'Dating scammers stole my identity for fake profiles on Grindr, Instagram and Facebook'
manchestereveningnews.co.ukMy phone lights up. I am on holiday with my mum, enjoying a cocktail in a gay bar in central Barcelona. Imagine my sheer panic when I see an Instagram account has been created, seeming to use my name and my pictures, offering exclusive, paid-for, adult-only content.
A good friend of mine had spotted the account and sent me a screenshot. I instantly felt sickened. This was unbelievable. How could this be happening?
In this technological era, how could somebody be able to freely set up a profile posing as me without any form of verification?
Not least because of my job - a reputable journalist working for a regional newspaper. I worried about the potential repercussions of me being seen to be offering x-rated videos and pictures online to anyone who could spare a few quid. READ MORE 'I was told my toddler just had a infection - the truth was horrifying' Of course, I instantly reported the account and encouraged many of my friends to do so too in a frantic bid to get it removed - and fast.
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