Online dating firm denies creating profiles to tempt clients

Customers of one of Britain's largest online dating companies have voiced concerns that they may have been lured into paying subscriptions by potential dates who did not exist.

Men who signed up to a number of sites owned by Cupid plc complained to the BBC's 5 live Investigates programme that flirty messages they received as free members rapidly tailed off when they became paid-up subscribers.

Cupid plc said it did create staff profiles, but only for "the express purpose of monitoring the site for quality assurance and moderation purposes".

It categorically denied the company sent communications in order to tempt free members to pay subscriptions.

Adrian Goldberg reports.

The full report on was broadcast on 5 live Investigates on Sunday, 24 February, at 11:00 GMT on BBC 5 live.

Listen again via the 5 live website or by downloading the 5 live Investigates podcast.