Senior Dating FAQ

Most people want a few things cleared up before they sign up for anything, which is only sensible. These are the questions we hear most often, answered straight.

• What does it cost to join?

  Nothing to join. A free account lets you build a profile and browse the members in your area, so you can see who's actually on here before deciding anything. Sending messages needs a paid premium membership, and you can add that whenever you're ready rather than on day one.

• Why isn't the whole site free?

  Because a real person reviews every profile before it goes live, and because there are over 50 people employed across the service, security specialists among them. Free sites tend to end up with a scammer problem, and the charge is the single biggest reason this one doesn't.

• Do I need to post a photo?

  You're not required to. You'll get considerably more interest if you do, and that's the honest answer. It doesn't need to be professional either. A recent picture in good light, on your own, smiling, covers it. If you don't like any of the photos you have, ask a grandchild. They've been taking pictures since they could hold a phone and they'll be delighted to tell you what you're doing wrong.

• Can other members see my email address or phone number?

  No. Neither one is ever displayed anywhere on the site. What members see is your first name, your photo, your city or town, and whatever you've written about yourself. The member area runs over an encrypted connection.

• How does messaging work?

  All of it happens inside the site, so you never hand out an email address or a cell phone number just to start a conversation. That matters more than it sounds: if you decide you'd rather not continue, you simply stop replying, and there's no other way for them to reach you. You'll need a premium membership to send messages.

• Who else uses the site?

  Americans over 60, from every state, cities and small towns alike. Some are widowed, some divorced, some have been on their own for years. Some are hoping to meet a partner, others would be glad of somebody to have dinner with or take a trip with. All of that is normal here and nobody has to explain themselves.

• What should my profile say?

  Where you're from, what you do with your time, and what you're hoping to find. Specifics beat adjectives every time. "I taught high school for thirty years and I'm still on the trails most Saturdays" tells somebody far more about you than "easygoing and fun loving" ever will.

• What does premium membership include?

  Unlimited messaging, a list of who's viewed your profile, the advanced search filters, and a view of who's online at the same time you are.

• How do you handle scammers?

  Every profile is reviewed before it appears, your contact details are never published, and there's a report link on every profile. Reports are confidential and the person reported is never notified. If money has already changed hands, call your bank first, then report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI at ic3.gov. Two more worth knowing: the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline is 877-908-3360, free whether or not you're a member, and the Justice Department runs a National Elder Fraud Hotline on 833-372-8311 that assigns you a case manager. None of them can recover your money, and anybody who says they can is running a second scam.

• How do I know if someone is a good match?

  Narrow the search by location, age and interests, then read the written part of the profiles instead of skimming the photos. The writing tells you more. After that it comes down to a few conversations, so don't try to decide before you've talked to anyone.

• Does it work on a phone or tablet?

  Yes, on any device with an internet connection, and the same on a computer. If you're not confident with the phone yet, plenty of public libraries and senior centers run free classes on exactly this, and they're used to starting from the beginning.

If there's something we haven't covered, our support team can help. The number is at the bottom of the page.

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