Top 7 'Unpleasant Memories' Encountered by 230 Matching App Users: 'Married People/Hookup Seekers (30.4%)' Ranked 1st, Closely Followed by 'Photo Fraud (29.0%)'
A survey of 230 matching app users revealed that many experience serious troubles, with married individuals or those seeking casual hookups, and photo deception being the most common complaints. The report highlights the risks inherent in apps that lack identity verification and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the quality and safety of encounters.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 03:07
- 🔍 Collected: March 28, 2026 at 21:59 (18h 51m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 05:40 (415h 40m after Collected)
Marriage consulting agency Presia (Presia Co., Ltd.) conducted the '2026 Survey Report on Problematic Individuals on Matching Apps,' targeting 230 men and women in their teens to 50s who have experience using matching apps.
While matching apps have become established as convenient tools for meeting people, the reality behind the scenes reveals that users are being involved in serious troubles, such as 'married people,' 'hookup seekers,' 'photo fraud,' and 'solicitations.' The realistic experiences shared by the 230 participants vividly document physical, mental, and financial damages, highlighting the high price paid for such 'convenience.'
【Summary of this survey】
- The #1 'unpleasant memory' is 'married person/hookup seeker (30.4%).' There are reports of serious harm, such as being taken to hotels and threats.
- A close 2nd place is 'photos that look like a completely different person (29.0%).' This is a common occurrence experienced by about 30% of both men and women.
- 3rd place is 'sudden block/loss of contact (15.2%).' There are also financial damages involving same-day no-shows and dine-and-dash incidents. The #1 harm for women is 'married person/hookup seeker (38.9%),' while the #1 for men is 'photo fraud (42.6%),' showing that the primary harm differs by gender.
- Regarding 'solicitations for MLM, religion, or investment (8.8%),' cases of being forced to take out loans from consumer finance companies have also been reported.
[Ranking of 'Unpleasant Memories' on matching apps Top 7]
- Married person/hookup seeker: 30.4%
- Photos look like a completely different person: 29.0%
- Sudden block/loss of contact: 15.2%
- Solicitation for MLM, religion, investment: 8.8%
- Sakura (fake profiles)/agents: 6.9%
- Mentally unstable (Menhera): 5.1%
- Profile misrepresentation: 4.6%
*Other reports include 'domestic violence/verbal abuse/moral harassment,' 'impersonation using others' photos,' and 'papa activity/sex industry solicitation.'
Notably, the top two items alone account for about 60% of the total. This means the majority of people who have used matching apps have encountered either 'married people/hookup seekers' or 'photo fraud.'
About 40% of women suffer from 'married person/hookup seeker' harm. Numerous serious episodes emerged.
When broken down by gender, the number one harm for women was 'married person/hookup seeker (38.9%).' Out of 162 female respondents, nearly 40% have suffered this harm.
[Real experiences from women]
'He was 2 years older than me. Messaging was good, and I thought he was sincere. He said he liked watching movies and asked if I wanted to watch them at his place. I felt anxious for a moment but agreed. When I visited his house, the room was pitch black and the curtains were closed; it was obvious he had created that atmosphere. I tried to refuse but couldn't, and it ended up happening. Afterwards, I couldn't reach him and contact was lost.' (Woman in her 20s)
'I met a 28-year-old man twice; he looked clean and was gentle, making a great impression. When we met the second time, he kept checking his smartphone, saying it was work. But I heard he had weekends off, so it seemed strange. When he stood up saying he had an emergency, the voice on the phone was a woman's, and the tone didn't sound like a work colleague. When I questioned him in a message later, it turned out he was actually married.' (Woman in her 20s)
Men's #1 harm is 'photos look like a completely different person (42.6%).' Cases where they are forced to pay for expensive meals.
On the other hand, the #1 harm for men is 'photos look like a completely different person (42.6%).' Out of 68 male respondents, over 40% have experienced 'the person in reality being completely different from the profile photo.'
[Real experiences from men]
'I managed to match with a woman and worked hard to get a date. I booked a high-end restaurant and when I arrived, a woman completely different from her photo appeared. Her figure was different, and she was the type of person who is annoying, thinking she is popular. It was my fault for not making calm choices, but I was most angry about being forced to pay for the high-end restaurant.' (Man in his 20s)
'She was 2 years older than me on the app. Looking at the photo, she looked slim and not much different from her claimed age. But in reality, she looked at least 10 years older. I felt a generation gap. She didn't try to pay at all when the bill came, and I didn't want to bother asking, so I just paid for the whole thing. I didn't intend to see her again, so I blocked her after the meal.' (Man in his 20s)
Behind 'sudden block/loss of contact,' there lies the reality of no-shows and dine-and-dash.
The 3rd place 'sudden block/loss of contact (15.2%)' includes reports of not only mental damage but also financial losses.
