Dating Safety Archives

Digital Cupid Unveiled: Navigating the Dating App Evolution

In an era dominated by technology, the landscape of romance has had a profound transformation, with virtual dating apps and hookup sites emerging as the new frontier for modern connections. The rise of dating applications and websites has revolutionized the way individuals meet and form relationships, transcending geographical boundaries and traditional social norms. While these apps offer a new and convenient way to find love and companionship, they have also become an interesting new terrain for private investigators, particularly in the context of cheating partners and divorces. The simple accessibility and lack of in-person convictions offered by these dating/hookup applications make it a breeding ground of infidelity, often leading to the discovery of unfaithful partners and contentious divorces. As the world of romance worms it’s way into the digital realm, the skills and tools used by private investigators grows substantially. Not only is there a need to follow and track in real life, but digitally as well. This shift prompts a closer examination of the intersection between virtual dating and the evolving role of private investigators in navigating the complexities of the modern dating landscape.

History of Dating Apps

Reflecting on the 90s, the proliferation of internet access and computers marked the beginning of a transformative era. Increasingly, individuals embraced this novel way of life, culminating in the launch of the first dating app in 1995. Match.com emerged, heralding a significant shift in the realm of romantic connections. The traditional requirement of an in-person “meet-cute” was no longer obligatory, opening the doors to an entirely new dating landscape. Fast forward to the early 2000s, the advent of social media took center stage. Facebook, MySpace, and soon after, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn all became integral parts of the digital lexicon. It becomes evident that as more people flocked to the online sphere, a proportionate surge in the number of single individuals navigating the digital dating realm occurred. In 2012, Tinder emerged, introducing a fresh perspective on online dating.

Tinder

Tinder, originally conceived by its founders, Sean Rad and Justin Mateen, emerged as a significant player in the dating app scene. In a 2014 Time magazine interview, the duo humorously shared that the app’s inception stemmed from Justin Mateen’s agoraphobia, jokingly attributing the need for virtual connections due to a fear of leaving the house. Whether this origin story holds true or not, the app rapidly gained immense popularity, functioning as a technologically advanced rendition of the classic “hot or not” concept. Users are presented with photos of potential matches nearby, with the option to swipe left for a “nope” or right for a “like.” For a match to occur, both parties must swipe right. In 2014, the staggering statistics reflected 500 million daily swipes and 5 million matches. Tinder’s creation marked a cornerstone in the whirlwind evolution of mobile dating apps.

Bumble

Another notable player in the dating app arena is Bumble, crafted by Whitney Wolfe Herd in 2014. Distinguished by its woman-centric approach, this app empowers women by placing control firmly in their hands. Similar to Tinder, users engage in the left or right swipe dynamic, but the key difference lies in the post-match interaction. Once a match is made, it’s the woman who must initiate the first move, setting a 24-hour window for communication. Should the male party not respond within this timeframe, the match dissipates. Bumble has cultivated a global community surpassing 100 million users across six continents, celebrating over 1.5 billion “first moves.” Beyond dating, Bumble expands its offerings to include options for making friends and professional connections, signaling a multifaceted approach to modern connections.

Demographics of Online Dating

The roster of dating apps in the present day continues to expand, featuring top contenders such as Tinder, Match, and Bumble, alongside others like OkCupid, Hinge, E-Harmony, Grindr, HER, and more. According to Pew Research, almost half of online dating users, with approximately eight in ten users under 30, report using Tinder, solidifying its status as the most widely used dating platform in the U.S. The study also reveals that 79% of Tinder users fall within the 18-29 age bracket, in contrast to apps like Match, which only has 9% of users aged 18-29 but peaks at 54% for users between 50-64. The expansive realm of online dating prompts an exploration into how these platforms can be leveraged in online investigations.

In addition to those earnestly seeking love through dating apps, there exists a cohort pursuing different objectives. According to Pew Research, a remarkable 31% of men on dating apps are in search of casual hook-ups or sexual encounters, while women account for 13%.

Are You For Real?

