Hookup ID: The Online Dating Scam Men Just Can’t Resist
I bought a hookup ID. And I couldn’t believe what happened next.
Let’s face it: most men cannot resist the prospect of hooking up with an attractive woman, especially single men on tinder and other dating apps. It’s in the male DNA. And that’s why the hookup ID, the most widespread online dating security ID scam, has become so successful: clever scammers are successfully exploiting the irresistible appeal of casual sex to men.How irresistible? Thousands of men across the Internet are opening up their wallets and paying $30 or more for fake “hookup IDs”. With 60 million online dating users in the US alone, my best guess is the scammers are raking in seven figures.
In this post I dissect how this scam works, and what happened when I posed as a victim and bought a hookup ID. I documented the entire process with screenshots and will walk you through all of it. But first, a little more background on this scam.
Here’s a typical example of how the scam begins on Tinder.
She’s hot! No surprise men are falling for this one.
How the Hookup ID Scam Works
If you’re a man using online dating apps there’s a very good chance you have been exposed to the scam. Maybe you even fell for it.
Update February 2020: Hundreds of men have written in and it’s clear that there are MANY versions of this scam. Dozens, if not hundreds. It goes by many different names, which we will get into further below. Just because it does not follow the below pattern does not mean you’re not being scammed.
I learned about this scam after encountering it myself, and decided to research it further. Eventually, I went ahead and put my credit card down and bought a hookup ID just to see what would happen (more on that later). The scam typically goes something like this:
Get the one and only REAL dating ID
I am going to give you all the details of what happened when I bought a hookup ID. But I also want to show how our legitimate ID verification platform for dating works.
If you want to increase your matches and hit rate, watch this video. If you don’t, you can keep scrolling. If you have concerns about whether or not DateID is legit, you’ll find links to our extensive media coverage at the bottom of this post.
The Oldest and Most Widespread Romance Scam
The hookup ID romance scam has been around since 2016 and is still going strong today. How do I know it’s still going strong today? They are running expensive Google Pay-per-Click ads. Just run a search for “hookup ID” and you will see these ads everywhere. They look surprisingly legitimate.
Ads like these typically cost one dollar more every time you click on them and at scale that really adds up. If the scammers are spending thousands of dollars on these ads it means people are following through and actually putting their credit cards down. Otherwise the scammers would be losing money.
Sophisticated Scammers Based in Russia or China
The hookup ID scammers are quite advanced. Using bots enables them to run the scam at scale and they have penetrated dozens of dating apps. These dating apps are legitimate companies that absolutely do have security measures in place, but they continue to be defeated. After all these years they somehow have still not been caught and shut down. My best guess is they’re operating out of Russia, but it could also be China.
Brilliant (and Devastating) Marketing
These scammers are not just tech savvy engineering geeks writing code while holed up in a dark room. They’re really good at marketing, too. In addition to being all over the dating apps with bots, they’ve launched dozens of fake websites that are posing as legitimate sites specializing in online dating security, and promoting the hookup ID.
If you run a search for “hookup ID“ or “online dating security ID“ or “meetup ID” or “dating security ID” you will one way or another find your way back to the same scam.
Update February 2020: They’ve added new names for the scam, including casual dating id, betchakan clearance, Casual Hookup Clearance, casual verify, safe casual dating verification, Safety Permit Verified MeetUp Pass, Online Dating Security and Clearance Badge, security hookup id and safe meet scan.
These fake sites all endorse the hookup ID or a similar scam, including linking directly to the many websites that take your credit card. Even taking it a step further, they acknowledge that there are hookup ID scams and direct you to the only one that is “legitimate”.
The Dating Security Advisor, as seen advertised below, is one of the site you’re most likely to come across.
Google Ad promoting the fake Dating Security Advisor website
The Gaasha ID Scam
The Gaasha scam is truly next level. “GASHA” stands for Global Awareness About Sexual Abuse. Posing as a non-profit for abuse victims, they conveniently also offer a fake verification service. For $40 you can get a gaasha ID (don’t do this!).
So I Bought a Hookup ID
So what happens if you actually buy a hookup ID? Like I said, I went ahead and put down a credit card (well, a cash card, actually) as part of my research for this article. In exchange, I was supposed to get what appeared to be an actual ID card with my photo and a unique identification number added to it. It was even supposed to have a bar code!
