D’oh K Cupid?

Michael Z. Piccaino is suing OKCupid for $70K in damages.

OKCupid is continuously ranked in the top 5 of dating websites available for free worldwide, but one of its users might cost them tens of thousands of dollars. A New York client is suing the online dating service for a staggering $70,000, the amount he claims was stolen by a con-artist on the site.

Michael Z. Piccaino states that he met another user who went by the name Bruce Thompson and after only 10 days of Skype-dating, swindled the Queen’s man of his cash by asking for money. Piaccaino sent the cash via Capitol One transfers, totaling $70,460, and only later learned that the recipient was bogus.

What is Piccaino’s case on finding fault on OKCupid? He states in court documents that OKCupid’s reputation for being ‘the best’ shouldn’t allow for scammers on the site and that OKCupid also failed to warn him of the dangers of online dating. But how valid is that argument? Could this reasoning be similar to cases of consumers suing fast food establishments for not warning them of the health dangers of their meals?

For Piccaino, being ‘catfished’ is obviously terrible and heartbreaking—and unfortunately something that occurs daily—but where does company obligation end and personal responsibility begin? What are the duties of a dating website, or any business for that matter, to warn of potential dangers of their products or services and where does one draw the line?