Thousands stolen and identities robbed: The Tinder swindlers who preyed on Gold Coasters
As more people turn to online dating and apps to find ‘the one’, we’re being warned to stay alert for those using them to trick and deceive. REAL COAST DATING HORROR STORIES
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
As more Gold Coasters turn to online dating and apps to find ‘the one’, we’re being warned to stay alert for those using them to trick and deceive.
Australians lost $34m to scams in January, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
READ ABOUT MORE GOLD COAST ONLINE HORROR DATING STORIES BELOW >>
Dating and romance scams accounted for $5.2m of that, second only to investment rip-offs ($21m).
Former radio personality Mel Greig said she could relate to those who had fallen for romance scams – a topic that is back in the spotlight thanks to the 2022 Netflix documentary, The Tinder Swindler.
Ms Greig is ready to dip her toe in the Gold Coast dating pool after she fell victim to her own Tinder swindler.
The former Sydney DJ – who gained infamy in 2012 when she and a co-host posed as the Queen and Prince Charles to get information about the Duchess of Cambridge during a stay in hospital – has opened up about being scammed to help others feel comfortable about sharing their personal stories of triumph, loss and heartache.
Three years ago, Ms Greig says she went on a date with a man she met on the Tinder dating app.
“We had been on a date and he ended up staying at my house that weekend,” she recalled.
“He said it very casually that he’d lost access to his bank account to a fraud scam and wondered if he could borrow $1000.
“At this point I thought he was legitimately making $300,000 (a year) and that his story was true, so I loaned him the money.
“A few days later he asked me for more money and I said I couldn’t hand over any more.”
Ms Greig was shocked to discover her date had blocked her on all social media platforms after she refused to give him more money.
“I realised that I’d just been scammed. A few days later one of his other victims made contact with me to let me know that he had done the same thing to many other women.
“In fact, he owed this particular woman over $70,000.”
Because of the experience, the 39-year-old says she chose to stay single for two years.
The personality has since moved to the Gold Coast for a new life and career as a public relations manager.
“I feel grounded and just overwhelming happiness and gratitude for life again.”
Ms Greig is encouraging others to share their personal stories for the Feature30 film competition – open to everyone.
She is a spokeswoman for the competition.
The winner of Feature30 wins $30,000 to go towards the production of their feature film and mentoring sessions.
To enter click here.
Surfer’s identity stolen - 2015
The wife of one of the Gold Coast’s best surfers had a massive surprise when she was shown an image of her husband’s face on the dating app Tinder.
Top world tour surfer Bede Durbidge immediately copped flak from his world-famous surfer friends Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Kelly Slater when his wife Tarryn shared an image of the profile of an obvious impostor.
Mrs Durbidge posted an image of the profile using her husband’s likeness on Instagram.
“I was shown this today – so excited to see my hubby on Tinder,” Mrs Durbidge shared on Instagram.
“Hahah you must be a busy man,” Fanning said.
“Is it weird that I swiped right?” Slater said, joking about how the dating app’s matches work.
“This is the best thing ever,” Parkinson said.
“Haha what the hell,” Durbidge said upon seeing the comments of close friends.
Although the comments were light-hearted, identity security expert Dr David Lacey said it was quite common for impostors to use the likeness of strangers on dating apps.
“It is quite common that people steal other people’s images,” the senior research fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast said.
“People rip images off the web and use them on their own profiles.”
He said people who saw their likenesses used in fake profiles or online advertisements should report it to the social media organisations and website owners.
Woman partially reimbursed after romance scam - 2010
A Gold Coast woman conned by a romantic internet scam was partially reimbursed in an Australia-first.
The 56-year-old woman, ‘Ann’, received a cheque from Nigerian authorities after losing nearly $45,000 to a Nigerian university student who posed as a middle-aged British widower.
“I just needed company … he really made me believe,’’ the Gold Coast retiree said.
During the two-year online relationship, Ann made numerous transactions to the suitor to help pay for `lifesaving surgery’ following a car crash.
But the scam unfolded when he sent Ann images of the crash which were found to be a fake.
Ann had recouped 25 per cent of her outlay.
Queensland police worked with Nigerian authorities to track down the 25-year-old offender. He was convicted of fraud last year and jailed for 19 years.
Police said Queenslanders were sending between $800,000 and $1m a month to Nigeria and “unfortunately the vast majority is victims’ money”.
Bikies flaunt colours on Tinder - 2019
Bikies have brazenly flaunted their colours on Tinder in an attempt to woo potential partners.
But a bikie source told the Bulletin that gang members were lulling women into a false sense of security before getting them to sell drugs – or themselves – for the clubs.
The Bulletin found members of the Mongols and Odin’s Warriors looking for love on Tinder across the Gold Coast and northern NSW.
A police source said intelligence officers were aware of the bikies and actively searched through Tinder to find information on the gangs.
“We have a range of covert strategies to catch these people … Tinder is definitely one of the platforms we use,” the source said.
A bikie source said Tinder was used by gangs to entice young Gold Coast women, before they were recruited for the drug trade and sex trafficking.
Bikies would not target minors, but focused on attractive young Coast women aged between 18 and 24. The oldest female recruit was 27.
“They use Tinder for sex trafficking,” the source said.
“They especially hit Tinder before the music festivals here and Schoolies. They meet these girls first for a coffee.
“They get the girls into drug addiction, then they get them into drug rings.
“They need good-looking girls. They need girls who will attract money. They use them to sell drugs.
“This all starts out with a young girl looking for the love of her life. Queensland is the worst for this. And the Gold Coast is a money maker.”
Titan star claims identity ripped off - 2020
One of the city’s top NRL stars claimed he was the victim of a catfish who used his identity on a dating app.
A profile of former Gold Coast Titans star Jai Arrow was found on Bumble in October 2020.
It stated he was 25-years-old, 6ft 1in tall, likes to drink socially and is looking for a relationship.
There were multiple photos of Arrow surfing, suited up, sporting a mullet in his Titans kit on the field and with a drink at a bar.
Mr Arrow told the Bulletin: “Yeah that’s not me.”
“Someone sent me a photo on Insta (Instagram). If you could tell them that would be great. I’ve never been on Bumble in my life.”
Catfishing is the process of luring someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona.
More Coverage
What every Gold Coast suburb could get in QLD state election
The state election countdown is on and candidates are out and about sharing what they’ll do to win your vote. See the full list of what they’ve promised for your suburb.
Police respond to protest on Gold Coast M1
Protesters have taken to an overpass on the Gold Coast M1 hanging banners and forcing police to respond. Read the latest.