This prompts a contemplation on the authenticity of profiles—how many individuals are genuinely who they claim to be? Does the person boasting a six-figure job truly hold such a position? Is the individual claiming to be 35 truly reflective of their appearance in the posted picture? Moreover, does the seemingly amazing person discovered on a dating app truly lead a single life, or could they be engaging in infidelity within an existing relationship? Investigations often revolve around suspicions of infidelity, as exemplified by Stephanie, a 27-year-old whose story was featured in an article for Bustle. Initially in love with her boyfriend, Stephanie’s world crumbled when a friend sent her a screenshot of her boyfriend’s dating profile. Conducting her own inquiry, Stephanie logged into her friend’s profile, messaged him, and asked for his phone number to verify his identity. The phone number matched, unveiling the truth and catapulting Stephanie into the midst of a breakup.

For the Private Investigator

As investigators delve into divorce or custody cases, particularly those involving infidelity, the complexities of utilizing dating apps as evidence come to the forefront. Distinguishing dating apps from social media, despite their similarities, is crucial. Unlike social media platforms, dating apps lack a searchable database by name, often featuring profiles with only first names, introducing additional possibilities and anomalies.The situation becomes more intricate due to the widespread existence of fraudulent profiles, especially on platforms that do not mandate identity verification. While some apps like Hinge or Bumble recommend features like real-time selfie verification for profiles, they are not obligatory, introducing an additional layer of complexity. A recent search for an individual accused of cheating during a divorce revealed the challenges inherent in scrutinizing dating apps. For platforms like Bumble, where a profile is mandatory for searching, investigators employ alias profiles. Premium features, allowing refined searches based on location, age, height, religious and political views, parental status and more enhance the investigative process. Despite comprehensive efforts, our search did not yield a profile. This experience highlighted the significant gaps in understanding the intricacies of navigating dating apps, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach in such investigations.

Are Dating Apps Searchable?

This brings us to the forefront of a pivotal question: Can dating apps be searched? The answer is yes, but not in the manner one might initially envision. When exploring the prospect of searching through dating apps, numerous considerations come into play. Many of these platforms implement privacy settings that impede effortless user discovery. Some dating apps establish connections through Facebook or other social media platforms, often requesting your phone number. Through algorithms and the covert mechanisms of these applications, the potential exists for discovering mutual connections. Stories often circulate about individuals encountering friends of friends through dating apps, making the world feel strangely small. As previously highlighted, the search functionality plays a crucial role in such investigations. Typically, this feature involves selecting filters based on criteria such as height, age, location, or interests when seeking a specific individual.
Adding to the complexity, the process of searching through dating apps may, at times, feel similarly to a game of chance. However, with the right parameters in place, the possibility of encountering your intended profile increases. We conducted our own thorough test to scrutinize the effectiveness of popular software, specifically assessing its capability to detect instances where an individual maintains multiple dating profiles. We subjected our subject to scrutiny using four of the most prominent software platforms, yet none of them successfully retrieved any data from dating apps. Despite yielding accurate information such as multiple social media profiles, correct addresses, and phone numbers, the absence of dating-related data reinforces our assertion. This underscores the notion that for effective searching through dating apps, a manual human touch remains indispensable.

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern romance, dating apps have emerged as a transformative force, reshaping the way individuals connect and form relationships. The journey from the internet’s early days to the present day mirrors the digital age’s progression, marking the birth of dating apps like Match.com and the subsequent rise of social media platforms. As we navigate this digital realm, private investigators find themselves at the intersection of virtual dating and real-life investigations, addressing the complexities introduced by infidelity and divorce cases. The expanding list of dating apps, from Tinder to Bumble and beyond, reflects the diversity of user objectives, leading us to question the authenticity of profiles and the challenges investigators face in uncovering the truth. The prevalence of casual encounters and the blurred lines between reality and online personas further complicate the investigative process. As investigators grapple with these challenges, the need for a nuanced and human-centric approach becomes evident, emphasizing the indispensable role of skilled professionals in untangling the intricate web of digital romance.

“Sis, is this your Man?”

Dive into the unpredictable world of modern romance, where the once alluring dating pool has morphed into a chaotic dance of disappointment. Pose the question to any of your single friends about their dating escapades, and you’ll likely be greeted with a disheartening grunt or a groan that echoes the struggles of love in today’s world.

Picture this battlefield called love, where tales unfold like a riveting saga interwoven with the pitfalls of dating apps, cringe-worthy matches, and the spine-tingling phenomenon of ghosting. It’s not just a casual dip into the dating scene; it’s a full-blown immersion into a realm where emotions run wild, and the pursuit of genuine connection feels like an epic quest.

