LONDON — Two Afghan migrants have been jailed for using the dating app Grindr to scam victims, steal phones, and fraudulently access money.
Rahmat Khan Mohammadi, 23, received a five-year prison sentence, while his accomplice, Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 27, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to similar charges.
The men contacted victims through Grindr, arranging meetings at their homes. Once inside, they tricked victims into revealing phone PINs by pretending to play music. The stolen phones were then used to make contactless payments, transfer money, and even apply for bank overdrafts in victims’ names.
Between October 2024 and March 2025, Mohammadi and Hotak targeted at least 35 victims across London, committing 35 burglaries and 20 fraud-related scams. On one occasion, they attempted to withdraw cash at an East London Merkur Slots casino.
David Patience, prosecuting at Isleworth Crown Court, said:
“These two men used the Grindr app to target a large number of victims without any concern for the economic or emotional damage caused.”
Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Metropolitan Police hate crime lead, praised victims for their courage and thanked the Met’s LGBT+ Advisory Group and the charity GALOP for supporting the investigation. He added:
“The Met is committed to keeping all communities safe and won’t tolerate organised crime that targets vulnerable people.”
The case highlights the risks of inviting strangers into your home via dating apps. Mohammadi and Hotak’s sophisticated, pre-planned scams caused significant financial and emotional harm to victims. The Met worked closely with LGBT+ charities to support those affected, and the sentences reflect the seriousness of the offences.
