Different Types of Scammers on Grindr

The pitfalls of online dating in the gay community

Nathan Chen
3 min readDec 1, 2023
Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash

Let’s face it, in the world of online dating, Grindr is a big deal, especially in the gay community. It’s like the wild west of dating apps, complete with its own set of outlaws — the scammers. I’m here to take you on a journey through the rogue’s gallery of Grindr, not to scare you off, but to arm you with the savvy to spot a scammer a mile away.

The Emotional Blackmailer

Ever bumped into someone who seems perfect, only to find out they have more baggage than a 747? Enter the Emotional Blackmailer. They start off as Prince Charming, sweeping you off your feet, but soon enough, their sob stories roll in. Suddenly, they need money for a sick pet, a rent crisis, or a mysterious ailment that only cash can cure. Remember, genuine connections are free — if love starts costing you, it’s time to log off.

The Catfish Extraordinaire

The Catfish is an artist, the Picasso of profile pictures. They lure you in with model-like photos, but let’s be honest, if they look like they’ve stepped out of a Calvin Klein ad, your alarm bells should be ringing. Their stories are as fake as their photos, and they’re never available for a video call — because, surprise, they’re not who…

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Nathan Chen

I'm Nathan Chen, a queer Asian writer advocating for LGBTQ+ issues, Asian representation, work life & mental health. Let's explore life's complexities together!