To make matters worse, dating apps are a breeding ground for cheaters. Not only do you as a single individual have to navigate through finding a potential love connection, you have to be safe in doing so. There is always the potential that someone is impersonating who they say they are.

Once a Cheater…

Jana Hocking, a columnist for the NY post and other publications, shared her experience in a recent NY Post article. As many do through dating applications, Hocking matched with a man who stated he was from the UK. His name was Sebastian, “Seabass” for short. One thing led to another and Sebastian added her to his Whatsapp account. Quickly Hocking noticed he placed a privacy setting on their chat, erasing all messages between them. “Why would he need his messages to be wiped? Hocking thought, “My spidey senses began to alert me that something wasn’t quite right.” From there, Hocking went onto a Facebook Group she is apart of called “Sis, is this your Man?”, looking for any clues on the man she matched with. Upon further digging she discovered the site FaceCheckID, and decided to place the dates photograph into the site. To her dismay, Sebastian really wasn’t who he said he was, in fact, his name was entirely different. An Instagram pulled up on the subject, called Robert, with a lovely photo of his wife and children.

Online Research Tips

Identifying a cheater can feel like an impossible task. Especially when dating apps themselves feel like the wild west. When someone wants to remain completely hidden, more than likely they will, but there is always, always that chance they mess up or are noticeable. Here are a few helpful tips from our expert analysts when conducting your own personal search on a cheater.

Facebook Groups- There are countless Facebook Groups nationwide and within your area, that have been created for the sole purpose of exposing cheaters. Hop onto your Facebook page, and start to search for groups that are local to you or even those in different states, depending on the circumstances of your case.

Some common Facebook Group Titles are:

“Do We Have the Same Boyfriend?”

“Does Anyone Know Who This Is”

“Sis, Is This your Man?”

“Cheaters Group”

“Are We Dating the Same Person?”

Social Media Deep Dive- You never know what is truly out there on an individual until you take the time to really search it out. We always recommend taking time to identify an individuals social media and online presence. It takes but one tiny detail identified to elevate your findings and case.
Conversation Apps-WhatsApp is a fantastic application to identify related to your subject. Depending on a person of interests app settings, sometimes other apps they are connected to can be shown through their profile. We have seen a few times where a Tinder or Bumble account is pulled up on an individual, simply by checking if they has a WhatsApp account.
Cash Apps- Depending on the privacy settings an individual has set through certain Cash applications, this can be another way to identify who your person of interest may be hanging around or with.
Dating Apps- Dive into the dating applications that are out there. Here are a few apps cheaters could easily sign up for and choose: Badoo, Tinder, Ashley Maddison, Bumble, Lovoo.
Secret Mesaging Apps- Does your client have access to the said cheaters phone? There are several secret messaging apps that they could identify such as Calculator Pro+, Hide My Text, Hago, Plato, Yubo, AmongChat.

We have countless requests from Private Investigators and Attorneys, from their clients, requesting information on if their partner or spouse is cheating. At E-Chatter our robust software, OSINT skills, and knowledgeable analysts all work together to identify cheaters.

Cyberstalking & Desensitized Americans in 2023

Imagine you are taking a once in a lifetime style vacation, visiting the most amazing places, eating the best food at highly rated restaurants, and experiencing the spectacular view from your hotel room window. How much of this would you feel led to share on social media? And of that, how many of the posts would you geotag with your location? We are currently living in a world full of 8 billion people, and 4.9 billion of those people engage in social media. That is over half of the entire world population, sharing information about their lives on the internet. There is a large majority of people who engage in social media who do so privately with the exception of close friends and family. You then have the other side of the coin with people who share their social media experience with all 4.9 billion people on social media. This is where the danger of social media truly lives, cyberstalking.

Cyberstalking

It has been reported that each year there are an estimated 850,000 adults in the United States who are victims of cyberstalking. This is an issue that is unfortunately not discussed nearly as much as it should be, especially with the younger generations.

Take the story of TikTok star Ava Majury. In 2020, 13 year old Ava had attracted over 1 million followers to her social media accounts by sharing videos of herself doing dances and lip synching to popular music. Ava began receiving messages from an 18 year old boy named Justin, who she assumed was just another one of her fans. Justin, through social media, was able to locate friends and classmates of Ava’s who he paid in exchange for photos of her and her cell phone number. It was clear that Ava had developed a Cyberstalker and she blocked him through all her social media. Still, Justin was able to connect with people through social media to discover where she lived and show up to her house armed with a shotgun. Ava’s father, a retired police lieutenant, ordered him to leave their property and drop his weapon. Justin did not listen and his intent on causing the family harm was made clear, and he was fatally shot by Ava’s father. Ava continues to share content online publicly with the support of her parents.

