Scammers are now leveraging dating apps like Tinder and Grindr to pose themselves as former victims of physical abuse to gain your trust and sympathy and sell you bogus “ID verification” services.
BleepingComputer came across multiple instances of users on online dating apps being approached by catfishing profiles who ask these users to prove that they are not a former sex offender by buying these services.
Editor’s note: some readers may find the content of this report distressing but ongoing scams like the one outlined below prompted BleepingComputer to report on this case, to caution everyone.
Users approached by bruised, “beaten up” victims
In what can be described as one of the most wicked catfishing schemes out there, users of dating apps such as Tinder and Grindr are being approached by attractive-looking profiles.
Except, in these cases, as the conversation progresses, this good-looking person claims they had been a victim of physical assault and abuse; that an ex-date beat them, and shares disturbing pictures attesting to the claim.
One of the people to have almost fallen for the scam, Michael (pseudonym) approached BleepingComputer with these pictures.
“I almost fell victim to a uniquely cruel catfishing scheme,” Michael told BleepingComputer.
Michael had created a Tinder profile and matched with a “beautiful trans woman,” in his words, and the two seemed to have hit it off quite easily.
As the conversation picked up, a new striking detail emerged. The woman…
