Allegheny County Police are warning people about a scam that cost a local man more than $1,000 after using a popular dating app.
According to a release, the victim was using the “Hily” dating app and met what he initially thought was a woman between the age of 16-18. They exchanged phone numbers and began texting when police said he received unsolicited naked pictures from her – and she confirmed she was underage.
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Investigators said the victim then immediately deleted the text conversation and the pictures.
However, he got a phone call from a man who identified himself as a police officer with Allegheny County Police. That imposter told the victim he was being “investigated for communicating with an underage female and having nude pictures of her.”
Police said the impersonator explained that he could pay a “waiver fee” to the girl’s father to avoid prosecution. Shortly after, the victim was called by a man who identified himself as Michael Dunbar, the girl’s father.
He told the victim to pay $1,250 on a cash app and money cards – both of which are untraceable.
According to the release, the victim then realized he may have been scammed, so he called Allegheny County police.
Police said it is highly likely that the perpetrators of this scam have created fake profiles of young women on dating apps to lure unsuspecting men into communications.
Anyone who has been contacted or solicited with this scam or any similar scam involving the identity of a police department is asked to contact the Allegheny County Police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477).
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