Swipe With Caution: Criminals Target Milwaukee Residents Through Dating Apps

Online dating has become a new norm for many, with more than 40 million people in the country using dating apps and other similar online platforms. Despite the convenience online dating brings, there are always some risks involved, especially when meeting someone for the first time that you met online.

Recently, the Milwaukee Police Department has seen a surge of robberies associated with dating apps, particularly among the LGBTQ+ community, but certainly not limited to this community, as anyone can become a victim here. These robberies generally involve the suspect setting a meet-up with the victim, and then robbing them or having other suspects there to commit the robbery.

It is worth a reminder that before meeting someone for the first time in person, you should be prepared. To assist, the MPD Public Information Office compiled a list of best practices that can be found at https://mkepdpio.org/online-dating-safety/.

Among the tips are:

• Always tell someone where you’re going and who you’re meeting
• Meet in a public place
• Don’t give out private information
• Stay sober

Along with a rise in robberies, people should also be aware of potential scams associated with online dating. Be aware of these red flags to help avoid identity theft, monetary scams and catfishing:

• If your prospective date has only one or two pictures, it may indicate that they’re a bot or otherwise fake profile.
• If your match refuses to talk with you on the phone before meeting, this could indicate that they’re trying to catfish you.
• Be cautious if the person you’ve matched with constantly dodges your questions, or they only provide vague answers.
• Profiles of people who aren’t local, especially if they only want to meet at a hotel or other private area, should be approached with caution.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.