Grindr Bots Are Trying to Catfish You Online

By Jen D., September 26, 2019

Are you wondering if you’re connecting with a real person on Grindr or talking to a bot? Unfortunately, bots are no longer rare to encounter, and if you use social networks or dating apps, it’s highly likely you will meet one.

A bot is automated technology that can be used for advertising, links, or malicious purposes, such as downloading malware on your device! We will teach you how to correctly identify a bot from a genuine Grindr user who wants to connect for dating, romance, or fun!

About Grindr

Grindr is the (world’s!) largest social networking app for people who are gay, bi, queer, or trans. It comes in a free version, with advertisements, or a monetized version with a paid subscription which removes ads has additional features and swiping between profiles.

While the app started out being primarily for men, it has now opened itself up to all- trans and non-binary, and women! However, when the app became more inclusive, it probably wasn’t planning on bots being part of the equation?

How to Identify Grindr Bots

Background Check

One of the best ways to protect yourself is with quick background checks. You can perform quick, easy, private background checks at Social Catfish, and find out if someone is who they claim to be.

Grindr users do this before they meet someone for a date or continue to communicate online or the app. Search name, username, phone number, image, and email address, here:

Quick Answers

Bots aren’t real people, so they are available to answer all the time, whenever you message. Their answers and messages will be quick and generic, with general questions and answers.

If you suspect a bot, type something unusual like “qjguti126” and see if they comment back or continue messaging as if nothing was wrong. If so, they are likely a bot.

Links and Reroutes

A real user isn’t likely to try and get you off the app immediately, but a bot will. They will recommend a website, game, service, porn site, product, or location and send you a link. They may push for your private information right away (email address, phone number) to steal your information and use it to send you advertisements or malware.

Simple Profiles

Their profiles might give your intuition a second guess. They might have few profile images or images that look as if they’d belong to an actor or model. Their profile will advertise qualities they think everyone will want and be less individualized.

They Aren’t Afraid of Sex

Just because you’re dealing with a bot doesn’t mean it won’t come on strong. It might proposition you or talk dirty, with its end goal to reroute you outside the app and have you trust the link or suggestion.

Report the Bot

If you think you’re talking to a fake profile or bot, go to the “Report” feature located in the app. Select the icon in the upper right-hand corner and decide if you want to “Block” or “Report” the profile. For a bot, select “Report,” followed by “Spam”.

Use Caution

Whether you use Grindr or other dating and social networking apps, never share your full name, address, or other details that someone could use to spam or trick you. When in doubt, block a profile instead of being deceived or spammed.

Being safe online and avoiding bots takes practice. At first, you might be inclined to believe profiles are real, but with practice, you’ll get better at identifying bots! When in doubt, search Social Catfish and know for sure: