03/10/2024 | Writer: Yusuf Çelik
LGBTI+’s who have been targeted in online dating apps tell their stories: “They claimed that the person I was talking to was a minor and threatened me.”
Recently, LGBTI+ persons have increasingly become targets for scammers on dating apps. On platforms like Hornet and Tinder, users who share their phone numbers and photos are being threatened and extorted, with scammers accusing them of engaging in conversations with minors and demanding money in exchange for silence. Fear of stigmatization and homophobia often discourages LGBTI+ victims from seeking legal help, leaving them vulnerable to these scams.
This scam, which has been a concern for the LGBTQ+ community for some time, goes beyond being a mere digital crime. It systematically targets victims, employing dangerous methods of coercion. The forced disclosure of personal information not only violates individuals’ privacy but also disrupts family and social relationships, causing irreparable damage to the victims’ lives. Scammers use threats of exposing a person’s sexual orientation, identity, or private secrets to exert continuous psychological pressure. This practice further deepens the homophobia and stigma LGBTI+ individuals face in society.
Speaking to Velvele.net, a gay man shared how he was repeatedly manipulated with questions like “Are you in the closet?”, “Can you send more pictures?”, or “Send me your private photos,” all to collect blackmail-worthy information.
One victim, who shared their experience on the complaint site Sikayetvar.com in 2023, described their ordeal:
“No one is safe on this site. All information gets exposed. There’s a criminal threat, and they take money through threats and blackmail. There are fake names, +17 accounts, and malicious people. They exposed my information. They took 10,000 TL from me by threatening me from Etiler, saying they would open a case against me for child abuse. Someone even pretended to be a prosecutor and exposed all my personal details.”
The fear of existing homophobia and stigma in society often prevents LGBT+ persons from defending their legal rights against these scams. This situation allows scammers to grow stronger through illegal means, deepening the victimization of the LGBT+ community.
We spoke with Mehmet, Ali, and Arin about their experiences on dating platforms.
Forged documents in the name of the Public Prosecutor’s Office
Mehmet’s interaction with someone he met on Tinder, which started as a regular conversation, quickly turned into a frightening scam. “We matched on Tinder and started chatting normally. The person said they were 18 or 19. After a while, I asked for their Instagram, but they said they didn’t have one and gave me their phone number instead. We moved the conversation to WhatsApp, but after a few days of not getting a response, I forgot about it. Then the person contacted me again, claiming they had been out of town and didn’t have phone service. We resumed chatting, but they would constantly steer the conversation towards sexual topics,” Mehmet explained.
After exchanging photos, Mehmet’s contact suddenly disappeared. A week later, he was contacted by someone claiming to be a lawyer, who informed him that the person he had matched with was underage and that their family had discovered the messages and hospitalized them. The caller accused Mehmet of being guilty but offered to settle if he paid.
The documents sent to Mehmet were revealed to be forged, including a fake reconciliation letter from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, bearing the note “electronically signed.”
Ali’s experience: Threats from international numbers
Ali also fell victim to a scammer on Hornet. After a brief conversation, he began receiving threats from phone numbers with different country codes. Ali recounted how these threats accused him of being guilty and threatened to contact his family and take legal action unless he paid.
“I was called from various numbers, including those with international codes. They constantly threatened to call my family or start legal proceedings. Every time, they accused me of being guilty,” Ali said.
The harassment did not stop with phone calls. Ali revealed that his social media accounts were also targeted. He received emails notifying him of attempts to hack his Instagram accounts, and the threats extended to different platforms.
Arin’s encounter: Fighting back against blackmail
Arin had a similar experience on Tinder. After a brief chat, the person asked to continue the conversation on WhatsApp. However, before they even started chatting, the person immediately asked for intimate photos. When Arin refused, the scammer persisted, and soon after, Arin received a call from someone claiming to be a lawyer. The “lawyer” informed Arin that the person they had been chatting with was underage and that their family had found out, threatening legal action unless a settlement was reached.
“I told them I would take the matter to the prosecutor’s office and suggested to meet there. After that conversation, the calls and threats stopped completely,” Arin said.
Arin also mentioned that he had observed the individual or group advertising on Instagram for some time, attempting to ensnare others in similar schemes:
“I noticed that this person, or group, had been running ads on Instagram for a while, trying to lure others into the same traps.”
Tags: human rights
