  • They have an emergency and need help “just this once”.
  • They mention an investment, trading app, crypto or a “mentor” who can help you earn.
  • They ask for gift cards, a bank transfer, an OTP, your banking login or a copy of your NRIC.
  • They ask you to keep the relationship, or the money, secret from friends and family.

One of these signs on its own may be innocent. Two or more together, especially once money comes up, is a pattern.

What to do if you suspect a scam

  1. Stop replying and don’t send money. Don’t share OTPs, passwords or banking details.
  2. Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799 if you’re unsure whether it’s a scam.
  3. Report the profile on the dating app, and block it.
  4. If you’ve sent money, call your bank straight away to try to stop the transfer, then make a police report.
  5. Tell someone you trust. Scammers rely on secrecy. Saying it out loud helps, and it warns others.

If you’ve already lost money, ScamShield’s website has an “I’ve been scammed” section with next steps.

How to stay safer on any dating app

  • Keep the chat in the app until you’ve met and feel comfortable. You don’t owe anyone your phone number.
  • Video call before you meet. Someone who is real and interested will usually agree.
  • Meet in a public place the first time, tell a friend where you’ll be, and get there on your own.
  • Never send money to someone you’ve only met online, however good the reason sounds.
  • Choose services that check identity, and remember that a verified badge confirms identity, not intentions. Our guide to Singpass-verified dating explains the difference.

What Steade does about scams

No app can stop every scam, and Steade doesn’t claim to. What it does:

  • Every member’s identity is checked before their profile goes live, with Singpass or with a moderator’s review of a photo of their NRIC or Singapore pass and a selfie.
  • Chat stays in the app, so you never have to share your number to start talking.
  • New accounts can’t send links or phone numbers in chat for their first 14 days. That slows down the usual move to WhatsApp or Telegram.
  • Report and block are on every introduction and conversation. Moderators acknowledge reports within 24 hours and review urgent ones within 4 hours during support hours.
  • The community rules forbid asking a match for money, crypto, gift cards or investments. Breaking them can get an account closed.

Steade is open for sign-up. Introductions start once most members have at least five people who fit them both ways. You can create your account, or read about meeting safely and why links and phone numbers are limited.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if someone on a dating app is a scammer?

Look for a pattern: fast declarations of love, a push to move to WhatsApp or Telegram, excuses not to video call or meet, and then a request for money or talk of an investment. Any request for money from someone you haven’t met is the clearest sign.

How many love scams are there in Singapore?

The Singapore Police Force recorded 917 internet love scam cases in 2025, with about S$24.9 million lost, up from 852 cases in 2024.

When should I give my phone number to someone from a dating app?

When you’re comfortable, and not before. Many people wait until after a first meeting. If someone pushes hard to move off the app early, treat it as a warning sign.

What should I do if I’ve been scammed on a dating app in Singapore?

Stop contact, call your bank immediately, make a police report, and report the profile on the app. You can also call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799 for advice.

Are scams less common on verified dating apps?

Identity checks make fake profiles harder to create, but they don’t confirm anyone’s intentions. Keep the same habits on any app: talk in the app, meet in public, and never send money.

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