I was hoping t my hookup ID would look like one of these beauties (apparently some scammers have better photoshop skills than others).
I landed on the below site after visiting the Dating Security Advisor website, a fake site owned by the scammers. 
With the prospect of hooking up with likes of that sultry model, who *wouldn’t* enter their email address? I went ahead a did so, but disappointingly nothing happened. They may just be using this site to collect email addresses. So I tried a different route: I went to the Hookup VIP website (another fake).
Above is the Hookup VIP website. I went ahead and followed the instructions despite the broken English, and plunked down $30 for a lifetime membership.
$30 Down the Drain
Here’s the receipt. A company named Amethyst Online Marketing Sales collected my money. Did I get my ID delivered within the next 48 hours as promised? Unfortunately no, it never came at all. I lost $30 so you don’t have to.
If It Seems Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is
Look, it’s extremely rare for any woman to want a hookup, let alone an unusually attractive one. Most have men throwing themselves at them which means they get the pick of the litter and don’t have to settle for a hookup.
Next time you match with someone who seems out of your league, think twice before clicking on any links she sends you and never, ever put down your credit card!
Easy to Fall for the Hookup ID Scam
When you’re lonely and single it’s easy to fall for the hookup ID scam, and that’s why these criminals have had so much success.
If you’re tempted to laugh at people who fall for this scam, think again. These scammers are extremely clever and exploit mens’ worst instincts, and it could probably happen to you, too.
So, rather than judge, try to empathize with these victims. Spread the word so that fewer online dating users fall for it!
How to Avoid Romance Scams
DateID’s free tool make it easy to bust romance scammers. To learn how, read our post on how to avoid romance scams. We will not ask for your credit card.
FAQs
How long has the hookup ID been around?
The first hookup ID was reported all the way back in 2016, but it’s possible it has been around even longer. It’s amazing that people are still falling for this scam in 2020.
How many different versions of the scam are there?
This is unknown, but there are definitely dozens of versions, spanning multiple fake dating websites. I found four different websites ready to take my credit card. Most likely the hookup ID scam was first run successfully by one group of hackers and then it attracted many copycats. Known variations on the same scam are the dating security ID, meetup ID, swipe hookup, safety hookup clearance, secure hookup ID, online hookup ID and just hookup. Update February 2020: They've added new names for the scam, including casual dating id, betchakan clearance, Safety Permit Verified MeetUp Pass, Casual Hookup Clearance, Online Dating Security and Clearance Badge, casual verify, safe casual dating verification, security hookup id and safe meet scan.
Can I order a physical hookup ID card?
You can, but it definitely won’t ever arrive at your doorstep. The scam promises to send you an actual ID card with a barcode if you pay up. Presumably you could meet someone who would want to scan your card before hooking up with you. When you think this through it could not be more ridiculous, but men fall for it nonetheless! We at DateID have had more than one man call in and ask us to sell them a physical ID card.
Is the Dating Security Advisor website legit?
No, www.datingsecurityadvisor.com is a fake website owned by the scammers. They own dozens of web properties and even have videos. Additional examples include www.hookupvipid.com and www.hookupidpro.com. Anything you find on the Internet promoting them, including videos and Google ads, is illegitimate.
Are the Meetup ID, Dating Security ID, Hookup Safety ID and Dating Verification ID the same scam?
Yes, presumably in order to keep people from catching on, the scam goes by many names including the Meetup ID and Dating Security ID.
What is the difference between DateID and the scam IDs?
DateID is the one and only legitimate website for verifying that your online date is representing themselves accurately. Everything else is a scam. Our identity verification software uses bank grade security to make sure everything and everyone is legit. We don’t send you a physical card – you get an online profile instead.
Should I sign up for DateID?
Depends. You should sign up if 1) You're a legit online dating user and are looking to show other users you're legit and/or 2) You want to background check your dates to make sure THEY are legit. You should NOT sign up for DateID if someone is asking you for any form of dating verification besides DateID. Why? Because DateID is the only legitimate dating verification platform. Everything else is a scam.
