Rise In Online Dating Crime: A Reaction From the DAA

A Sharp Rise In Online Dating Crime.

At the Dating Agency Association, we are saddened and alarmed to read recent reports of a rise in online dating crime.

Last week, Sky News reported that 2,054 offences were recorded between 2011 and 2016.

Back in 2011, 140 crimes were recorded, by 2016 this figure had risen to 676. This results in a 382% increase in online dating crime. During the same period, the number of reported sexual crimes rose from 14 to 106. Violent attacks increased from 29 to 240.

Due to the secrecy often involved within the online dating world, a large number of crimes remain unreported, meaning that actual figures are far higher.

Former Tinder user, Louise, aged 35, told us “I rarely used to confide in anyone when I met a Tinder date for the first time. In all honesty, I had no idea who I was meeting or how safe the situation would be. People can pretend to be whoever they want to be on an app, can’t they?”

Contact the DAA