After it was revealed in the Netflix documentary, “The Tinder Scammer” that Simon Leviev, an Israelite, cheated on women and ran away with their money to live in luxury, we came to think that this was worthy of a fiction film. However, a very similar way of scamming has now emerged from Tinder. The “pig butcher shop” either “romance scam”as theft in dating apps has been called, has alerted the authorities as it is becoming more and more common.
Like Leviev, the scammers contacted their victims through Tinder, started talking to them until they established “a relationship” from a distance. “They slowly make you think that you might be developing a connection with someone,” says Sarnam Narang of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The tinder scam in Europe
This type of scam was reported in mid-2022 in Europe, where the police alerted about an organized group. It is believed that they obtained transfers of more than 200 thousand euros.
The victims then were elderly women who lived alone. Criminals used stolen photos of little-known actors and models to deceive. In addition, in order not to be caught, they invented excuses such as being on a trip, working, or that their camera was not working or even broken, so as not to send new photos or make a video call.
After keeping the relationship at a distance, it is when they asked the victims for money. So that? They told them that they were going to visit them and they needed to buy the trip or even that it was for a medical procedure.
The investigation was started after an Irish woman in 2021 reported the scam. A trace was made to the account where she had sent the money and it turned out to be from Spain. They continued to investigate the trace and the IP address, they discovered that there were several bank accounts that were related. Thus, two men arrived: one from Pamplona and the other from Alicante, who belonged to the organized group dedicated to “romance scam”.
The new modality of the scam: “pig butcher shop”
According to Merca2.0, these scammers are looking for smaller payments compared to other criminals. “Pig butchers eventually fleece their victims with large sums through cryptocurrency investments.”
According to the expert, cryptocurrencies are booming and criminals have opted for a more elaborate approach to take more money in theft in dating apps, and not be tracked.
They work with a website that they own instead of a regular one for cryptocurrencies. In this way, the fake website makes its victims believe that they are earning a lot of money there.
Unlike crimes in Europe, here they do not distinguish between age or gender, which is why the FBI issued a warning. “If someone on a dating app is trying to get you to spend your money on something, that’s a huge red flag.”
How to spot a potential scammer
bumbleshared some tips for you to be alert and fall into the clutches of this type of theft in dating apps.
- They ask you for money. It might seem obvious, but dating apps are not for business or financial gain. Therefore, if any user does it, report it and block that user.
- They have an urgent need for you to send them money. Scammers tell heartbreaking and dramatic stories to make you feel sorry for their situation and send them money.
- They avoid face-to-face contact. If one of your matches refusing to meet you in person or by video call, while making all sorts of excuses, it’s a sign that something isn’t right and he may not be who he says he is. Also, if your messages have a different tone and style, it is likely that several people are behind that chat, thus the scam.
- Everything moves very fast. They still don’t know each other and the relationship is going by leaps and bounds, be careful. Scammers will try to gain your trust with empathy and affection, saying that they are already in love or even proposing to you.
- the long distance. Of course, having a partner of another nationality attracts and not all long-distance couples are fake. But cyber criminals will say any kind of tricks, like that they are in the military, work abroad or a place far from civilization. Be very careful, ask lots of questions and go slowly.
- They avoid answering questions as they want to know everything about you. If the person in question does not share much about himself, red flag. Look for inconsistent or meaningless information in your story.
- They want to talk outside the app very quickly. They will try to contact you outside the “safety” of the app as quickly as possible. Only do it when you already feel comfortable. As they say in Mexico: “They are not enchiladas”.
How to protect yourself from theft on dating apps
- NEVER, really never share your personal information. For example, your home address, your work address, your email or your passwords.
- Fewer still share your financial information. As well as details of your credit card, PayPal, your PIN or any other information about your finances. And yes, don’t send money or gifts to a stranger either.
- Do not fall for blackmail, the scammers will want to go very fast in their relationship and if you do not fall they will try to make you feel guilty for not doing what they ask of you. Don’t let them manipulate you.
- Tell it to whoever you trust the most. More than a slogan, it is advice. Telling someone about your new match could help you identify red flags or inconsistencies that something isn’t right.
If you feel that you have been the victim of a scam of this type, do not hesitate to report it on the dating app, do not feel ashamed, you should know that it is not your fault and you are not alone.
In Mexico, Tinder is the most popular application, followed by Bumble, according to a study by THE CIU. In addition, they reveal that 22.6% of Internet users have an active account in some dating application.
Mariel Otero Journalist passionate about fashion, the world of beauty and the source of lifestyle. Lover of stories worth telling, series, movies and sagas. Corny and closet geek.