Hi, I have been on online dating web sites and have been contacted by women who have also given me their link to get verified. Still keep getting scammed. Lost thousands of dollars and still no ID. Is this dater’s ID real? If so how do I get one, and what is the cost?
Hi William, so sorry to hear that. You’re not alone–this has happened to thousands of men.
You can become a DateID member and get verified 100% for free, with no credit card required. If we’re not asking you for money there’s no scam, right?
We are legit. You can read about us here:
http://www.datingadvice.com/online-dating/dateid-screens-potential-partners-before-you-meet-up
http://www.globaldatinginsights.com/news/yoti-collaborates-with-dating-verification-service-dateid/
http://www.biometricupdate.com/201909/dateid-to-offer-dating-apps-yoti-biometrics-for-identity-verification
http://www.mobileidworld.com/yoti-teams-dateid-boost-trust-online-dating-09100
http://www.planetbiometrics.com/article-details/i/10466/desc/yoti-and-date
None
So yeah, I’m a gay male and this definitely just happened to me. Some guy contacted me on a website, I talked to him a bit, all of a sudden I was signing up for some silly website to verify that “I” was legit (how ironic) and the next thing I have a $75 charge for a service I didn’t ask for, then he also wanted me to sign up for something else. He then got extremely defensive when I started asking questions.
I never thought I’d fall for something like this, but it just goes to show it can happen to anyway. Sigh.
Yes, it really can happen to anyone, including me. These scammers are incredibly skilled at exploiting vulnerabilities and getting into your head :-/
So, securedmeetings.com I’m presuming is also under the scambrella then I take it? Good to know. Equally good that I used a debit card from an account that is being deactivated in the morning due to a former friend breaking in and stealing my checkbook. There was a balance of 1.77 in the account when he stole it, so I guess there’s that anyway.
Scam indeed! Thanks for letting us know, we’ll add it to the list. Glad to hear the damage was not worse!
Once they have cc details, and there was only 60 cents in that account, can they keep checking that account when ever they want, meaning the id scammers to try and get money from it
Honestly not sure. Bottom line, don’t put your credit card down.
I joined some dating sites back in the 90’s and hotties on those were all hot and bothered to chat and meet, until I actually paid to be a premium member – then the chats stopped. I thought THAT was a scam, but this is a level above. I appreciate all your info/research but I have one question or observation. It seems a little ironic that you say “they acknowledge that there are hookup ID scams and direct you to the only one that is “legitimate”.”, and then insist that yours is the only real site. Care to help me understand that?
Oh, not just the 90’s but recently I said “WTH” and joined another. Same routine but did get an email and started chatting with a (you guessed it) sweet little thing that asked for my Hookup ID badge. I didn’t even know what that was and Googled and found your page. I asked her for hers and she said it is being delivered but doesn’t have it yet (??). Obvious red flags there.
Thanks for sharing, Lawrence! Yes, this is a really bad scam. Regarding your question about the irony, you’re smart to be skeptical. For proof that we are legitimate, you may want to check out some of our recent press coverage: https://www.about.dateid.com/press/
Hi
I appreciate the info provided here.
I’m in a wheelchair and as you say… that voice in the back of your head speaks but is ignored.
I’ve been shunted through a number os sites each requiring cc info, ph number, email and even a photo.
I feel so stupid. Each of these sites has a join and monthly fee I wasnt aware of. These debits are pending on my cc statement and I’m assured they will be removed once I fulfill the final step in the process which is to purchase a $100 gift card not online admittedly but at a major supermarket chain of gas station.
My Meetup ID will then be confirmed. A pending version was sent to me by the woman I’m chatting with. It looks legit. A lot like a drivers license.
I can’t believe I’ve given out so much vital personal info.
Is there anything I can do to minimise the potential future impact of having supplied this info? Thanks.
Know anything about the Global Security Assessment website (globalsecurityassessment.com)? Just had someone wanting to hookup ask for this one..
Thanks Greg. This is another version of the scam. Scary how real it looks!
Hey just had a beautiful girl on Snapchat try and get me with this…I had never heard of it either so I looked it up and found this article. I wouldn’t have paid for one anyways, I always assume they’re trying to scam me! This one was http://www.discre******arance.com.
That website is convincing. Thanks Spencer!