Grindr: Gay men lured into a trap in Dallas

A group used Grindr to lure men to a vacant apartment in Dallas, where they were robbed and assaulted. Federal courts handed down sentences of up to 23 years for hate crimes.

This concerns misuse by other users, not the service's own security, and does not count in the score.

What happened

According to the US Department of Justice, a group of men in Dallas, Texas, used Grindr in December 2017 to lure men they believed were gay to an apartment complex. The victims were held at gunpoint, kidnapped, carjacked and forced to withdraw cash at ATMs. Several were assaulted and taunted with homophobic slurs. The defendants admitted targeting as many as nine men; five were lured to the same vacant apartment on a single day. All pleaded guilty, including to hate crime charges, and in 2021 a federal court sentenced them to prison terms of more than 11 years and up to 23 years.

What is documented

• US Department of Justice (June 2021): three defendants sentenced to between more than 11 and 22 years.
• NBC News (2021): a fourth defendant was sentenced to 23 years.
• The defendants admitted targeting up to nine men.

What has not been established

• Whether Grindr had received reports about the profiles beforehand.

What this means for you

1. Be wary of new profiles with no history that push to meet quickly at a private address.
2. Share your location with a friend and agree to check in.
3. Report suspicious profiles in the app – it can protect the next person.