Did you know that 42% of people have tried their luck in cryptocurrency investment? Well, here’s a cautionary tale that will make you think twice before diving into the crypto world blindly. Imagine trusting your Tinder flame with £22k to invest in crypto for you, only to realize later that it was all a scam.
Investing in cryptocurrency through online platforms can be risky, especially when dealing with individuals met on dating apps like Tinder. Scammers often pose as experienced investors, promising high returns to lure unsuspecting victims into investing large sums of money. These scammers exploit the anonymity and ease of communication offered by online platforms to deceive people.
Cryptocurrency investment scams on Tinder involve convincing individuals to transfer money under pretenses. Victims may part ways with their hard-earned cash without any hope of recovering it. The lack of regulation and oversight in the crypto market makes it easier for scammers to operate unchecked.
According to the Sun;
Peter, 43, who didn’t want to give his last name, told The Sun how he was scammed out of an eye-watering $22,000 (£17, 337) in a tragic rom con.
He revealed how he was wooed by a pretty woman, who claimed to be 24, when she messaged him first on Tinder.
The couple spoke over the app, spoke on the phone and even video-called – with him being none-the-wiser.
But after he was lured into a scam trap – he realised the entire thing was AI-generated.
It was a quick Google Search of the images which made him realise the pictures being used by his “girlfriend” were fake.
Experts told The Sun that Peter’s story is a chilling cautionary tale as AI becomes more and more powerful.
And more importantly, AI creations become increasingly hard to discern from reality – making it even easier for them to entrap their victims.
Peter realises that the first red flag was the fact his “lover” – messaged him first.
“No 20-something-year-old woman is messaging a middle-aged man first on a dating app,” Peter told The Sun.
He added that he’s been single since his divorce a decade ago, and had desperately been using dating apps in the hope of finding somebody.
Although, Peter said that all had seemed well when the pair first started chatting. “I’m not sure I’ll ever find somebody now”.
Tinder says it had a dedicated fraud team designed to scan for fake profiles and red flag language – and also urging users not to ever send cash to people they’ve not met in person.
The pair then started speaking on the phone, and even video-called on a couple of occasions.
“I was falling,” Peter said.
“It seemed perfect. She was gorgeous, educated, and very easy to talk to.”
“She said she owned several properties, and that she was an investor.
“She told me she had made her money through cryptocurrency and that she could help me do the same.”
After a month of chatting, Peter said he thought he had found a real connection, and trusted her enough to invest his money.
He said that he initially sent the bot an instalment of $10,000 (£7,880), and after receiving “proof” of his successes a few weeks later, he sent a further $12,000 (£9,457).
Remember, not every swipe right leads to a financial windfall; sometimes, it’s just a scam waiting to happen. So, next time you’re tempted by a too-good-to-be-true investment opportunity on Tinder, remember to swipe left faster than you can say “blockchain.”
Don’t be Peter and get scammed!