Social media, and the myriad of dating and other apps that help the lonely meet others of like mind, is a wonderful tool, but it can also be dangerous in the hands of those with criminal intent.
It needs to be used with caution, as evidenced by the lead article in Weekend Post which highlighted the vulnerabilities of gay men hoping to find that special someone through one of these dating apps.
The young men were hoodwinked into believing they were talking to someone interested in hooking up with them, only to be lured to an isolated spot and robbed by a group of thugs.
Police are investigating a syndicate of four men, all using fake profiles on queer dating app Grindr.
Ten cases have been reported in Gqeberha in the past three years, the most recent occurring last month.
One northern areas resident, after trying out Grindr for the first time, was shoved into the boot of his car, driven around town and forced to hand over R1,000 in cash to the thugs.
His profile had not been up for long when he received pictures from someone and they decided to meet at the man’s place.
But the meeting spot kept changing and he was eventually sent a location pin.
When he went there, his “date” was standing alone, but then two or three other men showed up and that was when the drama began.
Another man, who also decided to try out the app, chatted to someone for about 15 minutes before they decided to meet up.
“I had to fetch him at a garage, which I did.
“He then showed me where to drive to, but it was at that spot where the other guys were waiting.”
He was robbed of his phone, wallet and other things.
The problem is that the profiles these thugs put up are so convincing.
One of the victims received pictures from “this really good-looking guy who was super nice” while the other said the man he had chatted to “was very convincing and said the sweetest things”.
And this is how the criminals net the lonely. So we urge caution when using dating apps.
Make sure the meeting spot is in a well-lit busy space such as a restaurant or mall, or someplace similar, and that you do not go off alone with someone you’ve met online until you are convinced of the person’s bona fides.
HeraldLIVE