Overview

• Authorities in Victoria have arrested 35 individuals, including teenagers as young as 13, for using fake dating app profiles to lure victims into robbery, assault, and kidnapping.
• The attacks, which began in late 2024, are being investigated as hate crimes due to homophobic comments made during some incidents.
• Victims were subjected to violence, false imprisonment, and threats, with some attackers recording and sharing videos of their crimes on social media.
• Dating apps such as Grindr, Scruff, and Snapchat have issued safety alerts, while police urge users to verify identities and protect personal information.
• LGBTIQ+ advocates are calling for urgent government action to address the online radicalisation of youth involved in these crimes.