BBB Tip of the Week

In a first, the Federal Trade Commission brought legal action against an online dating service for tricking users to upgrade to paid services with computer-generated messages from fake profiles made to look like real people.

The online dating service, JDI Dating Ltd., based in England, operates more than a dozen sites and also allegedly charged recurring monthly fees without users’ consent and made it difficult to cancel services.

The FTC reached a settlement with JDI Dating Ltd., preventing the company from using fake computer-generated profiles or “virtual cupids,” billing recurring charges without explicit user consent, and misrepresenting cancellation or refund policies, as well as requiring that the company provide a simple mechanism for cancellation.

This story isn’t the first of online dating services operating in questionable ways. Earlier this year OKCupid proudly admitted that it conducted experiments with users without their consent. In one experiment OKCupid told users that they had a great match of 90 percent or better with another user when the compatibility score was actually closer to 30 percent.

When it comes to affairs of the heart, not only do you need to look out for predators trying to make a romantic connection in order to scam you into giving them money, but you need to also be cautious of the companies facilitating a love match.

The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips when considering purchasing services and subscriptions from online businesses:

• Research the business online by searching for complaints, customer reviews and news about the company.

• Check out the competition and use caution with free services. Because they are free, scammers can easily use the service to con other users out of money.

• Read the fine print. Take the time to read the terms and conditions, including the cancellation and refund policies, before paying and using an online service or subscription.

• Only make online payments on secure websites that begin with “https”.

• Pay for your online services and subscriptions with a credit card. You can dispute charges with your credit card company.

If you’ve experienced trouble with an online dating company, file a complaint with the BBB at www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints or call (509) 455-4200. You can also file a complaint with the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint and the Washington State Office of the Attorney General at www.atg.wa.gov/FileAComplaint.aspx.

By Erin T. Dodge, BBB editor