Myrtle Beach Police are investigating a string of robberies where the victims used a dating app to connect with the suspects.
Police arrested Dlanor Phillip Tilton, Shamoray Rockel Holmes, and Mazar Nathaniel Sturdivant in the case.
All three are charged with armed robbery. Tilton and Sturdivant face charges for possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
According to NBC affiliate WMBF, police reports state the victims were targeted through the Grindr App, which is described as “the largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people.”
In one instance, the reports said a 50-year-old victim was asked to pick up the suspect on Bryant Street in Myrtle Beach. When the victim pulled up to the address, the report said two suspects pulled a handgun and demanded money.
The report said the man’s phone and wallet were taken from his car.
Myrtle Beach Police are now asking social media users to take extra precautions to protect themselves.
In October, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police reported an increase in the number of people sexually assaulted by people they met on dating apps.
According to statistics provided by CMPD, there were 20 reported sexual assaults through Oct. 2018 with victims claiming their attacker was someone they met on a dating site. In 2017, there were 15 reported cases.
Police encourage people to do their research on their potential date before meeting in person. When a date is arranged, make sure it takes place in public, don't use substances to impair your judgment, and let someone know in advance who you're meeting and where you're going.