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Scams target dating app Tinder

A government body is warning Tinder users to be on the lookout for dodgy users, following a number of recent scams involving fake profiles.

Australians using the dating app Tinder have been warned that instead of finding love they could find their phones have been infected with malware.

The app has been targeted by a number of recent schemes seeking to lure users into giving away personal information or clicking on dubious websites that can infect devices with malicious software, the federal government agency Stay Smart Online says.

Victims may be bombarded with fraudulent surveys, competitions, and ads for mobile games.

The website says the latest scam involves a "bot" - a robot user - which attempts to engage users in an automated text chat.

"Hey, how are you doing?" the bot asks. "I'm relaxing with a game on my phone, castle clash ... have you heard about it?"

It then encourages users to click on a dubious link.

Tinder says it is aware of the problem and has been working to remove fake profiles.

Such profiles can be difficult to identify, Stay Smart Online says, and users are encouraged to be wary of the information they're giving away.

"Remember, on the internet, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is."

Tinder users swipe through photos of potential partners using their mobile devices, approving or rejecting profiles to meet up with people nearby.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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