[Real experiences]
'I was invited by a man in his 40s to a yakiniku chain, saying 'I'll treat you.' During the all-you-can-eat meal, the other person stood up saying he was going for a smoke. Five minutes passed and he didn't return, and my calls wouldn't connect. Eventually, his car was gone from the parking lot. I had no choice but to pay for both of us and leave. I contacted the police later, but they wouldn't take action.' (Woman in her teens)
'I messaged with a man my age and we decided to meet and talk. We agreed on a date and the restaurant. I put on makeup, chose nice clothes, and arrived 5 minutes early. I messaged 'I have arrived,' but he didn't show up even at the time. I waited 10, 20, 30 minutes. My messages weren't read and calls wouldn't connect.' (Woman in her 20s)
In solicitation cases, some are forced to 'take out loans from consumer finance companies.'
In the 4th place 'solicitations for MLM, religion, investment (8.8%),' multiple malicious tactics using romantic feelings to defraud money have been reported.
[Real experiences]
'The profile and photos were nice, and there was nothing suspicious; even when I met him, he had a good vibe. But suddenly he started talking about money, asking things like 'Don't you want more money, can't you save more easily?'' It felt like I was being completely led into an investment scheme.' (Woman in her 20s)
'Met on Tinder, exchanged LINE, and decided to meet on the weekend. While talking at a cafe, I was invited to futsal in the afternoon, so I participated. After playing, I was invited by someone from the same team to another cafe and asked if I was dissatisfied with my current job. It turned out to be an investment solicitation. The person I met on the app was just a 'bridge' for the solicitation.' (Man in his 20s)
Comment from Miyuki Kurushima, Representative of Marriage Consulting Agency Presia
In this survey, every experience shared by the 230 users was tinged with regret, such as 'if I had noticed sooner' or 'if I could have said no back then.'
Particularly serious is the 'married person/hookup seeker' harm experienced by nearly 40% of women. In matching apps that do not require submission of a certificate of singleness, there is no way to confirm if the other party is truly single, and cases where the judgment that 'they seem sincere so it's okay' backfires are endless.
On the men's side, over 40% have experienced 'the person being completely different from the photo,' highlighting the reality of wasting time and expensive meal costs.
While the 'convenience' of matching apps is certainly attractive, many troubles lie behind that convenience precisely because identities are not guaranteed. I am convinced once again that the best way to not waste time or money is to prioritize the 'quality of encounters' rather than chasing the 'quantity of encounters,' and to engage in marriage hunting in a safe environment where identity is 100% guaranteed.
I hope this survey serves as an opportunity for those who are exhausted from marriage hunting on matching apps to review their environment.
About Marriage Consulting Agency Presia
Marriage Consulting Agency Presia is run by Miyuki Kurushima, a YouTuber with over 150,000 subscribers. By systematizing know-how for logical partner selection that does not rely only on 'senses' or 'luck,' she has realized over 450 marriages to date. The biggest feature is that everything from counseling to matchmaking can be completed online. It offers a 'new form of partner searching' that meets modern needs, allowing people to pursue high-quality encounters from anywhere in the country without being tied down by residence or a busy lifestyle.
While matching apps have become established as convenient tools for meeting people, the reality behind the scenes reveals that users are being involved in serious troubles, such as 'married people,' 'hookup seekers,' 'photo fraud,' and 'solicitations.' The realistic experiences shared by the 230 participants vividly document physical, mental, and financial damages, highlighting the high price paid for such 'convenience.'
【Summary of this survey】
- The #1 'unpleasant memory' is 'married person/hookup seeker (30.4%).' There are reports of serious harm, such as being taken to hotels and threats.
- A close 2nd place is 'photos that look like a completely different person (29.0%).' This is a common occurrence experienced by about 30% of both men and women.
- 3rd place is 'sudden block/loss of contact (15.2%).' There are also financial damages involving same-day no-shows and dine-and-dash incidents. The #1 harm for women is 'married person/hookup seeker (38.9%),' while the #1 for men is 'photo fraud (42.6%),' showing that the primary harm differs by gender.
- Regarding 'solicitations for MLM, religion, or investment (8.8%),' cases of being forced to take out loans from consumer finance companies have also been reported.
[Ranking of 'Unpleasant Memories' on matching apps Top 7]
- Married person/hookup seeker: 30.4%
- Photos look like a completely different person: 29.0%
- Sudden block/loss of contact: 15.2%
- Solicitation for MLM, religion, investment: 8.8%
- Sakura (fake profiles)/agents: 6.9%
- Mentally unstable (Menhera): 5.1%
- Profile misrepresentation: 4.6%
*Other reports include 'domestic violence/verbal abuse/moral harassment,' 'impersonation using others' photos,' and 'papa activity/sex industry solicitation.'
Notably, the top two items alone account for about 60% of the total. This means the majority of people who have used matching apps have encountered either 'married people/hookup seekers' or 'photo fraud.'
About 40% of women suffer from 'married person/hookup seeker' harm. Numerous serious episodes emerged.
When broken down by gender, the number one harm for women was 'married person/hookup seeker (38.9%).' Out of 162 female respondents, nearly 40% have suffered this harm.
