The portal claims to have a huge community around the globe with more than 7,500,000 members and with about 33,000 online right now. The small preview of the members’ pool should animate the user even more, but we find the selection unattractive. But everyone’s taste is, of course, different. We start the sign up process, which is done fast and easy. A valid email, age verification, preferences and location that is all. After that we are asked for some more details and have the possibility to upload some pictures.
Afterwards, the website transfers us to the main page of SteamyDates.com. The impression is good, an average design but with a clear interface. Should not be difficult for a newbie to get around. On top the search function, the possibility to rate photos and the additional services live cams and sexy games. Beside our profile, we can see all alerts like new messages, hearts, likes and matches. The main part is occupied by the latest updates from the member’s area and advertisements.
Moderated chat and computer bots
The operator manages a massive network of dating portals like XCheaters.com, TrueBootyCall.com, FlirtHookup.com, XMeeting.com and XDating.com, to name a few. They all operate with the same scheme to scam people by using a moderated chat and computer bots to lure people into subscription traps. They are not even hiding the evidence, and already mention it in their fine print on the starting page of SteamyDates.com.
Excerpt from the Terms & Conditions (as of 30/08/2023)
I also agree to receive email newsletters, account updates, special offers and communications from computer generated virtual profiles, targeted to my interests, sent by SteamyDates.com or SDcupid.com, and agree to allow my personal data to be shared with third parties.
we may post fictitious profiles, generate or respond to communications by means of automated programs or scripts that simulate or attempt to simulate your intercommunication with another real human being (though none really exists and any dialogue is generated by programming).
The portals have almost the same clean and easy structure and the characteristic features like Search, LiveCams, MyMatches, MyLikes, LikedMe and My Visitors. After the free sign up, the new member will be lured to purchase a pricey membership by computer bots or moderators hiding behind faked profiles. This kind of membership is necessary to read and reply to the simulated conversations. Additionally, the newbie will be bombarded with software-generated emails with the same goal to convince the user to subscribe to a premium membership.
The bad reputation precedes the operator Flaming Head Limited, with their headquarters in Nicosia, Cyprus. The net is full of angry former members of the portal complaining about the shady business practice and call it nothing else other than a big scam. Mainly due to the misleading information, the moderated chat and the hard to terminate and monthly recurring subscriptions. Several people have already taken legal action against the operating company.