Bumble Verified Profile Extorted Me After Moving to WhatsApp
Around midday on April 12, 2026, I matched with a verified Bumble profile. After chatting on Bumble for a while, we continued our conversation on WhatsApp. Between 12:39 a.m. and 1:21 a.m. on April 13, 2026, this person used my private photos on WhatsApp and claimed to have obtained information about my family members through an online database. They then openly threatened and attempted to blackmail me. My WhatsApp number is 5474**, and the threats came from the phone number 5011**.
This individual threatened to send my private images to my family unless I paid approximately $319. They provided their bank account information and demanded that I transfer the money, but I did not make any payment. Throughout the conversation, they repeatedly used my personal photos to intimidate me and made threats that could seriously damage my reputation and relationships with my family and social circle. I had no communication with this person outside of WhatsApp after matching on Bumble, and I had never known or interacted with them before.
The fact that this incident began with a verified Bumble profile and escalated through WhatsApp is especially concerning. I request that Bumble investigate this user's account, identify the individual involved, and permanently remove the account if appropriate. I also ask Bumble to cooperate with law enforcement if necessary and to review its verification and safety procedures to help prevent similar incidents from happening to other users.
Other than the WhatsApp conversation described above, I had no contact with this individual and no prior relationship with them. I also wish to make it clear that I do not accept responsibility for any unlawful or unauthorized activity that may be carried out using my phone number, my name, my personal information, or my profile photo. This includes, but is not limited to, voice calls, text messages, audio recordings, images, videos, money transfers, links, impersonation, threats, defamatory statements, fraudulent communications, illegal transactions, or the creation of fake accounts using my identity or profile picture. I request that this statement be taken into consideration as part of my complaint.