Hornet Dating App: Scam and Blackmail Crisis

“The app’s ‘security’ claims do not reflect the reality; people can create as many profiles as they want.” says T24’s editor Can Ozturk.

Hornet, an app widely used by LGBTI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) individuals, has recently come into the spotlight due to its use in fraud and blackmail activities. Victims who were targeted by fraudsters or blackmailers through the app shared their experiences. The victims criticized Hornet’s statement that “inappropriate profiles are blocked” after the rise in complaints, claiming that the statement is misleading and that adequate security measures are not in place.

Recently, LGBTI+ users of Hornet have been targeted and subjected to threats after fraudsters gained access to their personal data in various ways. Fraudsters who chose their victims on Hornet sent them messages, and once the person responded, they invited them to continue the conversation via WhatsApp. Once the victim messaged the fraudster on WhatsApp, the fraudster used the person’s phone number to access their personal data and that of their relatives through various means. The fraudster then threatened the LGBTI+ individuals by claiming they would send explicit photos to their family members. Demanding tens of thousands of Turkish Lira to specific accounts, the fraudster promised that if their demands were not met, they would send these details/photos to the victim’s relatives.

A.D., K.D., and S.K., who were threatened and blackmailed by someone they met on Hornet, shared their experiences with T24.

“They Exposed Me to My Entire Family”

A.D., who is a victim of blackmail and sought legal assistance, shared their story:

“I responded to a simple ‘hello’ message I received on Hornet. Then, the person I spoke to said it was confidential and that they would delete the app. They gave me their phone number and asked me to message them on WhatsApp. It was a moment of weakness, and I texted them. After a short conversation, they sent me a list containing the Turkish ID numbers and phone numbers of everyone in my family. They threatened me, saying they would send my photos to the people on this list unless I sent them money. They also sent me a screenshot of a message they had sent to my uncle to continue their threats. I didn’t know what to do.”

“After the incident, I contacted a lawyer I knew, but they said there was nothing we could do at the moment. So, without sending money, my photos were sent to my uncle. They exposed me to my entire family.”

“They Couldn’t Identify the Person, and the Case Was Closed”

A.D. explained that they filed a criminal complaint, but there was no result:

“I filed a complaint again in the following days, and the prosecutor directed me to cybercrime. After investigations, the person could not be identified. The case was closed without entering the trial process. The fraudster didn’t get money from me, but they exposed me to my family, putting my life at risk. I don’t understand how the person who tried to scam me through WhatsApp couldn’t be found! I don’t even know what other information they might have about me.”

“The App’s Statements Are Completely Empty”

A.D. emphasized that Hornet’s statement to T24 that “risky profiles are blocked” is not true in practice:

“The app’s statements are completely empty. If proper security measures were in place, I wouldn’t have experienced this. After the incident, I encountered dozens of accounts with the same profile photo. If the app is really conducting strict supervision and closing these accounts within seconds, how was the fraudster’s account still open? Instead of blocking the account, I reported it, and it stayed open for days. I believe the fraudster closed it after it was finally blocked. The app, of course, made various statements to defend itself, but they are empty words. I’ve seen news of fraud even in small cities. Who knows how many more cases there are that are unknown.”

“Complaining or Blocking Doesn’t Help”

K.D., who was harassed by a user on Hornet for 4-5 months, shared their experience:

“I was supposed to meet someone in person. We had planned to meet outside, but they canceled, saying something came up. I don’t continue talking to anyone who cancels the first meeting. They insisted on continuing to talk to me and kept messaging me. I hadn’t given them my phone number to avoid further harassment, so I stopped replying. After a while, they stopped, but it took about two weeks. After 3-4 weeks, I saw they had opened a new account with no photo. They started messaging me as if we were meeting for the first time. Later, they sent me their photo. Again, I stopped talking to them. They opened another account and messaged me as if we hadn’t met before, but this time, I knew it was them. I told them to ‘get treatment’. They reported me, and Hornet warned me. In the end, I was the one who was warned.”

“Blocking the person doesn’t work on Hornet. They just create new accounts and keep messaging me. Complaining or blocking is meaningless. This situation lasted for 4-5 months. I don’t know if they will message me again.”

K.D. also claimed that drug and fraud activities are being carried out on the app.

“They Threatened Me with My Photos”

S.K., another victim, explained how they were threatened on Hornet:

“Even though I had blocked someone before, they kept bothering me. In the end, they tried to threaten me with my own face photos. I told them I wasn’t scared and that my family knew about my sexual orientation. I also said that if they kept bothering me, I would expose them. That’s when they stopped.”

“You Can Access the App Again After Resetting Your Phone”

S.K. also pointed out that Hornet’s statements about security are not realistic:

“People can create as many profiles as they want. You can’t access the app only if you’re blocked, but if that happens, you can reset your phone and reinstall the app to access it again.”

Editor’s note: The names of the individuals have been kept anonymous for their safety.

Source: T24/Turkey