Armed gang uses Grindr to target victims for gay-bashing
Dating services are big business these days, and they offer a modern way to meet a life partner. But there's also a dark side. Tinder is perhaps the most well-known dating app, and Grindr is a near identical service aimed at gay and bisexual men.
Police in London are warning that the app -- which is available for iOS and Android -- is being used by an armed gang to set up fake dates with men. With two million people using the app around the world, Grindr offers rich pickings for homophobes to look for victims.
The gang, said to be armed with knives, is still being hunted by the police and anyone with information that could help is urged to get in touch. Grindr says that it is doing everything it can to help police. In a statement, a spokesperson for the company said:
Grindr has always encouraged users to treat the platform as they would any other social interaction in their lives, with a measure of caution and an awareness of their own safety.
There are many ways to verify and take steps to protect yourself, from meeting in more public spaces to getting phone numbers and speaking beforehand. We take these matters very seriously and cooperate with local law enforcement at all turns where we can.
Croydon Police offer up a number of tips for safe online dating:
- Always meet in a public place with lots of people around
- Don't share personal details until you trust the person with whom you are communicating
- If you decide to meet in person, let someone know where you are going and when you're likely to return
- Plan your journey to and from the date in advance. If using a mini-cab, always pre-book
- Drink responsibly and never leave your drink unattended
- Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged and working
- If at any time you feel uncomfortable, leave the date -- you are not obliged to stay
Photo credit: Vdovichenko Denis / Shutterstock