Grindr Sextortion: What to Do if You Are a Victim
Grindr is a popular dating application geared toward the gay community that allows you to see single people in your area to chat and build connections. Although meeting people online can be fun and exciting, it can also be very dangerous. Grindr sextortion has proven to be a major problem within the app and many victims are coming forward to report blackmail. This blog will give tips on what to do if you are a victim of Grindr sextortion.What Does Grindr Sextortion Mean?
Grinder sextortion consists of a sextortionist who disguises themselves through a fake Grindr account and reaches out to dozens of people pretending to want to either build a connection or hook up. Both are easy for Grinder users to fall for because the app is used for both relationships and hooking up. Once a connection is formed, the idea of exchanging content is brought up and once a victim agrees, that is when the harassment begins. These cybercriminals will save all photos, messages, and videos. They will threaten to expose them online to their victims’ families, friends, and even their workplaces if their demands are not paid. This could be especially emotionally devastating and traumatic for victims who are not out to their families and haven’t shared their sexuality. Unfortunately, many sextortionists use this to their advantage to get exactly what they want.What Should a Victim of Grindr Sextortion Do?
It’s easier said than done, but if you are a victim of online sextortion, it’s vital that you do not panic and make rash decisions. We know these circumstances can be terrifying and you want to put an end to the threats as soon as possible but it’s important to know how much worse things will get if you give in to the demands of your sextortionist. Here are some tips you can follow instead:- Document all of the harassing messages and threats for evidence of the blackmail.
- Let someone know about the harassment, this could be a friend, family, or anyone you can trust.
- Instead of giving in to their demands, stall for as long as you can until you find help.
- Report the sextortionists account to Grindr.
- Report the blackmail to the police.
How To Stop Grindr Sextortion?
The best and safest way to stop sextortion is to reach out to authorities and experts for help. Victims do not know how these cybercriminals work and are unaware of their tactics, so they can fall deeper into their blackmailer’s traps. There are things you can do in the meantime, while you are seeking out help.- Take screenshots of the messages you received from the person who was trying to extort you. This will be important evidence if you decide to report the incident to the police.
- Block the person who was trying to extort you from your phone and Grindr. You don’t want them to have any way of contacting you again.
- Report the incident to Grindr. They have a team of moderators who can investigate and take action against the person who was trying to extort you.
- Consider going to the police. If you have evidence of the extortion attempt, such as screenshots of the messages, the police may be able to track down the person responsible and bring them to justice.