A HAMPSHIRE-based network of online dating websites has paid a settlement worth nearly £400,000 for allegedly using fake profiles to encourage people to subscribe to its services.

JDI Dating who are based in Havant and own websites like CupidsWand.com and FindMeLove.com paid the money to settle a case in the US which was brought by the US Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC said that the firm were computer-generating attractive fake profiles in the hope that it would get others to upgrade to paid membership.

It said that this is the first action against an online dating service.

An FTC spokesman said: “The defendants offered a free plan that allowed users to set up a profile with personal information and photos.

“As soon as a new user set up a free profile, he or she began to receive messages that appeared to be from other members living nearby, expressing romantic interest or a desire to meet.”

JDI have 18 websites and boast of having they having 12million global member JDI has said it had reached a solution with the regulatory authority without admitting any wrongdoing.

A statement read: “JDI obtains proper licences to display all content associated with virtual Cupid profiles.

“JDI cannot comment as to how other sites, or the copyright holder, might decide to use or promote the same content.”