The Tinder Car Heist and the Plot For Revenge (theverge.com) 30
Slashdot reader DevNull127 writes: Is there a dark side to online dating apps like Tinder? "According to the FTC, reports of fraud losses from romance scams topped $1.3 billion in 2022," reports the Verge. The head of the FBI's Portland field office tells them that "Technology gives you this false sense of trust." But the co-founder of the nonprofit Advocating Against Romance Scammers argues it's more than that — that technology "gives criminals a crucial tool to find new victims, and they are definitely getting more brazen overall."
And then the Verge tells the story of a 32-year-old technology entrepreneur and self-proclaimed multimillionaire who didn't see the red flags when a mysterious date on Tinder asked him what kind of car he owned — and told him that when he paid for their hotel room, bring cash...
Yes, he ends up being carjacked at gunpoint in a Tinder car-theft scheme by a largely transient con artist. But then he posts to his 245,000 followers on Instagram — hiring a marketing company to manage a car-recovery campaign. He hears from fences who offer to sell back his car for $30,000 — along with an alleged police informant. There's good luck and bad luck in this wild tale of car chases, police scanners, a neighborhood they call "Methville," and an attempt to bring accountability to a 21-year-old catfisher and her two 18-year-old acomplices.
But the story ends with the 32-year-old self-proclaimed multimillionaire back on Tinder, looking for another date.
And then the Verge tells the story of a 32-year-old technology entrepreneur and self-proclaimed multimillionaire who didn't see the red flags when a mysterious date on Tinder asked him what kind of car he owned — and told him that when he paid for their hotel room, bring cash...
Yes, he ends up being carjacked at gunpoint in a Tinder car-theft scheme by a largely transient con artist. But then he posts to his 245,000 followers on Instagram — hiring a marketing company to manage a car-recovery campaign. He hears from fences who offer to sell back his car for $30,000 — along with an alleged police informant. There's good luck and bad luck in this wild tale of car chases, police scanners, a neighborhood they call "Methville," and an attempt to bring accountability to a 21-year-old catfisher and her two 18-year-old acomplices.
But the story ends with the 32-year-old self-proclaimed multimillionaire back on Tinder, looking for another date.
Happens with ALL online dating (Score:3)
In ye olde days when I was single, it was pretty common to have private messages pop up from young Russian guys who always had a sad sob story about how much they dreamed of visiting America. Story always went along the lines of how much they'd repay your generosity with sexual favors, should you be kind enough to send them money to buy an airline ticket. This was before Bitcoin was ever a thing, so they always wanted some sort of international wire transfer.
While I knew it was an obvious scam, I'd always tell them something along the lines of "Sorry, rough economy and a lot of homophobia here too, but you don't see me asking for airline tickets to Canada." I'd assume they wouldn't be doing these scams if there weren't some percentage of people who do actually fall for them.
Re: (Score:3)
If Russian men were contacting you, either they were on the wrong web site, or you were.
Wait a minute. I'm being to think there might be girls on this website.
Re: (Score:3)
I think you missed the bit about OP being concerned with homophobia. No girls here, move along.
Re: (Score:2)
Wait a minute. I'm being to think there might be girls on this website.
Oooh get her! Whoops! I've got your number ducky. You couldn't afford me, dear. Two three. I'd scratch your eyes out. Don't come the brigadier bit with us, dear, we all know where you've been, you military fairy. Whoops, don't look now girls, the major's just minced in with that dolly colour sergeant, two, three, ooh!
Online Dating has sucked for a long, long time (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Online Dating has sucked for a long, long time (Score:5, Insightful)
^^^^ TRUE
Yes, the bimbo's kids will always outrank you and come before you in EVERYTHING, and if you're not perfectly okay with that then you're a misogynist and you hate women and children.
You will ALWAYS come second (or even 3rd, behind the dog) and you'll get all the responsibilities of being a father with NONE Of the benefits.
You'll be expected to pay all the bills, deal with the baby-daddy drama or ex-husband drama, and do it all with a big ol' smile on your goober face.
Discipline the kids? No, you're not allowed. Those are HER kids, how DARE you! So what if they broke one of your prized possessions? What are you gonna do about it? (Nothing, that's what.)
Also, if you do become a constant part of your life, the courts may say that you're the "defacto father" and you, yes YOU may have to pay child support for children that aren't yours.
My advice is to date single moms for fun and sex but never ever get entangled with them beyond that. Never move in or see them on a "regular basis". It will be to your detriment. You will lose every time.
Re: (Score:1)
^^^^ TRUE
Yes, the bimbo's kids will always outrank you and come before you in EVERYTHING, and if you're not perfectly okay with that then you're a misogynist and you hate women and children.
You will ALWAYS come second (or even 3rd, behind the dog) and you'll get all the responsibilities of being a father with NONE Of the benefits.
You'll be expected to pay all the bills, deal with the baby-daddy drama or ex-husband drama, and do it all with a big ol' smile on your goober face.
Discipline the kids? No, you're not allowed. Those are HER kids, how DARE you! So what if they broke one of your prized possessions? What are you gonna do about it? (Nothing, that's what.)
Also, if you do become a constant part of your life, the courts may say that you're the "defacto father" and you, yes YOU may have to pay child support for children that aren't yours.
My advice is to date single moms for fun and sex but never ever get entangled with them beyond that. Never move in or see them on a "regular basis". It will be to your detriment. You will lose every time.
If her kids break things for *anyone*, without being apologetic, she is doing a bad job raising them, period. It's lack of respect for others.
