GUARDIAN.CO.UK - Feb 10 - Industry action aims to stop agencies setting up fake profiles and targeting vulnerable people. Last year a study by the universities of Leicester and Westminster, working with the Serious Organised Crime Agency, estimated that 200K people had been victims of online dating fraud. Representatives of the market leaders, including match.com and eHarmony, have met the Association of British Introduction Agencies to discuss developing an industry code of conduct to reassure customers and guarantee standards of behaviour. Agencies have been prompted to demonstrate their honesty after revelations that some had set up "fake profiles" and employed staff to flirt with people to encourage them to continue their subscriptions. The UK online dating industry generated £169M in 2011, ahead of Germany with £164M and France with £99M.
by Conal Urquhart
See full article at Guardian.co.uk