Social Media Influencers

Stories like Ava’s are more common than you think. In September of 2018 there was a story reported of a 21 year old man who was arrested for breaking into a home and bedroom of a 13 year old girl whose address he had found by studying her posts on social media. Take Tabitha Swatosh, better known as the “big sister” of the internet. Tabitha has made her fame through TikTok but also through YouTube as she posts videos of her lip syncing to different sounds as well as ‘vlogging’ her everyday life. She has over 13 million followers on her TikTok account, and has been a part of the Hype House since 2022.

You may wonder what the Hype House is. Well, the Hype House is a content creator collective and an actual physical rental mansion in Los Angeles, California. The whole point of having this home is for the members of this tight knit club to collaborate with each other and brands making viral content for the internet. It was created by (at the time) 17 year old TikTok star Lil Huddy and 21 year old YouTube star Thomas Petrou. Over the years they have had a multitude of members including some of the more recognizable Charlie and Dixie D’Amelio.

So how does this fit into cyberstalking? Well, Hype House member Tabitha Swatosh has been very open about the countless stalkers she has obtained throughout her social media journey. The most recent being in December of 2022, Tabitha posted to TikTok sharing that she has to move for the 3rd time in one year due to a stalker coming to the door of her apartment. Despite Tabitha’s history with stalkers, she continues to share videos on her TikTok showing parts of the outside of her new apartment building as well as distinguishable features of the inside. The content that she has shared about her most recent stalkers has combined views of over 8 million. So now we ask the question, is society romanticizing cyberstalking?

Social Media Oversharing

On your journey through social media you can find content of people stalking their current love interests on social media, learning things about them that they shouldn’t really know based on their in person conversations. You have instances like the current pop culture drama between Hailey Beiber and Selena Gomez, where society is deep diving into the archives of social media to prove a point about these two celebrities saying they’re ‘investigating’ when really it could be considered a form of cyberstalking.

Finally, taking a look at one of the most popular Netflix shows currently streaming called You. This show follows the lead character Joe Goldberg who is a serial stalker, and it is narrated from his point of view. Viewers are taken through a journey as Joe stalks people online, in person, and kills people all under the illusion of him having to do these things to protect the people he loves… Society LOVES this character, choosing to see his better qualities and ignore the bad.

Are we, as a society, becoming desensitized to the risks of publicly oversharing on social media? It is very possible to have a safe online presence, but the current ‘influencers’ are pushing the narrative that to have a multitude of followers and viral videos, you have to share the private details of your life publicly. Is this really the example we want to set for the youth of America? Are we encouraging them to share private details of themselves online just for the sake of chasing clout? No matter what the circumstances? It sure seems as a society we need to be much more aware of what we post publicly.

TikTok & the Gabby Petito Case

Gabby Petito, a young and beautiful Social Media Influencer, went on one travel adventure after another with fiancé Brian Laundrie. And thens suddenly, it all took a very dark turn. With Gabby Petito’s potential remains being recently identified in Wyoming, and fiancé Brian Laundrie still missing, this case has captivated the hearts of many across the country.

Questions as to why this happened to her and if it all could have been prevented are on the minds of many. If you search #gabbypetito through TikTok right now you will find more than 480 million people have viewed the videos associated with the hashtag. From TikTok influencers, to witnesses, real time video footage is being posted piecing together the evidence.

How TikTok Helped

Taking a closer look at the videos associated with #gabbypetito, I stumbled upon Miranda Baker’s TikTok channel, a key witness associated with the investigation. Miranda and her boyfriend picked up Brian Laundrie who was hitchhiking around the time of Gabby’s disappearance. She gave a statement to the FBI but afterwards documented her interactions with Brian through her TikTok account. Every video she posted goes into details about Brian, their location, and interaction. Every video has gone viral.

Another video created by Alyssa Rose, shows a YouTube video the couple had posted on one of their adventures. She pauses the YouTube video at marker 6:40, to focus in on a book that Brain Laundrie was reading in a hammock. As she zooms in, she discusses the book he was reading which is “The Annihilation”. This book is about groups of people exploring uncharted terrain that go missing. This particular book series follows four women.

