– A look behind the scenes, honest figures, and why security in online dating means real work –
A few months ago, we shared the story of how DuoLivo was founded out of a desire to build something honest and fair. Shortly after, we had the opportunity to write about the launch of our app, featuring the first registrations and a mixture of pride and humility. Today, we would like to write about something that no platform really likes to address openly: fake profiles.
We are writing about this because it is part of being honest. Because our members have a right to know what really happens behind the scenes. And because we believe that trust only grows where uncomfortable topics are spoken about openly.
Why we are writing about fake profiles today
Anyone who registers on a dating platform brings something very personal: trust.
Trust that…
…there is a real person behind a profile.
…the information provided is correct.
…a platform seriously cares about who appears there in the first place.
This trust is particularly important for people over 50. Many of our members are not looking for superficial contacts, but for honest encounters. They are looking for closeness, conversation, and perhaps a new partnership. Anyone who opens up again at this stage of life, after a separation, a loss, or years of being alone, deserves a protected environment.
That is exactly why we cannot simply ignore the issue of fake profiles. They are a real problem in online dating, and there are attempts at DuoLivo as well. The difference lies not in whether they exist, but in how consistently we deal with them.
What the numbers really tell us
Since the launch of DuoLivo in December, we have verified around 1,400 registrations. Every single one. Before the profile even became visible to others.
Of these 1,400 registrations, we have so far been able to approve around 320 as real, valid profiles. These are the people for whom we actually built DuoLivo.
The remaining 1,080 registrations were not published, were blocked, or had to undergo additional verification steps. To be honest, that is more than we expected at the beginning. Today, only about one in five registrations actually ends up on the platform. Four out of five registrations are suspicious, incomplete, implausible, or do not meet our security requirements.
It is important to us to provide a fair assessment. Not every blocked registration is automatically a proven attempt at fraud. Sometimes information simply doesn’t match, or a place of residence seems unrealistic. Occasionally, there are technical indicators that do not fit the profile, and in some cases, images are used that appear elsewhere on the internet. And sometimes, a person simply cannot sufficiently confirm their identity.
In all these cases, we do not publish the profile as a precaution. Not because we want to be fundamentally suspicious, but because we want to protect the real members on DuoLivo. That is exactly what we built DuoLivo for.
The patterns that keep recurring
Fake profiles do not all look the same. There is no single typical profile that you recognize immediately. Nevertheless, we see certain patterns that show up again and again.
The fact that fake profiles and romance scams are a serious problem is also confirmed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – the official Swiss federal authority for cybersecurity.
Stolen images are one of the most common patterns. Photos are used that do not belong to the registered person. Sometimes they come from social networks, sometimes from other websites, and sometimes they seem completely inconspicuous at first glance. Only a closer inspection reveals that the image does not fit.
False identities are the second major pattern. Names, ages, or life stories that do not seem plausible or do not match other indicators. Profiles that state a Swiss place of residence but where technical indicators point to another country or a different time zone are particularly suspicious.
We also repeatedly see registrations overnight from foreign time zones. This alone is not proof; after all, someone could be trying out an app while on a business trip. But together with other factors, it creates a clear picture.
And then there are the profiles with an unrealistic place of residence. If someone claims to live in a small Swiss municipality, but neither the phone number nor other details match, we take a closer look.
By the way, what we have not found so far are automated bots on a large scale. But that doesn’t mean the topic is irrelevant. We constantly monitor how fraud attempts change and adapt our checks accordingly.
How we verify profiles
At DuoLivo, every profile is checked before it becomes visible. This is a key difference from many other platforms where profiles appear online immediately and are only checked after being reported.
Our verification is deliberately a combination of manual control and technical tools. Technology can do a lot: it can recognize patterns, make connections visible, and flag anomalies. But in the end, human judgment is required. A machine cannot assess plausibility in the same way a human can.
Among other things, we check profile photos, profile text, age, place of residence, email address, phone number, technical country indicators, device information, and general behavior within the platform. Subsequent changes to the profile can also lead us to take a closer look. If someone suddenly changes a lot on their profile, we check it again.
Our aim is not to demand perfect profiles. A profile can be simple, short, or not yet complete. Many people need time to find the right words for themselves, especially when they are venturing back into this territory after a long break. Our concern is more about whether a profile seems plausible and whether there are indications that the identity is incorrect.
What happens if a profile is suspicious
If a profile seems suspicious, it initially remains unpublished. It is therefore not shown to other members at all.
In such cases, we require additional verification steps. Depending on the situation, this may be a confirmation of the phone number, a selfie, an ID document such as an identity card or passport, or additional identification via Swiss Post.
Currently, only Swiss phone numbers are allowed on DuoLivo. This is also a deliberate security measure. It makes it harder for fraudsters to create as many profiles as they like.
In borderline cases, we decide cautiously. This means: if we are not sure, a profile is not simply published. We prefer to block it temporarily and request additional verification. This can be tedious for some real individuals, and we are very aware of that. At the same time, this exact caution is necessary if you want to seriously protect a platform.
One observation that gave us pause: in recent months, we have received both very well-faked ID documents and surprisingly clumsy forgeries. Both show that fraudsters do not give up just because a platform requires verification. That is exactly why security must not stop at a single step.
When the community helps
Our members also help to make DuoLivo safer. Suspicious profiles can be reported at any time, and every report is taken seriously.
So far, a total of 5 profiles have been reported by members. In 2 cases, the report was justified; the profile was checked and removed.