[Real experiences from women]
'He was 2 years older than me. Messaging was good, and I thought he was sincere. He said he liked watching movies and asked if I wanted to watch them at his place. I felt anxious for a moment but agreed. When I visited his house, the room was pitch black and the curtains were closed; it was obvious he had created that atmosphere. I tried to refuse but couldn't, and it ended up happening. Afterwards, I couldn't reach him and contact was lost.' (Woman in her 20s)
'I met a 28-year-old man twice; he looked clean and was gentle, making a great impression. When we met the second time, he kept checking his smartphone, saying it was work. But I heard he had weekends off, so it seemed strange. When he stood up saying he had an emergency, the voice on the phone was a woman's, and the tone didn't sound like a work colleague. When I questioned him in a message later, it turned out he was actually married.' (Woman in her 20s)
Men's #1 harm is 'photos look like a completely different person (42.6%).' Cases where they are forced to pay for expensive meals.
On the other hand, the #1 harm for men is 'photos look like a completely different person (42.6%).' Out of 68 male respondents, over 40% have experienced 'the person in reality being completely different from the profile photo.'
[Real experiences from men]
'I managed to match with a woman and worked hard to get a date. I booked a high-end restaurant and when I arrived, a woman completely different from her photo appeared. Her figure was different, and she was the type of person who is annoying, thinking she is popular. It was my fault for not making calm choices, but I was most angry about being forced to pay for the high-end restaurant.' (Man in his 20s)
'She was 2 years older than me on the app. Looking at the photo, she looked slim and not much different from her claimed age. But in reality, she looked at least 10 years older. I felt a generation gap. She didn't try to pay at all when the bill came, and I didn't want to bother asking, so I just paid for the whole thing. I didn't intend to see her again, so I blocked her after the meal.' (Man in his 20s)
Behind 'sudden block/loss of contact,' there lies the reality of no-shows and dine-and-dash.
The 3rd place 'sudden block/loss of contact (15.2%)' includes reports of not only mental damage but also financial losses.
[Real experiences]
'I was invited by a man in his 40s to a yakiniku chain, saying 'I'll treat you.' During the all-you-can-eat meal, the other person stood up saying he was going for a smoke. Five minutes passed and he didn't return, and my calls wouldn't connect. Eventually, his car was gone from the parking lot. I had no choice but to pay for both of us and leave. I contacted the police later, but they wouldn't take action.' (Woman in her teens)
'I messaged with a man my age and we decided to meet and talk. We agreed on a date and the restaurant. I put on makeup, chose nice clothes, and arrived 5 minutes early. I messaged 'I have arrived,' but he didn't show up even at the time. I waited 10, 20, 30 minutes. My messages weren't read and calls wouldn't connect.' (Woman in her 20s)
In solicitation cases, some are forced to 'take out loans from consumer finance companies.'
In the 4th place 'solicitations for MLM, religion, investment (8.8%),' multiple malicious tactics using romantic feelings to defraud money have been reported.
[Real experiences]
'The profile and photos were nice, and there was nothing suspicious; even when I met him, he had a good vibe. But suddenly he started talking about money, asking things like 'Don't you want more money, can't you save more easily?'' It felt like I was being completely led into an investment scheme.' (Woman in her 20s)
'Met on Tinder, exchanged LINE, and decided to meet on the weekend. While talking at a cafe, I was invited to futsal in the afternoon, so I participated. After playing, I was invited by someone from the same team to another cafe and asked if I was dissatisfied with my current job. It turned out to be an investment solicitation. The person I met on the app was just a 'bridge' for the solicitation.' (Man in his 20s)
Comment from Miyuki Kurushima, Representative of Marriage Consulting Agency Presia
In this survey, every experience shared by the 230 users was tinged with regret, such as 'if I had noticed sooner' or 'if I could have said no back then.'
Particularly serious is the 'married person/hookup seeker' harm experienced by nearly 40% of women. In matching apps that do not require submission of a certificate of singleness, there is no way to confirm if the other party is truly single, and cases where the judgment that 'they seem sincere so it's okay' backfires are endless.
On the men's side, over 40% have experienced 'the person being completely different from the photo,' highlighting the reality of wasting time and expensive meal costs.
While the 'convenience' of matching apps is certainly attractive, many troubles lie behind that convenience precisely because identities are not guaranteed. I am convinced once again that the best way to not waste time or money is to prioritize the 'quality of encounters' rather than chasing the 'quantity of encounters,' and to engage in marriage hunting in a safe environment where identity is 100% guaranteed.
I hope this survey serves as an opportunity for those who are exhausted from marriage hunting on matching apps to review their environment.
About Marriage Consulting Agency Presia
Marriage Consulting Agency Presia is run by Miyuki Kurushima, a YouTuber with over 150,000 subscribers. By systematizing know-how for logical partner selection that does not rely only on 'senses' or 'luck,' she has realized over 450 marriages to date. The biggest feature is that everything from counseling to matchmaking can be completed online. It offers a 'new form of partner searching' that meets modern needs, allowing people to pursue high-quality encounters from anywhere in the country without being tied down by residence or a busy lifestyle.