If she is living with a man that is not the father of her kids, she is not necessarily required to make the kids see him a the father, but she is also in a place where his opinion needs to matter a lot.
Being a step parent means you get all of the responsibility, with none of the benefits. I hear you, man. I have been in this position, and it sucked. I c
Re:Online Dating has sucked for a long, long time (Score:4, Interesting)
As someone at the tail end of the divorce proceedings and having no children, I can't see myself ever moving in with a woman that has children unless they are adult children. Way to many horror stories and frankly the last wife's adult child was a train wreck as well.
I'm at the point where I feel single people with no kids should only date other single people with no kids. If you have kids, look for another person that has kids. Then you both will understand the "kids" thing and will realize why you are 3rd or 4th priority.
I know sometimes things work out, because my step-father started seeing my mother when I was 12. It worked out well for him but then I wasn't a problem child. 27 years later, they are still happily married and we all have a good relationship. I wish he would of been my real dad. Luckily for him, my father wasn't remotely in the picture, so he really didn't have ex-husband drama to deal with. Just my teenage angst but being a nerd, I just kept to myself, etc. I would say he lucked out.
Re: (Score:2)
> I was 12. It worked out well for him
Yes, but did they meet on Tinder, or did they meet through some kind of actual meaningful mutual interest?
I personally know exactly one couple who met on the internet and worked out long term, and they didn't meet through online dating. They met through an online community that was of interest to both of them due to shared background (specifically, an MK network; they were from different continents, but are both MKs).
Re: (Score:2)
Discipline the kids? No, you're not allowed. Those are HER kids, how DARE you! So what if they broke one of your prized possessions? What are you gonna do about it? (Nothing, that's what.)
As Rich Cooper puts it, "Responsibility without Authority equals Slavery".
Re: (Score:2)
Honestly, stipulation #1-- "My kids will always come first"-- I think that just comes with the territory, if you're dating someone with kids. I'm speaking here from my experience as a parent. You can't really fault them for saying that.
(#2 and #3 are a different story. Hopefully this is just an example of Sturgeon's law, and not all of the women you meet are going to be like that).
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
I say this as a parent myself, who raised a child on my own for nearly all of her life. I get it. And that's part of the reason I haven't dated for years, even
Re: (Score:2)
I should clarify..... I expect that a woman's children will always be a high priority, and that's perfectly fine. The undertone though is "You're just a family staff member".
It's worse than that. In many cases, you're just a resource. A rescue plan. "Look, the deal is, pay for my kids, and basically, occasionally I'll toss some pussy your way".
Now it's different if the man has kids from a prior marriage too, although HER kids are always going to take priority. But if it's a single guy with no children, and he's marrying a single mom, yeah, he's pretty much at the bottom of the barrel as far as priorities go. He'll have all of the responsibilities of a father (and thrown into th
Re: (Score:3)
2). You must love Dogs above everything,
Honestly? If you're not on board with this, then you're a monster. Dogs are awesome.
Re: (Score:2)
Dogs drool, cats rule!!!
Re: (Score:3)
Date to fuck not to find love. (Score:3)
Just be open about it. There are plenty of women who are.
Women with kids don't want a man, they want the missing piece of their offspring care ecosystem and while that makes perfect sense, no one sane needs that shit so leave them for the bitchass chumps who deserve it.
Worthwhile women will be smothered in opportunities. That leaves disposables and crazy disposables. Anyone the above offends should check themselves for vulns.
Re: (Score:2)
What [job] do you do? Where do you live? What car do you drive?
About 10 years ago, the internet got a new word, sugar babes: Young women who want a sugar-daddy but won't fuck. Dating sites seem to exist for the women thinking they deserve Brad Pitt or Ryan Gosling.
News flash (Score:2)
It turns out that if you put down that game controller and actually venture outside and interact with human beings, there appears to be plenty of people out there looking to meet new people. No swiping and no griping. Just some old fashioned human interaction and the investment of a little time.
Re: (Score:3)
Most of the new people you meet these days are busy swiping - while talking to you. Human interaction has changed. With the availability of online dating, many people do it as a quick way to check basic data (looks, age, weight, basic spelling skills, etc.). Don't forget that our time has become more precious as demands on it increased. People spend less time in local social circles then they used to. You drive to work, work, drive home. In most of suburbia, people barely know their neighbours, let alone so
Real accountability (Score:2, Funny)
"...and an attempt to bring accountability to a 21-year-old catfisher and her two 18-year-old acomplices."
The only accountability I'd be interested in is seeing them all sealed in barrels and dropped overboard.
Well, duh (Score:2)
But the story ends with the 32-year-old self-proclaimed multimillionaire back on Tinder, looking for another date.
The car-jacking and recovery thing was probably his most exciting Tinder date ever.
What an idiot (Score:2)
Re: What an idiot (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
There were so many red flags, ...
I'd say there are obvious red flags at his end as well... the pool of women willing to date him is probably rather small, so he's taking what he can get.
Shoe-size IQ too (Score:2)
Does "technology" also give you an IQ that would be numerically smaller than your shoe size, even if you by shoes by their European shoe sizes.
(For those who only buy in one continent, UK adult shoes are typically size 6~12 ; US adult sizes are 7~13 ; but EU sizes range 33~48 ; and there are other systems in Mexico, NATO, Russia and likely many others.
Fans of the Imperial measurement system will be
But why? (Score:2)
If you're looking for a hookup, why would you bring your wealth into the equation? Unless gold-diggers are your kink, why, just why?