President signs bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act targeting dating-app fraud

President Trump signed the Romance Scam Prevention Act into law after it was introduced by Congressman David Valadao and received bipartisan support. The statute mandates that dating services inform users when they have exchanged messages with accounts that have been removed for fraud. A recent Senate probe led by Senator Maggie Hassan highlighted Match Group’s slow adoption of advanced safeguards, despite its dominance over apps like Tinder, Hinge and OkCupid.

The law’s scope is narrow, covering only users who continue off-app contact with removed fraudsters and imposing no duty on platforms to expel or block scammers initially. Nonetheless, the legislation, together with the Senate report, may increase pressure on dating-app operators to strengthen security. Critics note that the act does little to curb the massive $1.5 billion loss Americans suffered in 2025, and it does not address broader harms such as sexual assault linked to app usage.