Tinder match is followed by rip-off – scammers use "perfidious method"

Scammers like to use the Internet for their scams and are also up to mischief on dating portals. A supposed Tinder match quickly becomes a trap.

Munich – Finding a partner for life is a great wish for many people. The search for love has shifted more and more to the Internet in recent years. According to the portal Marktforschung.de, even one in three Germans uses online dating to find a partner. Dating apps like Tinder are particularly popular – scammers also want to take advantage of this.

Justice Minister warns of Tinder scammers – "In the end, everything is gone – the money and the love"

"Fraudsters steal millions with perfidious methods. Often, it starts with a romantic match on Tinder. First, the perpetrators build up an emotional bond. Then they persuade their victims to invest in cryptocurrencies on fake websites. In the end, everything is gone – the money and the love," warns Bavaria's Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich (CSU) in a press release.

So far, there have already been more than 250 complaints that have been received in the past two years – and that is only at the Bavarian Central Office. "The total damage reported to the Central Office Cybercrime Bavaria (ZCB) alone amounts to about 20 million euros," said Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich (CSU) of the German Press Agency (dpa) in Munich.

Perfidious fraud on Tinder: the number of unreported victims is probably even higher

Investigators call the scam method, which has been spreading rapidly on the Internet for some time, "Tinder trading scams" because the scammers like to use dating portals such as Tinder to establish contact with potential victims. Once contact has been established, the scammers try to build closeness and trust, often flirting with their victims. Subsequently, the perpetrators try to convince their victims of supposedly promising investments, for example in cryptocurrencies.

Scammers are currently looking for their victims via dating apps such as Tinder. (Symbolic image) © Imago

Particularly perfidious: According to the Ministry of Justice, the fraudsters are supposed to speak contemptuously of "pig burchering" (german: "pig slaughter") in their scam – but use this themselves by fraudulently obtaining large sums of money. The victims of the scam often do not dare to go to the police themselves after the crime out of shame. This also means that the number of unreported cases is probably higher and the damage caused is also higher.

Online dating scams: Tinder scammers aren't just on the eponymous app

Even though the scam talks about Tinder scams, other platforms are also used to establish contact with potential victims. This also includes sites that are not intended for dating, such as the LinkedIn platform. Therefore, it is best to be careful when using dating apps to protect yourself on platforms like Tinder. The consumer advice center also warns against phishing in funding programs. (Kiba/dpa)