A third video was from Riley Lively, a mom living in New Orleans. She took to her TikTok account and stated in the post, “Putting some of my investigation skills to good use!” In this video she discusses how through sleuthing through an app called “All Trails” she found Gabby Petito’s public account. This app allows you to search and follow other individuals and their hiking trails from around the world. Through this account Riley discovered all of the trails Gabby had saved. She begins to show the lists that Gabby had saved in her account. Many of these hiking trails saved could have been potential spots of where was had gone missing.

Critical Thinking

In OSINT we are taught about the techniques behind finding key pieces of data or evidence that is online. What isn’t always taught? How to apply critical thinking online. Growing your critical thinking skills is just as important in finding key information. Each one of these women took to TikTok and applied their critical thinking skills, piecing together social media content to an ongoing investigation.

The Takeaway

Each of the viral videos above teach us all something valuable! Culture, personality, details, and analysis. Miranda met with the FBI and provided a statement. She also was continuously working with the FBI while creating her video content. My mind immediately goes to the details she is discussing in each post, how she is processing what she witnessed in each video, and what are others saying about the content she is posting in the comments. Are there any additional witnesses there? Any other clues?

Alyssa Rose shared Gabby Petito’s Youtube video. Someone could have easily watched that video and not notice Brian in the hammock reading a book. She took the time to analyze a video that could have easily gone over the heads of many. The online personality of your subject matters. This is a great example of a small piece of information, showing us an insight to Brian Laundrie and his interest.

Riley Liley pieced together Gabby being an influencer, possibly having an account with the ever popular All Trails App and was right. She then was able to view Gabby’s public online account trail lists.

Leave no stone unturned. Think about their interests. If they have a large social media presence, there’s a chance they have apps they are tied to involving their interests.

When we think of social media research, or social media listening, culture is not something that immediately comes to mind. It is only when we begin to dig deeper and identify what our search parameters are, that we begin to understand the role culture plays. TikTok is a culture phenomenon that continues to evolve. It took on an entirely new form over the past two weeks with this case and will continue to do so.

Using Tinder for Robbery

Take a look at any police log and the dating app Tinder is sure to make an appearance. Most likely in regard to luring suspects to meet at a specific location and then rob them. Earlier this year, it was reported that 6 people lured through Tinder were robbed at gunpoint in Fresno, California. They asked people they met on Tinder to come to specific locations where the group would lie in wait and rob the victims at gunpoint.

In Chicago, two 18-year-olds “terrorized” two men looking for a Tinder date hookup who instead were attacked from behind, beaten, kidnapped and robbed in a Chicago neighborhood. A girl, 17, was also accused in the attacks, charged with driving a car during a criminal trespass to a vehicle, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated vehicular hijacking and aggravated robbery.

With over 6.5 million monthly downloads in May 2021, Tinder is the most downloaded dating application in the world.

How Detectives Use Location Spoofing in Tinder

The first thing a Detective must do is to create a fake Tinder account. It is important to target the location where the criminal activity is taking place. They then throw out the bait and wait for someone to respond.They then put undercover police out to see if someone tries to rob them. Dangerous work, but very effective when a certain area seems to be targeted over and over again.

Creating a Fake Profile

One question we get a lot is how can you search dating apps to find a cheating spouse. Short answer, there is no way to do this effectively. You must have an account. Let’s take Tinder as an example.

To begin you need to sign up using Google, Facebook or a telephone number. Tinder is one site that doesn’t seem to mind using Google Voice Numbers. If you have one already set up, this is an easy way to get signed up. Next, you will receive your verification code. Once you log in it will want to know your location. Next, you will need to modify your profile. This gives you the opportunity to match the profile of someone your client’s spouse may be interested in. Use a profile pic generator to create a fictitious person (https://www.thispersondoesnotexist.com).This is something that is AI generated and can not be found in a reverse image search.

Tinder should give you a different set of results based on your location. It isn’t easy to search even with an account set up. It may help you to identify a person who has a profile on the app. Most times, this is what your client may be looking for.

Sounds like a lot of work, right? It is a lot of work and you may or may not find what you are looking for. If you do find your suspect, then not only do you know he/she is on the site, but you can use the image to conduct a reverse image search to determine if it is being used anywhere else online.