The Netflix documentary The Tinder Scammer has shown, once again, the risk involved in using this type of platform. Although there are people who have found their “half orange” through these apps or websites, there are hundreds of cases of scams and deception.
A study carried out by the computer security company Kaspersky shows the risks that exist for users on these platforms. Nine dating apps were analyzed in the research: Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid, Mamba, Pure, Feeld, Her, Happn and Badoo. The study acknowledges that they have improved their security mechanisms since 2017, but the possible impact on privacy is clear.
Most allow users to register their account with one of their social networks (Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, etc.). If the user chooses to do so, their profile is automatically populated with information from that social network, such as photos and profile information. Additionally, apps like Happn, Her, Bumble, and Tinder force users to share their location.
There are also deceptions or so-called “passionate” or “romantic” scams in which criminals conquer their victims by chat, generally by impersonating an identity or using photos of another person. Then they tell them that they would love to visit them, but that they are far away and cannot afford the ticket, so they ask for money to do so and end up receiving a transfer, and then they disappear, according to the Infobae site.
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In countries like the United States, romance scams hit a record $304 million in reported losses in 2020, according to the Federal Trade Commission. And these crimes not only take place in apps dating, but also on social networks like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. There are even reported cases of international mafias that capture teenagers through TikTok for child pornography, according to Digital Coverage.
Added to this is the cyberbullying reported especially by women. There is also the danger of harming the physical integrity of users. Mattias Langer, a German musician and professor of modern languages who was unconscious for two days in his apartment in Bogotá, had to be hospitalized after a woman he met on Tinder, who called herself Gabriela, cheated on him, drugged him, stole and physically abused, according to the newspaper El Tiempo.
Despite these risks, the number of people using these applications is increasing. In fact, specialized sites such as Statista project that by 2023 more than 280 million people around the world will have at least one account on these platforms.
For Ecuador there are no user statistics, but in 2018 a Management Training study indicated that Tinder, in that year, It was the eighth most used social network on cell phones in the country and also the second application, among those that offer subscription, most downloaded on iPhones.. It was in sixth place for Android phones.
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Tinder is the platform with the largest number of users in the world. It has a section of “safety tips” when using the apps. There it recommends never sending money even if the person claims to be in an emergency. “Transferring money is like sending cash: it is almost impossible to reverse the transaction or trace where the money went. Never share information that could be used to access your financial accounts. If another user asks you for money, let us know right away.”
What precautions should be taken when using these platforms?
THE UNIVERSE has compiled a series of recommendations made by Kaspersky, the Federal Trade Commission and platforms such as Tinder.
- Never send money or gifts to a person you have not met in person.
- If you suspect a romance scam, stop contacting the person immediately.
- Do a search for the type of job the person has to see if other people have heard similar stories.
- Perform a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture to see if it’s associated with a different name or mismatched details.
What precautions to take on a date once you meet the person through any platform?
First, do not rush and try to meet in person a person you know on one of these platforms. There is no need to be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions to detect red flags or suspicious personal attitudes. A phone call or video call can be a useful screening tool before you meet.
- The first few times you have to make the appointment in a public and populated place, never at your home, at the other person’s house or any other private place. If the person you have the date with presses to go to a private place, end the date.
- In addition, it is recommended that the appointment and the person’s profile be known by a friend or family member, as well as when they are going and where they are going. Keep your cell phone charged at all times.
- If you arrive driving your own car to the appointment, it is recommended to have an emergency plan, such as a rideshare application or a friend who can pick you up. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
