Tinder & Sexual Predators

It should come as no surprise to anyone that a popular dating app like Tinder would be a haven for sexual predators.  The main problem with Tinder and other dating apps is that no background check is conducted on their users.  A sexual predator can set up a profile using a fake name, and be interacting with unsuspecting people in minutes.  Please click on this link to view the short news clip about a registered high-risk sex offender from Fargo who was spotted on Tinder.  The most troubling part about this story is that the police are not able to take any action against him, despite him having a history of assaulting young teenage girls and being a high risk to re-offend.

The bottom line is that whether you are using Tinder or some other dating app or site, only a background check can tell you if someone really is who he/she say they are.  A background check can be done with as little information as an individual’s cell phone number.  If the name that comes back does not match the name on this person’s profile or whatever name he/she gives to you, this is a red flag.  Also, if this phone number is for a disposable phone or anything of the sort, this is also a red flag.  A background check can be done cheaply, quickly and accurately, so there is no reason to risk your safety.  Don’t assume that a complete stranger you meet on the internet is who he/she purports to be.