The Woman Who Sent 'Likes' Turned Out to Be a Dating App Employee... Encouraged 'In-App Purchases' with Fake Accounts

[Financial News] A dating app company that created fake female member accounts to induce male members to make 'in-app purchases' (spending cash to buy electronic currency) has been sanctioned by the Fair Trade Commission. ·

On the 29th, the Fair Trade Commission announced that it had imposed a fine of 52 million won on Techlabs, the operator of the dating apps 'Amanda' and 'Neorangnarang', for violating the Electronic Commerce Act. They were also ordered to publicize the fact that they were sanctioned.

Techlabs is accused of creating fake female member accounts on Amanda and Neorangnarang from October 2021 to April 2022 to lure male members into using the dating apps.

It was investigated that Techlabs created about 270 fake female accounts to resolve the gender imbalance, as there are fewer female members, to encourage male member activity.

At one time, the two dating apps had a total membership of 10 million, but as the app download rankings fell and users decreased, this operation was planned.

The fake female accounts were found to have been created by arbitrarily adding age, height, region, education, and body type after unauthorized use of female member photos from another dating app (Yeongwon) operated by Techlabs in Taiwan.

Techlabs was revealed to have conducted 'male user care' operations to promote male member activity with these fake accounts.

Fake female accounts viewed the profiles of 1,137 Amanda members and 64,768 Neorangnarang members or expressed interest. The targeted males could immediately check the expressions of interest via app push notifications.

Additionally, it was investigated that 982 posts and 4,990 comments were written using fake female member accounts on the anonymous board called 'Secret Square' of the Amanda app, and 'likes' or 'secret matches' (interest indication function) were sent to male members.

It was found that during this process, the company allocated fake female account activity quotas to employees, including males.

Amanda and Neorangnarang each use electronic currencies called 'Ribbon' and 'Heart' to send friend requests to opposite-gender members, view opposite-gender member profiles, and use other paid services.

Ultimately, the Fair Trade Commission judged that they induced electronic currency payments by activating male member activity through deceptive 'care'.

Previously, Techlabs was fined over 220 million won by the Personal Information Protection Commission last September for unauthorized use of profile photos.

Song Myeong-hyeon, head of the Fair Trade Commission's Electronic Transaction Monitoring Team, said, "This action sanctions businesses that attempted to activate dating app usage through unfair means, such as pretending active app activity by female members to deceive consumers," adding, "It is expected to raise awareness in the dating app service industry and contribute to preventing consumer harm."



gaa1003@fnnews.com An Ga-eul Reporter