THE VERGE – July 26 – Earlier this year, users of Grindr started seeing a sharp increase in the number of attractive men saying hello to them. Some of the most provocative profiles on Grindr aren’t men at all, but spambots designed to lure credulous users into turning over their credit-card information. Spambots are not unique to Grindr; the world of dating apps is filled with scam artists. Grindr will soon release an update that requires users to verify their accounts by providing a valid email address and creating a password. Joining Grindr requires only downloading the app and opening it up — immediately, the user is greeted with profiles of dozens of nearby men. Competitors like Scruff and Jackd have long required users to create an account, and seem to be less prone to spam. But they’re also less popular.
by Casey Newton
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