Tinder identity check easily bypassed: our journalist creates fake profile with Kim Kardashian photos

In a revealing exposé, VRT NWS's investigative team has exposed a significant vulnerability in the identity verification systems of popular dating apps, including Tinder. Our journalist managed to obtain a coveted blue checkmark – the symbol of a verified profile – for a test account using nothing more than publicly available photos of global celebrity Kim Kardashian. This starkly illustrates how easily the supposed "certainty" offered by verification can be circumvented, potentially putting users at risk.

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Thanks to verification, Tinder offers 'the certainty' that you are really matched with someone.

The method employed was surprisingly simple, yet effective. By using AI to present a single, disguised selfie as if it were part of a street advertisement, the journalist tricked Tinder's verification process. The app's system, designed to match a live scan with profile photos, apparently failed to detect the ruse, accepting the manipulated image as proof of identity. Astonishingly, even after removing the journalist's actual photo, the blue checkmark remained, leaving a verified profile adorned solely with images of someone else entirely.

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Tinder acknowledges the problem and promises to take extra measures.

While Hinge also proved susceptible to a similar test, Bumble demonstrated slightly more robust security by flagging and removing most of the unauthorized celebrity photos. Nevertheless, the core issue remains: the ease with which fake identities can be validated on these platforms. Tinder has since acknowledged the problem and pledged to introduce enhanced measures. This investigation serves as a critical reminder for users to exercise caution and not rely solely on verification badges when seeking genuine connections online.

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Tinder finds that one photo in the street scene enough and ignores all photos of Kim Kardashian.