Scammers Targeting Those Who ‘Swipe Right’ On Tinder
Those looking to find love by “swiping right’ may be biting off a little more than they bargained for. According to the Better Business Bureau, the popular mobile dating app Tinder has become a new avenue for scammers looking to prey upon unsuspecting users.
Though the app has grown continuously in popularity, Tinder is far from “catfish” proof. According to the BBB, as users on Tinder browse through potential suitors, swiping right for those who have gained their interest, scammers are casting their nets. A few minutes after swiping right, Tinder users receive a message saying they are a match, meaning the person is also interested in the user. Traditionally, this is followed by a slew of messages from a potential date, however, scammers are looking to get as personal with users as quickly as possible.
The BBB reports scammers will likely request the conversation move to a cellphone, where the conversation begins to change. Though Tinder has cracked down on more obvious spamming, this has only caused scammers to become more sophisticated in their approach. According to the BBB, your new “match” may switch the conversation from your “amazing smile” to an “amazing” new service or product. Typically, links with referral codes will be sent out so spammers will get paid for sending new customers.
Scammers will recommend a user downloads an app and and will provide a link that loads to malware on your phone. Other scammers may ask for an address and other personal information under the guise of romantically sending flowers or another gift.
The BBB notes though scammers are becoming more refined in their approach, it is still possible to discern when “Mr. or Ms. Perfect” may actually be too good to be true. Those who reply extremely fast to messages are likely spam bots, who immediately send responses as soon as messages are received. Those who quickly attempt to move the chat out of Tinder may also be spam accounts.
If your suitor’s responses don’t seem to make any sense with your conversation… it might also be because you are not chatting with an actual person. Attempt asking questions and, if they don’t make sense, move on. The BBB also warns away from those who look like a model, have a glamour shot or are wearing a bikini or other revealing clothing, though experts also so scammers are now attempting to move from the “hot archetype” to the less obvious “girl-next-door” type.
If you think you have encountered a scammer, report your incident to the Better Business Bureau.