FTC warns of extortionists targeting LGBTQ+ community on dating apps

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns of extortion scammers targeting the LGBTQ community via online dating apps such as Grindr and Feeld. As the FTC revealed, the fraudsters would pose as potential romantic partners on LGBTQ dating apps, sending explicit photos and asking their targets to reciprocate. If they fall for the scammers' tricks, the victims will be blackmailed to pay a ransom, usually in gift cards, under the threat of leaking the shared sexual imagery with their family, friends, or employers. "To make their threats more credible, these scammers will tell you the names of exactly who they plan to contact if you don't pay up. This is information scammers can find online by using your phone number or your social media profile," the FTC said.