I've a paid membership there. They haven't changed much. They've become more proactive about warning their membership about scammers - but keep in mind they're educating the scammers with their warnings, as well. You can't miss the warnings on every page. But Match is still the scammer's #1 source for jobs. They're still using stolen credit cards to make bogus profiles. I can usually spot them and I do report and in Match's defense, they have removed a lot of them - but I can't help shake the feeling it's just because the credit card got charged back or perhaps the scammer mass messaged their format. A lot of the scammers still linger as free accounts where they can wink and flirt and if a paying member messages them, they can then respond. And it's not easy to spot who's a paid account and who's not.
Anyway, I decided to be serious since I had a paid account and I am single and not wanting to be, so I added a warning to my profile that said:
Beware African Love-rat scammers. I know who you are. I can smell you before I open your messages. Don't bother me or you will regret it. I will expose your profile, format and information.
Match rejected the profile. I contacted their online customer service. This is the conversation:
Ramon C.: Hi, my name is Ramon C.. How may I help you?
Pinky: Match rejected my profile change and I'm certain it was because I had a warning to scammers in it.
Ramon C.: I'd be happy to help you with that.
Pinky: Good because I want it in there.
Ramon C.: If you don’t mind holding for just a moment while I review your account information, I’ll be right back!
Pinky: I'm sure a bot picked up the word African and it wasn't humanly rejected, but I will insist it be left in or withdraw my membership.
Ramon C.: Please be aware that all profiles must meet the following guidelines in order to be approved:
* Your profile cannot include any language which could be considered defamatory or offensive in any way (i.e., sexually explicit language, promotion of racism, references to inflicting bodily harm to yourself or others, etc.)
* Your profile cannot include any commercial solicitation
* Your profile cannot include URLs for other sites or usernames for other services
* Your written profile introduction must be between 200 and 4,000 characters in length
* You must be at least 18 years old
* You must be single or separated from your spouse
Pinky: It contained nothing applicable there.
Pinky: It mentioned the name African
Pinky: I used the term African love rat scammers. It isn’t offensive to anyone but the scammers. Surely you know that Match male profiles of men over 45 are 50% African scammers. (probably higher)
Ramon C.: I do understand.
Pinky: I might be willing to concede the term 'rat' but nothing else. 9 out of 10 men who message me turn out to be in Africa. It's beyond my comprehension why Match doesn't filter IP addresses.
Ramon C.: I’m really sorry; however, I’m unable to fix your profile. I will recommend you to rewrite it.
Pinky: I have profiles on dozens of dating sites, but Match is the only one I've paid for. I'm not willing to waste my time here on scammers. I will cancel my membership. Oh, and I will publish this conversation on romancescam.com.
Ramon C.: I am sure that is very frustrating.
Ramon C.: I am sure we can correct this for you if you send us your profile again.
Pinky: I don't think so. I'm not going to take out the scammer warning.
Pinky: I want NON-scammers to be more aware as well.
Ramon C.: I do understand.
Pinky: You might, but I don't think Match even cares, let alone understand. Their lack of accountability has been deplorable.
Ramon C.: I am so sorry to hear that, but as i said i am sure we can correct this for you if you send us your profile again.
Pinky: I will do it one more time, but if it's rejected for the scammer warning again, I will withdraw my membership.
Pinky: Thank you for your time.
Ramon C.: I will work this out for you.
Ramon C.: Is there anything else I can help you with?
Pinky: No thank you.