Anyone who reads my blog knows I’m not the biggest fan of Grindr. You can read my article on how Grindr could be what’s keeping you single. Well, here’s another reason to dislike the ubiquitous yellow masked app. Users are now reporting yet another scam present on the app.
Guys in Ireland and throughout the world have reported someone initiating a new chat on the dating app, which asks for an “LGID.” The scam artist then shows a picture of a battered face, explaining he got attacked and wants to protect himself. He then explains that an LGID is a special kind of registry for LGBTQ people to find out if someone has a history of physical assault, and sends a link to his victim.
When the victim clicks the link, it redirects him to a professional-looking website that will screen out potential offenders. The scam? in order to be declared “clean,” a patron must provide vital information, as well as a 50-Euro payment via credit card. The website also attempts to quash suspicions by noting that “50% of all payments will be donated victims of gay-bashing.”
Of course, there’s no such thing as an LGID, and the website merely scams users out of money. The website also collections personal details that could be used later to blackmail and harass a person.
The scheme is just the latest in an ongoing series of scams and crimes perpetrated using Grindr. Of late, the company which owns the popular networking app has come under fire for not doing enough to protect user data, and for being owned by a homophobic Chinese company.
This is just one of many scams being perpetrated on users. Read more about how to stay safe on Grindr.
