U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) unveiled the Romance Scam Prevention Act on Friday, a bipartisan push to protect dating app users—especially vulnerable seniors—from ruthless scammers draining billions nationwide.
Co-sponsored by Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and mirrored in the House by Representative David Valadao (R-Calif.), the bill mandates that dating platforms notify users when they’ve interacted with someone banned for fraud, closing a loophole that leaves victims in the dark.
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“Scammers are merciless in their exploitation of senior citizens who join dating apps to establish meaningful connections but instead end up losing their life savings to con artists who prey on their vulnerabilities,” Blackburn said in a statement. The legislation targets a surging threat: romance scams that bilked Tennesseans over 60 out of $43 million in 2023—an 18% jump from 2022—and cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022 alone, per the Federal Trade Commission.
The bill addresses a grim trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, when isolated seniors flocked to online dating for companionship. Scammers, often posing as suitors, exploit the recently widowed or divorced, building trust before siphoning cash. “Online dating has become an increasingly common way for people to connect, but unfortunately, it’s also a tool for scammers,” Valadao said. “This bipartisan, bicameral bill provides transparency … and reinforces best practices to prevent online scams.”
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Under current practice, dating apps like Match or Bumble swiftly deactivate accounts flagged for fraud—say, after a user tricks someone into sending money. But conversations often shift to private platforms like WhatsApp or email, leaving victims unaware their “match” was a con. The Romance Scam Prevention Act would require apps to send a “fraud ban notification” to anyone who’d messaged a banned user, a simple alert that could halt scams midstream. “It fills a critical communication gap,” said Hickenlooper, emphasizing its role in empowering users.
The stakes are stark. In Tennessee, seniors lost homes and nest eggs to fake lovers promising marriage or emergencies needing cash. Nationally, the FTC logged a 70% spike in romance scam losses from 2020 to 2022, with median individual losses hitting $4,400. Victims, often embarrassed, underreport, suggesting the real toll is higher.
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Blackburn’s move drew praise from advocacy groups like AARP, which has long warned of seniors’ susceptibility. “This is a lifeline for those targeted at their most vulnerable,” said AARP Tennessee’s Amy McCart. Critics, though, flag potential privacy snags—could notifications expose legitimate users to scrutiny?—while tech firms may balk at added compliance costs. Match Group, which owns Tinder and Hinge, declined immediate comment but has previously touted internal fraud detection.
“We remain committed to our long-standing efforts to ensure user safety and support thoughtful legislation like the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which aims to enhance protections. Having championed similar state-level initiatives, we welcome collaboration with legislators, partners, experts, and NGOs to create effective safety solutions,” said a Match Group spokesperson. “In advance of any potential federal legislation, we’ve already begun rolling out fraud notifications to users on our brands. We look forward to working with Senators on passing a bill that both strengthens user protections and encourages further advancements in online dating.”
With Valadao steering the House version, the bill’s bipartisan sheen signals a rare Capitol Hill consensus on consumer protection. “I’m proud to help lead the effort to make online dating safer and protect Americans of all ages from financial fraud,” he said. As dating apps boom—Pew reports 30% of U.S. adults have used one—the legislation could set a precedent for tech accountability. For now, Blackburn’s gambit puts scammers on notice: the romance game might soon get harder to play.
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