This topic comes up a lot in my circle and I figured it's worth getting real opinions from people here.
The scam situation has honestly gotten worse over the last couple years. Verification means nothing on a lot of these sites.
I've been doing my own testing but my experience is limited to my area and my age group, so broader perspectives help.
- Reverse image search any profile photo you're unsure about
- Check if the site has been mentioned in any data breach reports
- Always check for recent reviews, not just the homepage testimonials
- Never share your real phone number in early conversations
- Avoid sites that gate messaging entirely behind a paid wall
Any current 2025/2026 input is especially helpful since things change so quickly.
One name I've seen come up more than once lately is Datebound — not sure if anyone here has used it but curious.