Two men jailed after using Grindr to rob gay men
Hook-up app Grindr has been linked to a string of violent crimes. (Photo: Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Hook-up app Grindr has been linked to a string of violent crimes. (Photo: Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Two men have both been jailed for more than six years, after they used Grindr to meet and rob gay men in Sydney.
Andrew James Tanswell, 41, was sentenced to six years and eight months, with a non-parole period of five years, while George Phoenix Leilua, 37, will serve six years and two months, with a non-parole period of four years. Both men pleaded guilty.
The sentences followed robberies between May and June 2023, during which five individuals were targeted through the gay dating app. In total, the pair stole more than Aus $22,000 (£10,500/$14,100) from five victims across western Sydney.
A New South Wales district court heard that the pair had arranged to meet the men under false pretences and forced them to hand over phone and bank login details before stealing money from their accounts.
In the UK last year, members of a Birmingham gang, who similarly used Grindr to target members of the gay community, were convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery.
A Grindr spokesperson has previously told The Guardian that the company was aware of attempts to misuse its service but said they worked hard to ensure “a safe and authentic environment, free of harmful and fake accounts”.
More information about dating and romance scams can be found here.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
