Romance Scams & Dating Site Fraud Lawsuit
Cincinnati, Ohio Class Action Attorney investigates dating site fraud in consumer protection lawsuits. Deceptive Marketing and romance scams are grounds for legal action.
Consumer complaints about possible Match.com fake ads have led to consumer fraud investigations and class action dating site deception lawsuits. In a potential large wave of litigation, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against the online dating giant Match Group, which owns and operates Match.com, Tinder, OKCupid, PlentyOfFish, and other dating sites.
The official consumer protection complaint alleges Match used fake love interest ads to lure hundreds of thousands of consumers into buying subscriptions on Match.com. The FTC also alleges that Match has defrauded consumers in other deceptive marketing practices, like offering false promises and unsubstantiated “guarantees.”
Consumers have lodged complaints about online romance scams, unsuccessfully disputing credit card charges, and say the company has made it difficult for users to cancel subscriptions. Attorneys have used strong language to describe the trade practices of Match group, saying the company “conned” and “scammed” people into using their services.
Joe Lyon is a Cincinnati, Ohio Class Action Consumer Protection Attorney reviewing online romance scams deceptive marketing claims and investigating Match.com fake ads on behalf of plaintiffs nationwide.
Dating Site Fraud Lawsuits
Match Group has become a huge corporation, publicly worth over $20 billion. The company has created very popular dating sites and dating apps, which sometimes allow users to create profiles for free, then hook the consumer into paying for a subscription with alluring ads and clever marketing.
The company may have gone too far in attempting to lure consumers, however. According to the FTC complaint, Match.com sent emails to nonsubscribers saying that another user expressed an interest in them. One example of such an ad reads: “He just emailed you! You caught his eye and now he’s expressed interest in you … Could he be the one?”
These kinds of emails are not uncommon, as the site is set up to send user notifications when another consumer likes them or sends a message. But the FTC alleges that many of Match’s “You caught his eye” notices were fabricated, and may have come from fraudulent accounts. In turn, many consumers may have purchased subscriptions due to these deceptive ads.
Reports from users and consumer protection lawyers say many consumers were only faced with Match.com fake ads, spam, fake accounts, and once the user signed up for a subscription, the account on the other end was “unavailable.” The result? Consumers were duped and felt scammed, as they paid for a subscription to Match.com only because of deceptive marketing and an alluring false advertisement.
Match.com Ads & Online Romance Scams
As many as 30 percent of Match.com members who register to use Match.com attempt to initiate romance scams, phishing schemes, and fraudulent advertising. Fraudsters have been known to use dating sites for the primary reason of trying to initiate romance scams that extort money from other users.
Match has identified numerous fraudulent users and scam messages, though many consumers have not been privy to such information. In their own defense, Match Group says it blocks 96 percent of fake accounts and scam bots within a day. However, that still leaves quite a few.
According to a released statement, from June 2016 to May 2018, Match consumers purchased 499,691 subscriptions within a day of receiving a fraudulent communication or fake ad.
The FTC also alleges Match deceptively snagged consumers and sold subscriptions to Match.com with a promise of a free six-month subscription if they did not “meet someone special.”
But consumers often were unaware they needed to comply with additional terms, and were thereby charged an extra 6 months. When consumers then disputed the charges, Match banned the users from accessing the services they had already paid for.
Recurring Charges & Unfair Billing Lawsuits
Match may have also violated the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) when it failed to provide a simple and understandable way for consumers to opt out of a service and stop recurring charges placed on their credit cards. The company’s cancellation process, according to plaintiffs, is confusing, and has cost consumers millions of dollars over the years.
The FTC says even Match employees have described their cancellation process as “hard to find, tedious, and confusing.” Match.com has allegedly billed one million people after their first six-month package ended to extend their subscription.
If you have been a victim of Match.com fake ads, online romance scams or another deceptive marketing violation and have questions about the legal remedies available, contact The Lyon Firm at (800) 513-2403. You will speak directly with Mr. Lyon, an Ohio consumer protection attorney, and he will help you answer critical questions regarding romance scam lawsuits.
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