WebVetted Beta
Recommendation
Avoid
Overall Summary
Scam
Why we think so

Badoo.com is a large, well-established online dating platform with a global monthly traffic of about 32.6 million visits, ranking approximately 1,200 worldwide. It operates mainly in community and romance categories, drawing users primarily from countries like Poland, Brazil, France, and Spain. The domain has been registered since 2003 and is owned by Badoo Media Limited based in Cyprus. The site employs many common advertising and security technologies and maintains verified social media and contact channels. However, user reports and multiple investigative reviews highlight serious concerns about fake profiles, romance and crypto scams, unauthorized charges, aggressive upselling, and extortion attempts targeting users. Badoo has faced a $40 million class action settlement over biometric privacy violations in Illinois. Despite the legitimate infrastructure and trademark protections, significant user complaints and scam risks remain. Use caution and verify authenticity carefully if interacting on this platform.

Confidence Score
53%

Risk Insights

⚠️

Large, Established Platform with Scam Concerns

Badoo draws over 32 million visits monthly worldwide.
User reports commonly cite romance and crypto scams.
Class action privacy settlement highlights legal issues.
🛡️

Robust Technical Setup but Weak Moderation

Domain uses secure SSL and reputable registrar.
Employs a wide array of advertising and analytics tools.
Platform moderation struggles to stop fake profiles.

Contradictory Signals

Legitimate business setup contrasts with ongoing scam risks on the platform.

Signal A: Strong verified trademarks and domain registration

Signal B: Widespread user complaints of scams and fraud

Category Scores

Identity 65/100
Reputation 25/100
Technical 80/100
Content 30/100
Legal 55/100
Business Validity 50/100

Red Flags & Warnings

  • Multiple well-documented reports of romance scams, crypto fraud, and fake profiles targeting users for financial extortion.
  • Company involved in a $40 million biometric privacy lawsuit settlement, reflecting serious legal compliance issues.
  • User complaints of unauthorized billing and aggressive upselling leading to financial harm and poor dispute resolution.
  • Widespread assessment that platform moderation is insufficient to prevent pervasive fake accounts and scam attempts.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain and Infrastructure Legitimacy

Score: 80/100
Passed

"Shows strong technical and infrastructure hygiene, reducing risks related to technical spoofing or phishing."

Reason: The domain has been registered since 2003 with stable DNS setup, mature registration, and employs recognized security and advertising technologies.

Reputation and User Reviews

Score: 25/100
Failed

"Multiple credible sources confirm consistent scam issues and negative user experiences."

Reason: Numerous user complaints about scams, fake profiles, unauthorized billing, and poor customer service damage reputation significantly.

Legal and Compliance Status

Score: 55/100
Failed

"While settlement close these issues, it reflects underlying compliance failures and potential ongoing risks."

Reason: Involved in a $40 million class action privacy lawsuit indicating serious legal risks and non-compliance.

Blacklist Status

Score: 90/100
Passed

"No automatic technical flags but does not imply full safety given user-reported scams."

Reason: No detections on known crypto scam blacklists and Google Safe Browsing lists.

Your Next Steps

  • 1
    Avoid providing personal or financial information to unknown contacts on Badoo.
  • 2
    Report suspicious profiles or incidents directly via Badoo’s official channels.
  • 3
    Monitor financial statements carefully for unauthorized charges.
  • 4
    Consider using trusted dating platforms with stronger scam protections.
  • 5
    If victimized, report fraud to local authorities and financial institutions promptly.
  • 6
    Review the terms of service and privacy policies for updates on data handling and user protections.

Evidence & Citations