More than 200,000 Nigerians are turning to online dating platforms to find life partners, despite the risks of identity fraud, catfishing, and scams, according to reports.
Elijah Bassey-Kokoette, co-founder of Tramatch International Limited, shared this insight during a webinar titled Love, Relationship, Technology.
He noted that online dating was becoming increasingly popular both globally and in Nigeria, with more people seeking relationship partners based on specific criteria.
Bassey-Kokoette highlighted the role of technology in addressing the dangers of online dating, including identity theft, impersonation, and fraud.
He stated, “In Nigeria, over 60,000 active users engage with online dating platforms monthly. Tramatch itself has a growing registration of about 200,000 users seeking connections.”
He also provided figures showing the impressive growth of the global dating market, which is expected to rise from $11.32 billion in 2025 to $21.71 billion by 2034, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.50%.
The online dating market in Nigeria, Bassey-Kokoette revealed, is valued at approximately $1.3 million.
Tramatch, which is a faith-based matchmaking platform focused on long-term relationships, is addressing the growing concern over dating scams by introducing enhanced safety measures.
These include advanced Know Your Customer (KYC) verification and AI-powered fraud detection tools to protect users from scams, identity theft, and impersonation.
“Dating scams have marred the online dating experience for many users,” Bassey-Kokoette remarked.
“We are working on strategies to counter the rise in scams by requiring users to upload a profile picture and undergo a test to verify their identity, among other security measures.”
He added, “We stand out by ensuring that uploaded images match the real identity of the user. Tramatch is dedicated to detecting and blocking scammers who use fake foreign identities, men impersonating women, and individuals using stolen images or false details.”
Tramatch also revealed that it was developing a new feature that could predict the likelihood of divorce between partners, further enhancing its service for users seeking serious, long-term relationships.
