A Christchurch man is speaking out about a violent, suspected homophobic attack after he was lured through a fake Grindr profile and assaulted by two men in April.
The 21-year-old, who wants to remain anonymous, says he thought he was talking to a man on the dating platform, when they agreed to meet at Woolston Park in April.
“I drove to the location and was there for about 10 minutes. I couldn't see the person that I was so far meant to be meeting. I ended up then heading back to my car and there behind me was two hooded males who decided to come at me from behind.”
He was pushed to the ground and then kicked and punched, while the two men hurled slurs like “gay” and “faggot”.
The 21-year-old Cantabrian, who wants to remain anonymous, says he thought he was talking to a man on the dating platform Grindr. (Source: 1News)
The victim eventually struggled to his feet and ran towards Ferry Rd, where he was helped by a member of the public.
The attack left the man in Christchurch Hospital for two days with concussion, a chipped tooth, and a fractured leg. He needed rehabilitation and is still receiving counselling.
“The long-lasting effect has been the effect of my mental health … there's so much that trauma can do especially in an attack, but not just an attack, it was an attack based on someone’s sexuality,” he said.
The gay advocacy group, Rainbow Youth, said it was deeply saddened to hear of this assault, and “our hearts go out to the victim and their whānau”.
“Any act of violence against a member of our community has ripple effects to us all and incidents like this are a reminder of why the mahi we and others do in this space matters so deeply,” said the spokesperson.
Police carried out a scene examination and area enquiries, but the offenders were unable to be located.
Detective Constable Thomas Martin said such attacks weren't isolated. Police have previously appealed for information after several similar incidents around the country, in which dating apps were used to lure and target victims.
"There are people who, unfortunately, use dating apps to target others and take advantage of people's trust. This is not a new occurrence... but it is disturbing nonetheless," he said.
"Such reports aren't common, however, not everybody will report these attacks or threats. Our message to anyone who has been targeted like this is to please come forward."
Netsafe says while most people use dating apps without experiencing serious harm, the platforms can be exploited by people who misrepresent themselves, build trust and target victims.
Chief online safety officer Sean Lyon said the organisation continues to see cases involving romance scams, sextortion, financial scams and situations where people are lured into harmful offline encounters.
He said people need to be cautious, verify who they’re interacting with, and prioritise safety, like meeting in busy places and next to security cameras.
“If it feels uncomfortable, you should feel like you can leave and make that happen. Just because you arranged to meet somebody doesn't mean you owe them anything. If you want to leave, get up and leave,” said Lyon.
The victim said he’s speaking out to highlight the potential dangers of online dating, hoping it prompts others to be more vigilant.
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