A new scam utilizing Grindr has managed to trick major media outlets including PBS, Fox and CBS into buying fake ads.
Dubbed the “DiCaprio” scam–no relation to Leo–the fraud works like this: Hucksters bought a regular ad on Grindr, then modified the code to look like an empty channel slot on a Roku device. They then sold the fake slot to potential advertisers, who thought they were bidding on Roku ad space. Instead, the con artists just pocketed the funds.
It’s been called “DiCaprio” because the name appears in the HTML code inserted by the fraudsters.
Palo Alto-based ad fraud detection company called Pixelate first detected the scam. CEO Jalal Nasir called the scam “one of the most sophisticated OTT [over-the-top] ad fraud schemes we have seen to date,” in a statement to BuzzFeed News. OTT fraud involves selling fake ad space.
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Related: New report uncovers more bad news for Grindr… and its users
In addition to cheating buyers out of money, investigators also believe that the fake ads consumed massive amounts of Grindr user data as well as drained the batteries of their phones.
Grindr, for its part, denies any knowledge of the ad scheme. “Grindr is committed to creating a safe and secure environment to help our community connect and thrive. Any fraudulent activity is a clear violation of our and conditions and something we take very seriously,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
The ad fraud is just the latest in a litany of scandals surrounding Grindr, the popular LGBTQ dating app. The app and its Chinese corporate ownership have come under fire for selling user data to companies, tracking user movements, and allowing scams to thrive on its platform. The ownership and upper-level management of the company has also come under recent criticism for homophobia.
1898
“Grindr is committed to creating a safe and secure environment…”
which they have yet to actually accomplish
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
From the article: “Grindr, for its part, denies any knowledge of the ad scheme. ”
Facebook makes the same claim and regardless of how many security breaches their shares are over $200 per share. Welcome to American/global capitalism. Its hard to believe they have no idea who is behind it such as what country it originated from. People tend to pay for advertising space with credit cards and the account the money went to had to have a traceable origin or else it would have never gotten established.
Goforit
I noticed the dramatic battery drain. Couldn’t figure out what was going on. It went on for about a month and then abruptly stopped about a week ago. One more reason to delete Grindr.