These figures show us two things. Firstly, the community’s vigilance works. People are paying attention, they look out for each other, and they speak up when something isn’t right. Secondly, it is just as important to check every report carefully and not to judge prematurely. Three of the five reports turned out to be unjustified, and that is also part of the process.
We usually respond to such reports within a few hours. If a profile is removed or blocked and chats with other members already existed, we inform the affected persons directly in the corresponding chat.
This is particularly important to us. Anyone who has already written to a suspicious profile should not be left in the dark. Transparency is important even when it is uncomfortable.
Why security means real work
From the outside, a profile check might look simple. Look at a photo, read a few details, approve or block. In reality, there is significantly more to it.
A normal profile check takes an average of about 2 minutes. With around 1,400 registrations, that already corresponds to about 2,800 minutes or almost 47 hours of pure initial verification. And that is only the first step.
On top of that, there are suspicious cases, inquiries, support requests, document checks, technical evaluations, the further development of our protection mechanisms, and communication with affected members. Security is not a single function that you install once and then consider the problem solved. Security is an ongoing process. It is created through vigilance, consistent action, and the willingness to make uncomfortable decisions.
External costs also play a role. Phone number verification, technical infrastructure, support systems, security mechanisms, and identification processes cause ongoing costs. In addition, there is the internal effort for moderation, development, and support.
We don’t want to dramatize this. But we want to be transparent: a reputable dating platform cannot be completely free, fully open, and reliably protected at the same time. The work has to be done somewhere.
Why membership also has a protective function
At DuoLivo, there is a binding membership. It finances not only the platform itself but also verification, support, and security. At the same time, it acts as an important hurdle for people who are not serious.
Many fake profiles are created exactly where registration is possible very quickly, anonymously, and free of charge. The easier it is to create any number of profiles, the more attractive a platform becomes for fraudsters.
Our experience shows: membership deters many problematic profiles. Most suspicious registrations come from the free area before a membership is even concluded. Occasionally, it does happen that a suspicious profile pays, which is why membership alone is not enough. Verification remains necessary.
Nevertheless, it is part of our security concept. It creates commitment. It reduces the amount of arbitrary registrations. And it helps to finance the work necessary so that real people can get in touch with each other in the safest possible environment.
Our goal is not to show as many profiles as possible. Our goal is to show real profiles.
Why we don’t have chat moderators
Another important point is our stance on artificial conversations.
DuoLivo deliberately refrains from using chat moderators, fake chats, and artificial profiles that feign interest. We do not want people to write to someone who in reality has no interest in an encounter. And we also do not want conversations to be kept alive artificially just so that a platform appears more active than it is.
This has advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage is clear: anyone who receives a message on DuoLivo is writing to a real person.
The disadvantage is just as clear: real people do not always answer. They are sometimes unsure, busy, distracted, or simply not interested. A response can therefore never be guaranteed.
For us, this is still the right way. Real encounters do not arise through artificial activity. They arise through honest interest, mutual respect, and the freedom to say yes or no.
We believe that all people deserve this honesty. No games. No false promises. No artificial conversations. Instead, a platform that honestly tries to make real contacts possible.
Why we sometimes have to be strict
When we block a profile or request additional verification, it is not always pleasant. It can happen that a real person feels controlled or unsettled as a result. We understand that, and we are truly sorry.
Nevertheless, we must be strict in certain situations. Because if we approve profiles too lightly, the real members bear the risk. A single fake profile can write to several people, build trust, cost time and energy, and in the worst case, cause real harm.
Our responsibility is therefore not only toward the person who is newly registering. It is just as much toward all existing members who trust that we verify carefully.
In borderline cases, we therefore decide in favor of security. This is sometimes slower. Sometimes more inconvenient. But it is more honest.
What you can do yourself
No matter how much we check, a degree of vigilance remains important. Security is always created together: by the platform and by the members.
Therefore, here are a few tips that we recommend based on our own experience and from exchanges with other platforms:
- Communicate within DuoLivo for as long as possible, ideally until after the first personal meeting. Anyone who wants to switch to Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp very quickly should arouse suspicion. This does not automatically mean that something is wrong. But it is a typical pattern in fraud attempts.
- Never send money to a person you have met via a dating platform. Even if the story sounds sad, urgent, or credible. Fraud attempts often deliberately build on sympathy.
- Do not share copies of ID, bank details, private documents, or very personal information with someone you have not yet met in person.
- Be cautious of very rapid declarations of love. If someone promises great feelings after a short time but repeatedly postpones a meeting, caution is advised.
- Report profiles to us that seem suspicious to you. You don’t have to be certain. A bad feeling is completely sufficient for us to take a closer look.
A look ahead
Fake profiles will remain an issue in online dating. Fraudsters adapt, they change their methods, use new images, new texts, and new ways to build trust.
That is why we will also continue to develop our protection mechanisms. We will continue to check profiles before every publication, evaluate technical indicators, request additional verifications, and act consistently in case of suspicion.
DuoLivo is a young platform. We are growing step by step. In doing so, it is important to us not just to gain more members, but to create the right framework: for real people, honest conversations, and encounters that feel good and safe.
Security sometimes means saying no.
No to…
…a profile that is not plausible.
…a registration that cannot be verified.
…artificial conversations, fake chats, and fast growth figures at any price.
For us, it is clear: it is not about showing as many profiles as possible. It is about making the right profiles visible.
Real people. Honest intentions. And an environment where trust can grow.
Two hearts. One path.
Warm regards
Valentin & Alex
