From ‘crush’ to crime: see tips to protect yourself from the ‘love scam’ used to kidnap and rob victims

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According to the Department of Strategic Police Operations (Dope), the crime is classified as embezzlement. On Thursday (9), in São Paulo, a man was forced to share his bank account passwords with criminals after arranging a meeting with a woman he met on Tinder. Among the criminals’ strategies are luring victims to isolated neighborhoods immediately after making contact on the dating app Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash Have you ever used a dating app to arrange a meeting with a “crush” – a term used to describe feelings for someone – virtual? If the answer is yes, you better be careful. Digital platforms such as Tinder, Bumble and Happn have been used by criminals to attract new victims. On Thursday (9), in the East Zone of São Paulo, a 52-year-old man was kidnapped and robbed after meeting for the third time with a woman he met online. The man was approached by criminals while waiting for the woman in Cidade Tiradentes, inside an app car. He had requested the race to pick her up and then go to a shopping mall. In a statement to the Civil Police, the victim said that she was taken by three men to a dark street, where she was forced to unlock her cell phone and enter the passwords for her banking applications and card. This type of crime does not happen in isolation. In São Paulo, between January and March this year, the Anti-Kidnapping Division of the Department of Strategic Police Operations (Dope), a unit specialized in kidnapping of the São Paulo Civil Police, registered 18 cases of “Tinder scams”. Among the incidents, 14 were resolved and resulted in the arrest of 56 suspects. In 2022, there were 115 cases throughout the year. Faced with this wave of fraud crimes, g1 gathered tips on what to do when using apps to avoid falling into the traps of “love scammers”. The information was obtained from the delegate of the Anti-Kidnapping Division of the Strategic Police Operations Department and digital security experts. These “golden tips” do not guarantee 100% protection, but they are basic filters that can prevent a lot of bad things, according to president of the Brazilian Cybersecurity Association, Hiago Kin. Tips for a safer experience ❌ Don’t share personal information with the other person: avoid talking about whether you live alone, whether you have a car, whether your family is from another state, your work address or what days you go to the gym. 🤥 Check if your crush’s profile is fake: criminals often end up using photos that usually belong to someone else; See below how to carry out an analysis after the match: 🎭 Observe if there are signs that may indicate image manipulation: irregular edges or shadows and low resolution are signs of montage or removal of photos from other profiles. 🔎 Search by the name that appears on the profile: use search engines and other social networks to see what information appears about your crush and whether the photo matches the images presented by the person. 🖼️ Registration without a photo or with images available in banks: this increases the chance of it being a misleading profile. 🧐 Do a reverse search: you can use Google image search. To do this, click on the camera button. Drag or send an image file you want to search, by upload or link, and the search engine will display the same or similar results. This way, it will be possible to check whether the photo is original or has other different versions, in addition to knowing who else has already published the content. Search for any image with Google Lens Reproduction/ Google 📱 Be careful when creating your profile: taking into account that scammers end up exploiting details such as surname or place of work to manipulate victims or commit crimes, here are some guidelines: Use the abbreviated name or surname; Reduce personal information such as “I like dogs” or “from RJ to the world”, as these are particular characteristics that can attract the scammer to the victim’s sentimental side; Avoid including information about profession; Don’t use photos that show international travel and next to luxury cars. 💵 Never send money or share bank details: if someone makes a request for money or document numbers through the dating app, inform the dating platform. 📵 Avoid invitations to chat on other apps: prefer to keep the conversation through the app that started the interaction. So, no more saying that “I can’t get in here all the time” or that “my app subscription is about to expire”. ⚠️️Secure your account: Choose a strong password and always be careful when logging into a public or shared computer. Tinder, for example, does not send an email requesting a name and password. If you receive this type of request, report it immediately. 🔗 Be careful with links sent by users: you need to be careful not to click on any suspicious links. Report if you receive spam or offers, including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services. 🤝🏻 Use of trust to carry out a scam: avoid telling your crush about information from friends and family. The scammer can continue the conversation for weeks to obtain data to steal your identity or that of acquaintances, who could also be future victims. 🤳🏻 Video call: the Civil Police and Tinder recommend making a video call before meeting. 😶 Incognito mode and device to block: Tinder offers premium users “incognito mode”, which allows you to completely hide your profile. Users can also block a profile to prevent it from appearing in suggestions. The platform explains that it is a way to avoid seeing co-workers and ex-boyfriends. 📍 Choose a place: schedule the meeting during the day, avoid meetings at a residence, shopping mall stairs or supermarket parking lots. Choose a public, busy place outside of a high-risk area. Let colleagues and family know where your first date will be and share your location. 🚨 Arrange an emergency call: ask trusted people to call to find out what the situation is like. If she doesn’t get a response, she can take action or even call for help. ⏰ Changes in plans: if the person changes the meeting point at the last minute, the recommendation is to cancel. 🚘 Don’t accept rides: have control over how to get to and from your meeting, so you can leave whenever you want. If you’re driving, it’s a good idea to have a “plan B,” like a ride-hailing app or a friend to help with a ride. How to report 🤬 If you feel uncomfortable, leave: if you don’t feel safe, ask for help on the platforms or call police authorities (190). Find out what to do if your virtual boyfriend asked for money and disappeared EditorialAutomaticSELECT IMAGETitleMulticontent *Insert the title of the multicontent to be attached Also watch: Was there a nude leak? Practice is a crime; find out how to report Was there a nude leak? 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