Why verification is the most important criterion
Fake profiles are not a side issue, they are the core risk of online dating: they waste time, distort the picture of the community and are the entry point for romance scams. That is why the test checks whether an app actively verifies profile authenticity or merely offers checks as an option.
The difference is measurable: where verification is voluntary, it stays the exception. Where it is mandatory, the share of suspicious profiles drops noticeably.
How the apps score
The big apps Tinder, Bumble and Hinge offer photo verification but do not enforce it, plus reporting and blocking functions at the usual level. All three receive 3 out of 5 in the test, as do Badoo and Dua.
The top score of 5 out of 5 goes to embla: verification via photo matching is mandatory there, and a profile that has not passed the authenticity check stays out. This fits the app’s core principle: a match must be earned, it only happens through genuine mutual interest.
Data protection under test
Data protection shows a similar picture: Badoo and Tinder score weakest at 2 out of 5, partly because of extensive data use across their corporate groups. Bumble, Hinge and Dua sit at 3 out of 5, embla leads with 4 out of 5.
A basic rule regardless of the app: reveal as little machine-readable information as possible. Home address, employer and daily routines do not belong in a profile, no matter how well the app scores.
A safety checklist for everyday use
Before the first date: a video call instead of endless chatting, it exposes most fake profiles within minutes. Always meet first in a public place and tell someone you trust. Never send money, no matter how plausible the story sounds, it is the clearest scam signal of all.
And inside the app: take verification badges seriously, and report suspicious profiles instead of just swiping them away. Every report improves the data the app can use against scammers.