At TechJunkie we usually choose to focus on the positive, but an intriguing reader question prompted us to look at the dark side once again. The question is, ‘Has there ever been a Tinder murder? I’m using the app and was wondering how safe it is?’
It’s not something we usually cover, but considering how many of our readers use Tinder, it seemed logical to give it some airtime. I’ll preface by saying that Tinder has millions of users, and while it’s terrible, the stories on this page are a tiny minority of users. Don’t let using any kind of dating app put you off.
Murders attributed to Tinder
There have been a lot of murders stating that Tinder is used to pick the victim. Mainly here in the USA but also in other countries. This piece on Ranker lists 11 murders in which Tinder was involved. This piece in the New York Times says that murderer and rapist Danueal Drayton also uses Tinder to find his victims.
Even do a simple internet search for ‘Tinder murders’ and you’ll see hundreds of results. Many are repetitive, but they all cover a range of Tinder-related crimes. UK news outlet The Telegraph reported that Tinder and Grindr were linked to more than 500 crimes in 2016.
Crime and dating in context
As far as I know, there is no official number on the number of crimes, including murders, where Tinder is a factor. If you take this UK example, 676 crimes were reported including Tinder or Grindr. At the time, there were an estimated 7 million Brits using dating apps. This is a small percentage of the crimes that are attributed, or at least reported, to dating apps.
Although these are scary stories and might scare some people. You should also keep them in context. When used properly, dating apps are no more dangerous than meeting someone at a bar or cafe.
Using dating apps safely
There will always be an element of risk in an app that lets you meet and then connect with strangers. There are some practical ways to protect yourself when using Tinder or other dating apps that will put your mind at ease and make the whole experience much safer than it could be.
Here are some practical Tinder survival tips:
know who you’re talking to
Offering to meet someone you don’t really know is inherently risky, so do your best to know who you’re talking to. Find out who they are, check other resources like social media, Google their names, check Facebook and find out what you can do about them.
Some websites advocate doing a background check and you can do it if you want, but they won’t tell you everything. They can tell you if they are guilty or go by other names, nothing more. Do your own checks and only agree to meet when you’re ready.
get a wingman
A useful tactic for meeting someone for the first time is to get a secret wingman. If your safety is at stake, your best friend should not hesitate to do so. Have them sit completely apart from you and keep an eye on what’s going on. If they can get a secret picture of your date and the person you’re with, all the better. Just in case.
If you decide to go back to your place, get a preset signal to alert the other person so they don’t worry.
Check in with friends
If having a secret team isn’t going to work, at least have a secure conversation before and after your appointment. Add a preset text message if you decide to have a night out so they don’t have to worry and call them first thing in the morning. Not as effective as a winger, but better than nothing.
Run your phone’s GPS
Make sure your phone’s GPS is always working and use an app to share your location. It can be as simple as using Snap Maps and leaving the app open, or using a dedicated location sharing app like Glympse. There are others like this that offer the same benefits.
Stay public until you’re sure
Meet in a public place, stay where other people and/or cameras are, get a separate Uber home, and take practical measures until you feel something about them. If they’re real, they don’t care. The longer you can stay in public, the less you should worry about being a victim and the more you should enjoy the date.
Enjoying the date is the whole point of Tinder and other dating apps. Take practical precautions and don’t take risks, but above all enjoy the experience!
At TechJunkie we usually choose to focus on the positive, but an intriguing reader question prompted us to look at the dark side once again. The question is, ‘Has there ever been a Tinder murder? I’m using the app and was wondering how safe it is?’
It’s not something we usually cover, but considering how many of our readers use Tinder, it seemed logical to give it some airtime. I’ll preface by saying that Tinder has millions of users, and while it’s terrible, the stories on this page are a tiny minority of users. Don’t let using any kind of dating app put you off.
Murders attributed to Tinder
There have been a lot of murders stating that Tinder is used to pick the victim. Mainly here in the USA but also in other countries. This piece on Ranker lists 11 murders in which Tinder was involved. This piece in the New York Times says that murderer and rapist Danueal Drayton also uses Tinder to find his victims.
Even do a simple internet search for ‘Tinder murders’ and you’ll see hundreds of results. Many are repetitive, but they all cover a range of Tinder-related crimes. UK news outlet The Telegraph reported that Tinder and Grindr were linked to more than 500 crimes in 2016.
Crime and dating in context
As far as I know, there is no official number on the number of crimes, including murders, where Tinder is a factor. If you take this UK example, 676 crimes were reported including Tinder or Grindr. At the time, there were an estimated 7 million Brits using dating apps. This is a small percentage of the crimes that are attributed, or at least reported, to dating apps.
Although these are scary stories and might scare some people. You should also keep them in context. When used properly, dating apps are no more dangerous than meeting someone at a bar or cafe.
Using dating apps safely
There will always be an element of risk in an app that lets you meet and then connect with strangers. There are some practical ways to protect yourself when using Tinder or other dating apps that will put your mind at ease and make the whole experience much safer than it could be.
Here are some practical Tinder survival tips:
know who you’re talking to
Offering to meet someone you don’t really know is inherently risky, so do your best to know who you’re talking to. Find out who they are, check other resources like social media, Google their names, check Facebook and find out what you can do about them.
Some websites advocate doing a background check and you can do it if you want, but they won’t tell you everything. They can tell you if they are guilty or go by other names, nothing more. Do your own checks and only agree to meet when you’re ready.
get a wingman
A useful tactic for meeting someone for the first time is to get a secret wingman. If your safety is at stake, your best friend should not hesitate to do so. Have them sit completely separate from you and have them pay attention to what’s going on. If they can get a secret picture of your date and the person you’re with, all the better. Just in case.
If you decide to go back to your place, get a preset signal to alert the other person so they don’t worry.
Check in with friends
If having a secret team isn’t going to work, at least have a secure conversation before and after your appointment. Add a preset text message if you decide to have a night out so they don’t have to worry and call them first thing in the morning. Not as effective as a winger, but better than nothing.
Run your phone’s GPS
Make sure your phone’s GPS is always working and use an app to share your location. It can be as simple as using Snap Maps and leaving the app open, or using a dedicated location sharing app like Glympse. There are others like this that offer the same benefits.
Stay public until you’re sure
Meet in a public place, stay where other people and/or cameras are, get a separate Uber home, and take practical measures until you feel something about them. If they’re real, they don’t care. The longer you stay in public, the less you should worry about being a victim and the more you should enjoy the date.
Enjoying the date is the whole point of Tinder and other dating apps. Take practical precautions and don’t take risks, but above all enjoy the experience!
