Fake Tinder Becky account used to lure eleven unsuspecting male suitors leads to arrest of five individuals who robbed victims at gunpoint in San Jose, California area.
Five teens were arrested in California for targeting at least 11 men using dating app Tinder, police announced Thursday.
The suspects, three male and two female San Jose residents, ages ranging from 15 to 19 made up fake Tinder accounts, using profile names ‘Becky’ or ‘Victoria,’ and right-swiped on the app. When the swipe was reciprocated with a ‘It’s a match’ – they set a date and location to meet their unsuspecting male suitors according to San Jose police.
‘The times and locations were usually in the late evening hours on secluded streets near a park. When the victim arrived at the location, they were beaten, robbed and carjacked at gunpoint by several masked suspects,’ cops said in a statement.
Identified as the perpetrators were: Bryan Gonzalez, 19; Jonathan Jimenez, 18; Lesly Portillo, 18; Yadira Villarreal, 19; and an unnamed 15-year-old were arrested for the armed robberies, which took place over two weeks, between March 16 and March 29.
The whole group hailed from San Jose, four of whom are being held at Santa Clara County Jail, while the juvenile is being held at Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall.
Charges included: robbery, carjacking, auto theft and hit-and-run.
Police say a break in the case came when a detective found surveillance footage of the suspects in one of the areas where the alleged crimes took place according to KGO.
Unclear is how many other male suitors beyond the 11 victims that were robbed swiped right and ‘matched’ with the fake Becky/Victoria Tinder accounts.
Tinder warns users to meet for the first time at ‘a populated, public place — never in a private or remote location,’ and ‘get to know users online/using the app before meeting them in person.’
