Retirement Planning, Elder Law, and Senior Finance Seniors and Dating Apps: Tips and Risks 3/1/2023 | By Dawn Wotapka As more seniors turn to dating apps to find a companion, they also need to be aware of costs and risks. Dawn Wotapka of Kiplinger’s Retirement Report shares important information on these digital match-making services. “I wish I had someone by my side to go shopping, travel, dance, go to the movies, sit on the sofa. It would be so fulfilling.” Instead of asking her friends for suggestions, the 66-year-old turned to dating apps, and she’s not alone. “There are so many more people who are 60-plus on dating apps,” says Julie Spira, a Los Angeles dating coach. “The pool has grown significantly.” Indeed, roughly one-third of seniors who have dated within the last five years have used dating apps or websites, according to research from Choice Mutual, an independent insurance agency. Nearly 70% report having a relationship with someone they met online. Getting started with online dating can seem overwhelming due to the sheer number of apps. Some cater to specific age groups, such as SilverSingles and OurTime, while others are for specific races or religions. While many sites offer free trials or watered-down free content, viewing complete profiles and messaging potential dates generally will require a monthly subscription. Related: Six ways to find romance as a senior Prices at eharmony, which asks about personality traits and other information to find matches, start at an introductory rate of $19.95 for three months; it’s $39.90 a month for a 24-month plan. Plenty Of Fish offers six months for $15 each month; one month by itself is $29.99. Tinder offers four tiers — Tinder, Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold and Tinder Platinum. Tinder Gold is $12.49 a month for six months and $8.33 a month for a year. Initially, limit yourself to one site, says Turner Grant, a widower who wrote the book “To Venus and Back: One Man’s Quest to Rediscover Love” about his online dating journey. “It’s so easy to get into the treadmill of becoming a serial dater,” he says. Once you choose your site, the next big task is making a profile with pictures and your bio. Avoid bathroom selfies, group photos and shots standing in front of fancy cars, which are a cliché. Spira encourages clients to have professional photos taken. Once you start engaging with potential dates, digital and personal safety is always paramount. Be wary of anyone who avoids video calls, asks for financial information, requests a loan, wants intimate photos or claims to be traveling or working for extended periods of time, advises Michael B. Cohen of MyChargeBack, a consumer advocacy group that helps people recover money lost to online scams. “The biggest red flag is when your prospective match doesn’t agree to a video chat,” he says. Some sites feature their own security features. When you decide to meet in the real world, pick a public place, let someone know where you’re going, minimize alcohol intake and never discuss finances, Spira advises. Grant ended up meeting his significant other in person and leaving e-dating. Linda, meanwhile, recently renewed Match.com for six months, which she said cost about $120. “I have a lot to offer,” she says. “I want to meet a man who has a lot to offer.” Dawn Wotapka is a contributing writer at Kiplinger’s Retirement Report. For more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com. ©2023 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. See similar financial articles like this: Reasons to Resist BNPL Read More Dawn Wotapka