In the very early hours of Thursday morning, Rockford Police responded to a call that could easily happen to just about anybody.

Rockford Police got a call reporting a strong-armed robbery in the 1900 block of Kishwaukee St. around 2 a.m. Thursday (2/18). According to RPD, the unidentified man agreed to met up with a women he'd made a 'connection' with on some dating app. For whatever reason, he decided to get into her car for a ride. That turned into one very bad decision.

 

It wasn't long after he got into her car that she drove somewhere he didn't know very well. Police say that is when she held him down and two other men assaulted him. The three suspects then robbed him and took off in a black Honda Accord.

It's already bad enough trying to meet someone during the COVID-19 pandemic. This kind of scam doesn't make using a dating app sound very appealing. The good news is that this isn't going to happen to everyone, but this definitely serves as a cautionary tale.

Rockford Police offered up some tips for meeting strangers online:

  • Video chat before your first meeting.
  • Drive yourself.
  • MEET IN A PUBLIC PLACE.
  • Tell someone else the details of your meet-up.
  • Don’t give out too much personal information up front.
  • Stay sober.
  • If something feels off or strange, cancel.

That last one, about that feeling in your gut, is pretty important. From my own experiences, I've learned that you head and your heart will tell you lies, but your gut always tells the truth.

[H/T My Stateline]

Steve Shannon is host of The Steve Shannon Show on 97ZOK. On the air weekday mornings from 6 to 10 a.m. and a special 'Rewind' show, featuring favorite moments from previous shows, on Saturday mornings from 5 to 7 a.m.. Follow him on TwitterInstagram, and like his page on Facebook.

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