Cuffing season is coming. Here’s how to know if your match is actually real.

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As the weather gets colder, dating app activity heats up. Fall marks the start of cuffing season: a term for the time of year when people seek committed relationships ahead of the holiday season. It typically runs from early fall through winter, meaning it’s right around the corner.

If you’re on the market for a relationship, this time of year may be rife with opportunities. Unfortunately, the popularity of “cuffing season” also means it presents a vulnerability. Scammers know that this is a busy dating season and that people seeking love may be susceptible to being taken advantage of.

Romance scams cost victims millions of dollars every year. This number grows more and more as time passes, and victims become increasingly vulnerable as technology becomes more and more sophisticated.

If you’re on the market for romance this cuffing season, the best way to defend yourself against scammers is to be aware of the potential threats so that you can verify the identity of the person you’re talking to and readily recognize red flags, as PeopleFinders details here.

Romance Scams are Becoming More Convincing Than Ever

A romance scam is when scammers build emotional trust through a romantic relationship to steal money or personal information. These scams often happen on dating apps, but also on social media platforms, through gaming software, and even on professional networking websites.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams remain one of the costliest forms of fraud. In 2025, reported losses to romance scams jumped 22% to $1.48 million.

But why are these scams so costly? Romance scammers spend weeks, or sometimes months, earning their victims’ trust before they start asking them for money. Recent technological advancements make this deception all the more believable; AI-generated photos, deepfake videos, and voice cloning make scammers’ personas difficult to see through.

Imposter romance scams are the most common avenue that scammers take. They can pretend to be anyone: a military member, a celebrity, a business executive, a model. What do these identities have in common? They all provide convenient excuses to never meet in person.

And these romance scams don’t always end with requests for money. Some scammers prey upon other sensitive information, including your:

• Full name
• Address
• Birthday
• Employer
• Social Security number
• Banking information

Scammers know that establishing trust is key to getting your personal information. Once they have that, they can extract almost anything.

How to Tell If Your Match is Legit

Dating apps can be a tool for connection, or they can be a dangerous vulnerability. Consider taking the following steps to verify that your match is legit.

Reverse Search Their Name or Phone Number

People search tools and reverse phone searches can be a useful verification method. Using them can help you to not only verify your matches’ identity, but also confirm their age, addresses, and identify any inconsistencies with what they’ve shared with you.

Check Out Their Online Presence

Real people leave consistent digital footprints over long periods of time. Checking out your potential matches’ social, professional, and public profiles can give you more insight into the truth of their identity.

Remember that lacking a social media presence isn’t an automatic red flag. The most pressing concern is inconsistencies: Keep an eye out for things that don’t seem to line up.

Reverse Image Search Their Profile Photos

Scammers often steal photos and use them for their impersonations. Reverse image searches can reveal whether you’re actually talking to the person you believe you are, or if the photos you’re seeing are being used across multiple fake profiles.

Ask to Meet in Real Life, or Via a Live Video Call

Scammers prefer to keep things online, as the internet can shield their true identity. One of the best ways to verify the identity of an online match is by asking them to meet in person or through live video chats.

If you’re considering meeting someone in person, make sure that you proceed with caution. Meet in a public place, and tell a friend or loved one of your plans and whereabouts.

6 Signs Your Match May Not Be Who They Claim

If you’re having doubts about the identity of your online match, you should trust your instincts. Keep an eye out for the following eight signs that your match may be deceiving you:

1. They ask for money or gift cards.

This is one of the biggest red flags for romance scams. If someone asks you to send gift cards or money, you should proceed with extreme caution. Remember that these requests may start small, but should never be overlooked.

2. They love-bomb early.

Scammers love to deceive their victims by convincing them of extremely strong feelings in short periods of time. Excessive affection early on can be a huge red flag.

3. When you ask to meet in person, they pull out excuses.

First, they’re overseas. Then, they’re traveling. Then, there’s a family emergency. If your beau can’t seem to find time to meet you in person, there may be a more sinister reason why.

4. They want to move your conversation off the dating app.

Moving to another platform can feel like an exciting sign of reciprocity. If your match seems a bit too eager to switch over, be wary.

5. Their stories just don’t add up.

Maybe they’re constantly changing jobs, contradicting their own plans, or providing you conflicting personal details. Regardless of how these inconsistencies arise, be very cautious if you recognize them.

6. They want to keep the relationship secret.

Isolation is a common manipulation tactic, especially in the context of romance scams. Scammers discourage outside involvement because outsiders are more likely to recognize red flags. If your match wants you to keep the relationship under wraps, it’s a sign that they might be hiding something from outside view.

Don’t Let Cuffing Season Catch You Lacking

While it’s important to proceed with caution when using dating platforms, remember that most online daters are genuine. Even if you’re talking to the right person, you should think carefully about how you move forward. Take things slow, refrain from sharing personal information, and never send money to someone you’ve never met.

Don’t let cuffing season leave you vulnerable to romance scams. Taking steps to verify the identity of your match can protect both your heart and your identity.

This story was produced by PeopleFinders and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.