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Match.com Used Fake Ads to Swindle Users, F.T.C. Says

nytimes.com

11–20 of 508 posts

Re: Match.com Used Fake Ads to Swindle Users, F.T.C. Says

#11

Unrelated to the post, but I am just wondering how come NYTimes still able to detect the incognito mode or if you are using private browser like Firefox focus

As someone mentioned here the other day, reader mode on safari, or any other browser with it, can get around to seeing the article. Just lose out on images and stuff.

Re: Match.com Used Fake Ads to Swindle Users, F.T.C. Says

#13
post #4

The FTC needs to come down hard on this. Extremely hard. This isn't just a trick, it's outright fraud. They're playing with people's emotions and not just giving them nothing - they're abusing people's most basic need of feeling loved. Think about how vulnerable people become when they're searching for love. And then this corporate giant comes in with an army of psychologists, A/B tests, and analysts to figure out ho…

The worst part is that match owns pretty much all other dating apps- tinder, Okcupid, pof etc.

Re: Match.com Used Fake Ads to Swindle Users, F.T.C. Says

#14
post #10

Unrelated, but I'm thinking about using one or more dating sites. Which ones do people here use, and what are your thoughts/observations?

Short answer? They are all trash and the space is ripe for disruption. The best of the bunch is probably Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel. But like I said, getting a date off these apps is like pulling teeth. I've reverted to asking girls out in person at coffee shops, social gatherings, etc. Even if you get rejected, it at least makes for a good story.

What would you change if you were to build a new dating app to disrupt the market?

Re: Match.com Used Fake Ads to Swindle Users, F.T.C. Says

#15
post #10

Unrelated, but I'm thinking about using one or more dating sites. Which ones do people here use, and what are your thoughts/observations?

Short answer? They are all trash and the space is ripe for disruption. The best of the bunch is probably Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel. But like I said, getting a date off these apps is like pulling teeth. I've reverted to asking girls out in person at coffee shops, social gatherings, etc. Even if you get rejected, it at least makes for a good story.

I can vouch for Bumble and making an arse for yourself in public. They both have worked for me with varying success. My significant other was entrapped on Bumble (/s)

Re: Match.com Used Fake Ads to Swindle Users, F.T.C. Says

#16

Unrelated to the post, but I am just wondering how come NYTimes still able to detect the incognito mode or if you are using private browser like Firefox focus

Lately I've been trying just disabling Javascript in the dev console, and that seems to be working pretty well!

Re: Match.com Used Fake Ads to Swindle Users, F.T.C. Says

#17
Juicy part from the actual complaint.

Since at least 2013, Defendant has maintained the following five deceptive or unfair practices to induce consumers to subscribe to Match.com and to keep them subscribed.

First, until mid-2018, Defendant sent consumers misleading advertisements that tout communications from persons Defendant identified as potentially fraudulent users of Match.com and led consumers to believe that the communications are from persons interested in establishing a dating relationship with them.

Second, until mid-2018, Defendant exposed consumers to the risk of fraud by providing recent subscribers access to communications that Defendant knew were likely to have been sent by persons engaging in fraud.

Third, until mid-2019, Defendant guaranteed certain consumers a free six-month subscription renewal if they fail to “meet someone special” but failed to disclose the requirements of its “guarantee” adequately.

Fourth, Defendant has misled consumers with a confusing and cumbersome cancellation process that causes consumers to believe they have canceled their subscriptions when they have not.

Fifth, until mid-2019, when consumers disputed charges relating to any of these practices and lose the dispute, Defendant denied consumers access to paid-for services. [1]

[1]https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/match_-_com...

Re: Match.com Used Fake Ads to Swindle Users, F.T.C. Says

#18
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Short answer? They are all trash and the space is ripe for disruption. The best of the bunch is probably Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel. But like I said, getting a date off these apps is like pulling teeth. I've reverted to asking girls out in person at coffee shops, social gatherings, etc. Even if you get rejected, it at least makes for a good story.

What would you change if you were to build a new dating app to disrupt the market?

Human nature.

Re: Match.com Used Fake Ads to Swindle Users, F.T.C. Says

#19
post #3

Unrelated to the post, but I am just wondering how come NYTimes still able to detect the incognito mode or if you are using private browser like Firefox focus

It's an arms race. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-chrome-i...

I wouldn't use the term 'arms race' because that implies each side can continue to escalate.

A better way of looking at it is that there are bugs that leak information in browsers, and sites like the NYT are spending developer effort to discover those bugs and publish them (in the form of javascript) so that browser developers can fix them. The browser developers will eventually win this one.

Re: Match.com Used Fake Ads to Swindle Users, F.T.C. Says

#20
I think it's a fatal flaw in the dating site business model, to be honest. Their incentive is for you to stay on the site for as long as possible. If you could find a relationship quickly and then they would leave the site quickly. This would reduce the amount of ad and subscription revenue, in addition to reducing the size of the pool of "potential matches", discouraging those who have more trouble finding someone.
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