Chennai

Twenty-seven-year-old Krishna* was swiping on Tinder when he came across an interesting profile. However, his dreams of having an interesting conversation or a date, were swiftly crushed. “There was this very good looking girl and before I could say hi, she said, ‘Paid fun only’. I kind of gave up on Tinder after that,” he said, adding that he came across many fake profiles. 

Gautam N, an entrepreneur, too had a similar experience. “I matched with this very interesting girl on Tinder and she immediately added me on Facebook and Instagram. She looked like a model, said she was new to Chennai and trying to make new friends. While I was speaking to her on Tinder chat, I felt there was something fishy about this girl. So, I unmatched her. But I’ve come across such profiles on Facebook too. These profiles also have automated messages, which lead the users to porn sites or web-cam chats,” added this 29-year-old. 

Tinder users like Syed Mirza, who travels frequently, concedes that one has to be careful on such apps. “I have dated through Tinder in different cities but they are friends with benefits. However, I recall this one instance when I got such a proposition. I blocked her because the profile seemed fake. There are a lot of fake profiles and desperate guys out there. So, this is a convenient platform for this kind of business, once they get connected. There are people who are unable to get a girlfriend. So through these apps, it’s business,” he pointed out. 

Some, like Prashanth, a content writer, have made good friends through the app. “I clearly put up ‘not for cheap thrills; here for good conversations’. I downloaded the app for fun – to talk to new people. And I made two friends, who are still an important part of my life today. I even invited them for the wedding. But I usually swipe no, when shady profiles appear, and therefore am safe. I heard from many that apps and social media sites are being misused by those wanting adult fun,” he said. 

Social media expert Manish Kishore said the ease of creating fake profiles makes these apps and social networks a viable hunting ground. “Facebook lets you create fake profiles, though it has done a lot in the past to bring these numbers down. In platforms like Tinder, all you require is a Facebook verification, which is not a difficult task. I think any app or network, where there is a chance for the opposite sex to meet and interact, turns into a black market for multiple things,” he concluded. 

(Some names changed on request)

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