8 Online Dating Murder Statistics & Stories (2025)

Online dating is the main way for many people to meet their partners these days — but despite its undeniable popularity, it still comes with risks. Hiding behind a dating profile can enable a dangerous individual to pretend they’re someone they’re not and obtain sensitive information — or more — from you. 

The risk increases when meeting for a date. It’s no secret that some nefarious dating app users have used online platforms to stalk and seek victims to assault in person. However, I would say these cases are few and far between.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, it’s still safe to meet partners online as long as you’re careful and cautious. 

The following stories are meant to educate you and ensure that you remain safe as you explore online dating. So if you’re morbidly curious about the absolute worst-case scenario that could come from online dating, this list is for you.

If we look at the numbers, it’s clear that encountering a murderer in real life is extremely rare. You have a 1 in 160,000 chance¹ of meeting a killer through a dating app. These odds are calculated using FBI theory data on the number of operating serial killers in the U.S. compared to actual population totals. 

“You might as well worry about being struck by lighting at the exact same instant as a shark attacks you.” — Quora user Jack Lurhstaap Romero

This number should not scare you. Don’t panic and immediately delete Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge off of your phone. Essentially, if you dated 160,000 random people, there’s a chance one of them would turn out to be a murderer. Given that it would be impossible for you to date so many people in a lifetime, your risk level remains low.

I’d also say that the gender identity of the person you’re dating matters as well. Men are about 10 times more likely to be murderers² (sorry, dudes, facts are facts), so that means people dating women are even more unlikely³ to date a murderer.

A survey conducted by Columbia Journalism Investigations in collaboration with investigative journalism nonprofit ProPublica revealed that 31% of women respondents⁴ were sexually assaulted by someone they had matched with on a dating site, with half of the reported incidents being considered rape. 

Unfortunately, the investigation revealed that several popular dating apps do not screen for sexual predators. Match Group only cross-checks state sex offender lists against paid subscribers on Match. This premium feature is not on offer for the other platforms the company owns, including Plenty of Fish, OkCupid, and Tinder.

That means there is nothing barring registered sex offenders and people with a history of committing acts of sexual violence from using these apps. Because of this, protecting yourself from offline sexual violence is critical.

Remember to check for signs of catfishing, such as low-quality photos (or no photos at all). I recommend having a video or voice call before meeting in person. And a quick Google search might not hurt either: if you have their full name, you may be able to locate relevant records of any committed crimes.

In January 2024, the state of Connecticut implemented a new cyber law⁵ requiring companies that do business in the state to provide reporting procedures for unwanted behaviors, safety advice for online dating, including alerts about romantic scams, and web links and phone numbers to report sexual harassment and domestic violence. 

The law came into effect following the 2018 murder of Emily Todd. Todd met her killer through a dating app but later ended the relationship. It’s likely that many people have had an online dating experience that left them uncomfortable, even if they never met in person — and this law aims to enlighten Internet users about the darker side of online dating while providing ample resources for seeking help if needed, preventing another tragedy like Todd’s.

A Brazilian serial killer who took the lives of 14 people⁶ over the span of 16 years reportedly used dating apps to meet some of his victims. While the murderer’s exact methods are unknown, the horrific case aligns with other statistics about the dangers of dating apps. 

According to research from Brigham Young University, which analyzed the records of nearly 2,000 sexual assault victims from 2017 to 2020, 14% of attacks⁷ occurred at the first in-person meeting after connecting on a dating app. The attacks targeted victims with mental illnesses and other vulnerabilities. And, according to Crime Watch Daily, up to 10% of known sex offenders⁸ use dating apps to look for potential victims. 

The 2024 Netflix documentary “Lover, Stalker, Killer” chronicles the story of a mechanic⁹ who is new to online dating and becomes wrapped up in a tragic love triangle involving stalking, harassment, arson, and murder. 

The relationship featured in the film began on Plenty of Fish. After Dave Kroupa met Shanna “Liz” Golyar on the website, the two began a no-strings-attached casual relationship. One night, however, while Kroupa was with another woman, Cari Farver, Golyar showed up at the apartment and spotted the “other woman.”

Golyar began to harass Kroupa and his family and eventually murdered Farver. While cases like these are exceedingly rare, the film is a reminder that you never quite know who you’re meeting when you chat online. 

Using data from Privacy Journal, a Newsweek report used factors such as reports of romance scams, encounters with registered sex offenders, identity theft, and prevalence of violent crime to rank the 50 most dangerous states¹⁰ for online dating. The most dangerous states were:

1. Nevada
2. Alaska
3. Georgia
4. Florida
5. Arizona

Nevada cements its casino-affiliated reputation of risky business with a first-place ranking due to a high prevalence of romance scams as well as identity theft and fraud. In second place, Alaska is ranked high in violent crime and also has a high concentration of registered sex offenders. 

By the way, if you’re curious what the safest state was: Vermont.

The same study found that Georgia saw the most instances of online fraud and has over 200 registered sex offenders per 100,000 residents. Though Georgia has a comparatively lower rate of romance scams, general cybercrime is high in the state, making it a more dangerous place for online daters.

And staying down south, Florida also has high levels of identity theft and fraud, although Newsweek notes that the state “fares slightly better” with violent crime and the presence of registered sex offenders. 

Finally, Arizona has the highest rate of romance scams nationwide, plus high rates of STIs and fraud. 

Though the blame should always rest with the perpetrators of violence, there are still a number of steps you can take to further protect yourself from scary situations.

When meeting for the first time in person, always do so in a public place around other people. Let a friend know where you’ll be before you head out, and make sure they’re available if you need to be picked up.

Before even meeting, be sure to thoroughly vet your match in whatever way feels most comfortable to you. You can opt for a video chat to see if their profile photos check out, or even do an informal background check for their name on Google, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Ultimately, murders through online dating are incredibly rare. It was actually difficult to find these stories, and they only rose to prominence because they’re so uncommon. It’s important to remember that many more success stories than horror stories have arisen from online dating. 

But above all, learn to trust your instincts. Your gut will rarely be wrong, and if you have a feeling that something might be off, it’s better to be safe than sorry! 

1. https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-odds-of-meeting-a-serial-killer-on-an-online-dating-site
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homicide_statistics_by_gender
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1635092/
4. https://www.datingnews.com/industry-trends/online-dating-safety-statistics/
5. https://www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/article/ct-dating-app-law-tinder-bumble-18584707.php
6. https://people.com/serial-killer-allegedly-confesses-using-dating-apps-murder-victims-7557885
7. https://magazine.byu.edu/article/the-dangers-of-dating-apps/
8. https://truecrimenews.com/2015/09/21/cwd-investigation-exploring-the-dark-side-of-online-dating-sites-and-apps/
9. https://time.com/6692767/lover-stalker-killer-netflix-true-story/
10. https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-most-dangerous-states-online-dating-1942448