Romance Scam Prevention Act Mandates Fraud Warnings Within 24 Hours on Dating Apps

This new legislation, officially titled the Romance Scam Prevention Act, tackles the growing problem of online dating fraud head-on. Simply put, it forces online dating services to notify you if someone you’ve been messaging gets banned for being a fraud risk. It’s a consumer protection measure designed to stop scams before they cost you your savings.

The 24-Hour Heads-Up

If you’ve exchanged messages with a user who is later banned for fraud, the dating service has to send you a clear, conspicuous warning notification. They generally have to do this within 24 hours of the ban, though they can delay it up to three days if necessary. This notification isn't just a vague alert; it must specifically list the banned user’s profile name, the last time you messaged them, and a strong warning that the person might have been using a fake identity or trying to scam people. Think of it as the platform finally doing the digital equivalent of tapping you on the shoulder and saying, “Hey, watch your wallet.”

What the Warning Must Say

The required warning message has some crucial safety details. Dating services must use this alert to remind you never to send cash, any other form of money, or personal financial details to another member. For those juggling busy schedules, this is a quick, mandatory reminder before you make a costly mistake. For example, if a scammer was trying to convince a construction worker to send money for ‘travel expenses,’ this alert could arrive just in time to prevent the transfer. The services also have to provide contact information for their customer service and resources on how to avoid online fraud.

Enforcement and the National Standard

Who’s making sure the dating apps actually follow through? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the primary enforcer, treating violations like unfair or deceptive business practices. State Attorneys General can also step in to sue platforms on behalf of their residents. This dual enforcement structure is meant to keep the platforms compliant. Importantly, this Act sets a single national standard for these specific fraud notifications, meaning states can’t create their own conflicting rules about how and when these warnings are delivered. This standardization simplifies compliance for the platforms but also means that individual states can’t offer more tailored, stringent notification rules than the federal baseline.

The Trade-Off for Dating Services

While this is a win for users, it means new operational costs and compliance requirements for online dating services. They have to set up systems to track these interactions and issue timely, compliant warnings. However, the bill offers them a significant protection: they can't be sued over how or when they sent this required fraud warning, as long as they followed the specific timing and delivery rules laid out in the Act. This protection is designed to encourage platforms to issue the warnings without fear of immediate legal backlash, though some might worry this broad liability shield could reduce accountability if platforms only meet the bare minimum requirements.