Brigette Honaker  |  May 3, 2018

Category: Consumer News

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A Match.com user has filed a class action lawsuit against the company alleging that paid subscriptions involve messages from fake profiles and are in violation of consumer protection laws.

Lead plaintiff Matthew Ditnes recently filed a class action against Match Group LLC, claiming that they do not sufficiently warn members that paid subscriptions involve messages from fake profiles portrayed as real members.

Match.com was launched in 1995 as an online dating site and reportedly helped launch the online dating industry. “Among its distinguishing features is the ability to both search profiles, receive algorithmic matches and the ability to attend live events, promoted by Match, with other members,” the Match.com class action lawsuit states. Match limits the functionality of free membership and therefore has a high percentage of paying users.

Match reportedly offers paid subscriptions to its services for a fee between $15.99 and $35.99 per month. The website allegedly solicits these subscriptions without informing potential subscribers that they will receive messages from “persons identified as members who are not.” According to the Match.com online dating class action, users only learn that the profiles are fake after they pay for a subscription.

Ditnes argues that Match sends messages from “users” which can only be accessed and replied to if users upgrade to a paid subscription. “In many instances, the communications consumers receive are not from actual users of Match’s online dating service. Many users routinely discover that the profiles of the persons who purportedly are interested in them are fake or fraudulent profiles and not associated with anybody whom they can date or even communicate,” the Match.com paid subscription class action lawsuit claims.

The Match.com class action claims that this model wrongfully induces consumers to upgrade to a paid subscription by convincing them that real people are trying to communicate with them. In reality, the messages are allegedly from fake profiles and a ploy to get users to upgrade to paid services.

Many users other than Ditnes have allegedly experienced a similar “scam” and have left reviews on Consumer Affairs about their experiences. Scott of Florida wrote: “I’ve investigated this site and there are very few real profiles but mainly fake profiles and photos that the staff there e-mail to current and future prospects and customers just to provide them false hopes and to keep the money rolling in!”

The Match.com fake profiles class action lawsuit claims that this business model is deceptive and unfair and violates various consumer protection laws including the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the Illinois Dating Referral Services Act. The Match.com class action also brings counts of breach of contract and unjust enrichment.

Ditnes seeks to represent a Class of people who paid for a Match.com subscription and received messages from people identified as Match.com members but who were not in fact persons who are members of the site. The Match.com class action seeks actual damages, treble damages, disgorgement, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

The plaintiff is represented by William M. Sweetnam and Natasha Singh of Sweetnam LLC.

The Match.com Paid Membership Class Action Lawsuit is Ditnes v. Match Group LLC, Case No. 1:18-cv-03128, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

UPDATE: The Match.com Fake Profile Class Action Lawsuit was dismissed on August 31, 2018.  Top Class Actions will let our viewers know if a new lawsuit is filed. 

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321 thoughts onMatch.com Class Action Says Fake Profiles Violate Federal Law

  1. Guillermo Palafox says:

    Please ADD ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Kathy says:

    I would be interested in joining a class action suit as well! I have reported and reported several fake profile that turn up on other site as different names, ages and professions but it is the same pic. NOw I busted them for over charging me but I paid with Pay Pal so I got my money back minute $40.00 and they locked my account so I can no longer get on there to delete my information and pictures so guess now I become one the the “fake profiles”. What a horrible company they are. Never again!!!

  3. Mike says:

    Welcome to the club ladies, we men have been dealing with this longer. Come on now why should we have all the frustration there is plenty to go around.

  4. Paula says:

    I notice a couple male friends who didn’t renew their membership and years later, Match is using their profile. I receive about 10- 20 matches a day and if you notice no yellow or green circle or a green below their name, they are most likely not active or not and actual paying member. It’s bait because those are usually the best looking ones in the batch Match send a member. That’s what I’ve noticed over the last year and a half.

  5. Jane Shiver says:

    I have the same problem ! I am very tired of these fake profiles! They are on other dating sites too! It is very frustrating trying to find someone and 90% of the guys I like are freaking fake profiles!!!

  6. caran says:

    I, too, have had two matches that proved to be fake, the first one trying to get me to send money because his company (overseas) had a major accident in a garage collapse that required him to pay the bills for the people injured. When that didn’t work he wanted and did send me 4 Money Orders to secure an apartment (I took one of the Money Orders to the Post Office and it was indeed bogus and they confiscated it saying they would contact me for more info — never did. Still holding the 3 other ones for when SOMEONE contacts me in the legal field to file charges).
    The newest one was almost real…talked on the phone two weeks and sounded real until I started noticing something wasnt right. Took his paragraphs through a google scam and found they were all copy and pasted letters!!!
    Match.com severally unapologitic in both cases and I am convinced most profiles are scams or people who quit a long time ago. Better never see them using my photos under other names!! We have to close these scam companies down NOW!!!

  7. Terrie LC says:

    I too was approached by a Jeremy Wilson. Gave me his # we chatted for almost 2 weeks then he asked me for 39,000. Yes 39,000. Who the heck does that? I am trying to notify the Federal government agency. He said he’s got a contract with the department of defense. Anyone know how l can pursue this guy?

  8. George Karmazyn says:

    in Californi…I too would like to sue Match.com…they are being sued now by the FTC as of September 2019

    1. Wanda A Turner says:

      here it is 10/6/2020 I”m pissed off about fake men, fake profiles and being asked repeatedly on FAKE Dates!!!! they Oh Gosh!! so sorry had to cancel our date. Meanwhile I re arranged MY schedule and canceled on real friends to get let down by the FAKE man and Fake Date!!!! They keep sending me Fake LIKES!!!!! OMG I would sue them for sure. lets do this!

  9. Gail Meislohn says:

    Same here people say email me. When you do, no one answers
    Been on the site for 3mths and no one answers. Im not bad looking and have a great profile by the way…lol

    1. Carol says:

      Don’t take it personally. Most of the photos are fake photos and no one gets a reply from them. Heard they even go as far as using their own employees to answer some of the messages sent just to keep it on the up and up, BUT they will NEVER set up a time or place to meet you. Always an excuse. I was a little dumb once, and then caught on from the get-go on the second one. Be happy you didn’t give in to them and lose all your money.
      Feds need to close these sites down.

    2. KB says:

      I agree! I have been on this site for over a year due to the fake profiles. They use to offer a 6 month guaranteed membership but no more! People like me on the site for 6 months never meeting anybody they offer another six month free subscription but nobody replies to your emails or they have male members indicating currently separated which could be another term for married but cheating not to mention the ones trying to scam your money.

  10. Jonathan Hogue says:

    I concur, I just found out the profiles are fake when a duplicate profile was discovered. Back to back profiles featured a girl with different names and the same pictures, no joke!

    Do not pay for match.com!

    1. Missy Spain says:

      I just recently had a scammer or an attempt to scam me and he was fake. Seemed real at first and then I just found his pictures on social catfishing site with different names. These on line sites are awful and I will never do it again

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