Dating apps work the same way in every country, but the risks do not. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) publishes “safety and security” advice for each country, and a number of those pages carry specific warnings about dating apps. This article summarises examples from FCDO pages read on 21 September 2026, each of which was marked as still current at that date. Travel advice is revised often, so the current page for the destination should always be checked before travel. The advice is written for British travellers and applies to the destinations named, not to the UK.
Why country pages matter
The FCDO pages do not present dating apps as a general problem. They flag them where criminals have been reported to use them to target visitors. In several cases the warning links the apps to drink spiking, robbery or theft from bank accounts.
Examples from FCDO country pages
Brazil
The FCDO says dating apps have been used by criminals to target foreign nationals in Brazil, leading to spiking of drinks, robbery and theft from bank accounts. It advises caution when engaging with such apps, buying and keeping hold of your own drinks, sharing plans with friends or family, and being vigilant about belongings including a mobile phone.
Colombia
The Colombia page says criminals use dating applications and websites to identify and lure foreign nationals who are travelling alone and looking to meet local people. It describes criminals working in teams and says victims are incapacitated and robbed, with incidents reported in bars, restaurants, on public transport including taxis and on city streets. The advice is not to accept invitations from strangers to their accommodation, not to invite strangers to your own, not to leave food or drinks unattended and not to take anything offered by strangers. It also advises planning travel to and from a destination and using only pre-booked taxis.
Kenya
The Kenya page says criminals can use dating apps to identify victims to rob or sexually assault, and that there has been an increase in criminals targeting LGBT+ travellers in particular. The advice is to be cautious with social media and dating apps and, when deciding to meet someone, to meet in a well-lit, public place and make sure someone knows where you are.
South Africa
The South Africa page says criminals use dating apps to rob, rape or sexually assault victims, and it advises caution, meeting in well-lit public places, telling friends or family the plan and being wary of strangers who offer free drinks, rides or unexpected personal attention. Its fraud section separately warns of scams including offers of romance and friendships on dating apps, and says not to meet up with or send money to someone you do not know or have not met in person.
Jamaica
The Jamaica page advises care when using dating apps, especially those used by the LGBT+ community, saying criminals have used apps to lure victims to meet in a public place but later assault and rob them.
Morocco
The Morocco page raises a legal point rather than a crime pattern: it says using dating applications in Morocco may break laws relating to sexual relations outside of marriage, and that meeting people through online applications can carry legal, personal safety and privacy risks.
Australia
The Australia page lists dating and romance scams among the many scam types targeting people in or travelling to the country, and points to the government’s Scamwatch website for current scams and reporting.
LGBT+ travellers
The FCDO’s separate guidance for LGBT+ travellers, last updated in June 2023, says around 70 countries criminalise consensual same-sex sexual activity and that in some countries entrapment campaigns may target LGBT+ people, including through popular dating apps. It advises taking sensible precautions when making arrangements to meet people you do not know well, and researching local laws and social attitudes before travel. Where available, local LGBT+ inclusive charities or organisations may be able to help, and the local British embassy can be asked for help with difficulties abroad.
Practical points drawn from the advice
- Read the destination page first. The FCDO pages differ markedly by country, so a warning for one country cannot be assumed to apply to another.
- Keep your own drinks. Brazil and Colombia both stress buying and watching your own drink.
- Keep the meeting public. Kenya and South Africa advise well-lit public places.
- Tell someone the plan. Several pages say to share plans with friends or family.
- Use pre-booked transport. Colombia advises only pre-booked taxis.
- Do not send money. South Africa and Australia both flag romance scams.
If something goes wrong
The FCDO’s general advice on fraud abroad is to report fraud or theft to the local police and to contact the nearest British embassy, since a police statement is needed to claim on travel insurance, and to cancel any stolen cards. The South Africa page adds that anyone who thinks a drink has been spiked should seek immediate medical help and contact the police.
Frequently asked questions
Do all FCDO country pages warn about dating apps?
No. Not every page mentions dating apps, so the absence of a warning is not an assurance of safety. The page for the specific destination should be read when planning the trip.
Is it legal to use dating apps everywhere?
Not necessarily. The Morocco page says use may break laws relating to sexual relations outside of marriage.
The bottom line
The FCDO’s country pages show that dating app risks vary sharply by destination, from drink spiking and robbery in some places to legal exposure in others and romance scams almost everywhere. Reading the current page for the destination, keeping meetings public, buying your own drinks, using pre-booked transport and telling someone the plan are the consistent themes of that advice.
Sources
- FCDO, “Brazil travel advice: Safety and security”
- FCDO, “Colombia travel advice: Safety and security”
- FCDO, “Kenya travel advice: Safety and security”
- FCDO, “South Africa travel advice: Safety and security”
- FCDO, “Jamaica travel advice: Safety and security”
- FCDO, “Morocco travel advice: Safety and security”
- FCDO, “Australia travel advice: Safety and security”
- FCDO, “Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender: foreign travel advice”
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office, “Stay alert to fraud and financial scams abroad” (2010)