Are dating apps putting you in danger?

As shocking figures show violent crime linked to hook-up dating sites like Tinder have increased by 700 per cent in the past two years, Closer investigates the risks of online dating...

dating app

by Miranda Knox |
Published on

It seems a new dating app appears almost every week- and with 50 million people worldwide using Tinder alone, it's clear they're more popular than ever. Even celebs like Katy Perry and Lily Allen have admitted to using them.

But recently these 'hook up' sites have made headlines for sinister reasons.

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In 2015, crime reports mentioning apps such as Tinder or Grindr soared 700 per cent from just 55 reports in 2013- most of them sexual or violent.

Merseyside Police Deputy Chief Constable Andy Cooke, national police lead on violence and public protection, says he 'strongly encourages' victims to report offences immediately.

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HairdresserKerry Radbourne knows the dangers of dating apps. She began chatting to unemployed Danny Heap on a dating site in April 2014. Her date went on to assault her.

22-year-old Kerry says: "I assumed dating apps were safe because all my friends used them.

"His physical attacks left me terrified and unable to sleep for weeks. I found it difficult to trust men. I think I'm fairly sensible so it could happen to anyone."

A Tinder spokesperson says: "We take safety issues seriously and continue to advise our users to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity."

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