Are there many fake profiles on Pairs? How to verify and use it safely
"I hear there are a lot of fake profiles on Pairs, is that true?"
"What if I get scammed?"
It is natural to feel such anxiety before starting a matching app. Before I registered, I was also worried about security and scams, so I searched the internet extensively.
However, when I looked into it, some surprising facts came to light. Today, I will talk in detail about the reality of fake profiles and scammers on Pairs, and how to use it safely.
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Are there fake profiles on Pairs? Let me start with the conclusion
To start with the conclusion, there are almost no fake profiles on Pairs.
Rather, you should be more careful about a different entity called "scammers" than fake profiles. These two are easily confused, but they are completely different things.
Fake profiles are employees hired by the operating company, and their purpose is to encourage users to spend money. On the other hand, scammers are third parties unrelated to the app who have other purposes such as solicitation, network marketing, or fraud.
The reason Pairs does not hire fake profiles lies in its fee structure. Pairs uses a monthly subscription system, so Pairs' revenue does not increase no matter how many messages are exchanged. In other words, there is no benefit to going out of the way to hire fake profiles. Furthermore, since Pairs boasts one of the largest scales in the industry with a cumulative total of 27 million registered users, there is no need to inflate the number of members.
If it were discovered that Pairs was hiring fake profiles, the company would suffer a fatal blow due to legal risks (fraud charges) and loss of credibility. For Pairs, which is a publicly traded company, there is no reason to take such a risk.
So, what kind of people are these scammers?
What exists on Pairs are "scammers." The purposes of scammers vary, including solicitation for network marketing, investment fraud, arranging for "papa-katsu" (sugar dating), and international romance scams.
According to the results of a survey conducted on 200 Pairs users, about 70% have not encountered any dangerous situations. In other words, the majority are able to use it safely. On the other hand, results also show that about 30% have encountered some kind of scammer or suspicious person. This means that you need to be cautious and carefully evaluate the person you are talking to.
When comparing the safety level of Pairs with other apps, with is the highest at 83%, and Pairs is in 3rd place at 72%. While the safety level is by no means low, it is important to recognize that it is not completely safe.
6 check points to identify scammers
So, how can you actually identify scammers? Please keep the following 6 points in mind.
① Profiles of attractive people with high income
Be careful if the profile photo is unusually beautiful or if the annual income is over 10 million yen in their 20s. Also, be careful if their occupation is vaguely written as "business owner" or "investor," or if there are only photos of them at overseas resorts. This could be a scammer using model photos without permission.
② Unnatural profile photos and settings
If there is only one beautiful photo and the profile text is extremely short, it is safer to be suspicious. Someone who is seriously looking for a partner should have multiple photos and a well-written self-introduction. If the registration date is recent but they have an unusually high number of "likes," that is also an unnatural sign.
③ Mentions of side jobs or investments
If there are financial keywords in the profile such as "passive income," "royalty income," "FX," or "cryptocurrency," there is a possibility of network marketing or investment fraud. Keywords like "living a free life" or "my life has changed" are also red flags.
④ Evades invitations to go on a date
Be careful if the conversation is lively, but when you actually invite them on a date, they put it off by saying, "Let's get to know each other a bit more first." The goal of scammers is not "to meet" but "to lure you to another place." They are often very persistent about wanting to exchange LINE contact information.
⑤ Immediately asks to exchange LINE
Be careful of people who ask to exchange LINE immediately after matching or after only a few messages. Since Pairs has monitoring by management within the app, scammers try to lure you into communicating outside the app. If you are sent a mysterious URL or QR code, never access it.
⑥ Conversation doesn't make sense or uses unnatural Japanese
Be careful if the messages do not form a coherent conversation or if the Japanese is unnatural. There is a possibility of international romance scams by foreigners, automated replies by AI, or poor management where one person is handling multiple accounts simultaneously.
Specific methods used by scammers and how to identify them
Scammers also have several methods. Here are some typical ones.
Papa-katsu girls
If there are statements like "I love delicious food" or "I'm looking for a man with spare money," there is a possibility that they are looking for "papa-katsu" (sugar dating). If they ask for high-end restaurants or gifts, that person is looking for sugar dating. Seeking dates in exchange for money may violate the Anti-Prostitution Act, so avoid getting involved.
Network marketing and investment fraud
This is the most common pattern. After matching, you have a normal conversation, and when the topic turns to work or the future, they reveal, "Actually, I'm successful with a side job." Then they invite you, saying, "Why don't you come to a seminar?" If they ask if it's okay for other people to come along on the date, it's almost certain.
International romance scams
Be careful if the profile is of a foreigner and the occupation is "soldier," "doctor," or "engineer." They will make you feel romantic by using sweet words like "You are my destiny," and then demand money by saying, "I'm currently overseas and in financial trouble."
What is the Pairs safety system like?
Pairs puts effort into safety measures. There are three main measures.
24/7 AI + human monitoring system
AI automatically detects suspicious accounts, and 24/7 human patrols are also conducted. If inappropriate profiles or messages are discovered, the account is immediately suspended.
Thorough identity verification
Pairs requires identity verification using official documents before sending messages. Since verification is done via driver's license, passport, or My Number card, impersonation is almost impossible.
Rapid response to user violation reports
If you find a suspicious user, you can report them to Pairs. The management team processes tens of thousands of violation reports annually and will notify you by email once the response is complete. Reports are completely anonymous, so the other party will not know.
How to deal with scammers when you encounter them
If you find someone who seems like a scammer, take the following three actions.
1. Stop communicating immediately
If you feel something is off, there is no need to force yourself to continue the conversation. If you feel even slightly suspicious, stop communicating immediately. You might get drawn in by the other party's clever tactics.
2. Save evidence
Take screenshots of the profile page and any suspicious messages. This will be useful when reporting.
3. Do not share personal information
Never share personal information such as your LINE ID, phone number, home address, or workplace. If you have already shared it, block them on LINE or set your phone to reject calls from that number.
After that, open the user's profile page, tap the "..." in the top right corner, and select "Report violation." Fill in the details of the violation and submit the report. After reporting, you can also make the user invisible by selecting "Hide" or "Block."
Mindset for using Pairs with peace of mind
Finally, I would like to share some important points for using Pairs safely.
The fact that there are no fake accounts (sakura) on Pairs is proof that the management is serious about safety. On the other hand, you must also accept the fact that scammers do exist. However, what is important is not that "scammers exist," but that you "have the ability to identify scammers."
Read profiles carefully, check for anything unnatural, and report immediately if you feel something is wrong. These steady actions will serve as a shield to protect you.
Approximately 70% of Pairs users are able to use the service safely. In other words, it is entirely possible for you to be one of those 70%. Let go of your security anxieties and try looking for encounters cautiously, yet positively.
Conclusion: Pairs is safe. However, your own judgment is important
In conclusion, Pairs is a relatively safe matching app with no fake accounts. While you do not need to worry about fake accounts, you should remain cautious of scammers and suspicious individuals.
Keep six checkpoints in mind to evaluate the other person, and report them immediately if you notice anything suspicious.
With this mindset, you can safely find a wonderful partner on Pairs.
Anxiety about security can be dispelled with the right knowledge and caution. Use Pairs safely and pave the way to meeting your ideal partner.
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