Deadly Trap: How Criminals Use Grindr & Dating Apps to Rob and Kill Gay Men — What Tourists in Gran Canaria Need to Know

The Maspalomas Case: March 2026

An 84-year-old tourist was holidaying in the south of Gran Canaria. He downloaded a dating app and began chatting with a man. They arranged to meet at the tourist's apartment. But the man behind the profile had one objective: theft. When the elderly victim caught him stealing and confronted him, the attacker pushed him to the ground. The tourist hit his head and died from the impact.

The suspect fled to Tenerife, where the Grupo de Homicidios of the Policía Nacional arrested him in April 2026. The investigation revealed he had been systematically robbing men through dating apps. He stole €20,000 from another victim. Even after the fatal incident in Maspalomas, he had already reinstalled dating apps on Tenerife to find his next target.

The Pattern: Always the Same Playbook

The Maspalomas case is not an anomaly. Across Europe and beyond, criminals are weaponising dating apps to exploit gay men. The pattern is disturbingly uniform.

First, the perpetrator creates a fake profile on a dating app — often with stolen photos. Second, he contacts a victim, builds trust and arranges a meeting. Third, the meeting takes place at a private location — typically the victim's home. Fourth, the victim is overpowered, drugged or threatened and robbed. In the worst cases, the encounter turns fatal.

Criminals deliberately target gay men — out of cynical calculation. Many victims feel ashamed, hesitate to report to police, or fear having to disclose how the contact was made. Tourists are especially attractive targets because they often leave before filing a complaint.

Bilbao 2021: The Grindr Serial Killer

The most serious case in Spain to date unfolded in Bilbao. Nelson David Moreno Bolaños, a 25-year-old Colombian, used the apps Grindr and Wapo under the alias "Carlos" to contact gay men. He visited them at their homes, drugged them with GHB (commonly known as liquid ecstasy) or used a chokehold technique known as the mataleón — then emptied their bank accounts.

At least five men died. The deaths were initially classified as natural causes — it was only when a victim survived an attack in December 2021 and alerted police that the series came to light. The survivor found the perpetrator's backpack containing GHB and personal documents.

In May 2025, a jury in Bilbao found Moreno guilty of murdering a 43-year-old music teacher. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. (EITB) He was already serving a 10-year sentence for an attempted murder. Further trials relating to the other deaths are pending.

Almería 2026: Organised Ambushes via Grindr

In February 2026, the Guardia Civil uncovered an organised gang in southern Spain's Almería that had been systematically luring gay men into ambushes through Grindr. A 20-year-old created fake profiles with stolen photos, arranged meetings at remote locations — where several accomplices were already waiting, hooded.

Victims were beaten, robbed and subjected to homophobic abuse. A particularly violent attack took place on New Year's Eve. The judiciary classified the crimes as hate offences. The suspected ringleader is in custody.

London, USA and Beyond: A Global Problem

The phenomenon is not limited to Spain. In London, Stephen Port was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016 for killing four men he met through Grindr between 2014 and 2015, using lethal doses of GHB and dumping their bodies in a churchyard. The case exposed serious failings in the police investigation.

In the United States, numerous cases have been documented in recent years. In Texas, two men lured nine gay men through Grindr to an apartment where they were kidnapped, sexually assaulted and robbed. In San Antonio, a man was convicted in 2026 of three Grindr murders and sentenced to 200 years. In Colombia, several American tourists died after dating app meetups — the US Embassy issued an official travel warning.

Gran Canaria: Safe, But Not Naive

Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés rank among Europe's largest and most popular LGBTQ+ travel destinations. The Yumbo Centre is home to over 30 gay bars and clubs. Twice a year, Maspalomas Pride draws tens of thousands of visitors. The area is fundamentally safe — crime rates in Gran Canaria's tourist south are below the European average.

Yet the current case demonstrates that criminals do exploit dating apps here too. The combination of high Grindr activity, many solo-travelling tourists and private holiday accommodation creates opportunities for offenders who target precisely this environment.

7 Safety Rules for Dating App Users in Gran Canaria

The Policía Nacional and LGBTQ+ organisations recommend the following precautions:

1. Always meet in a public place first. The Yumbo Centre, a bar, a café — not your holiday apartment. If things feel right, you can always go somewhere else afterwards.

2. Check the profile. Few photos, no verified profile, evasive about video calls — these are warning signs. Grindr, Scruff and Romeo offer verification features.

3. Tell someone. Let a friend or trusted person know where you are going and who you are meeting. Share your live location.

4. Secure your valuables. Do not leave cash, passport, credit cards or electronics lying around — especially if you are inviting a stranger to your accommodation.

5. Do not accept drinks from strangers. GHB (liquid ecstasy) is colourless and odourless and was used in several of the documented cases.

6. In an emergency: call 112. Spain's emergency number 112 operates in multiple languages. For tourists, there are specialised SATE units (Servicios de Atención al Turista Extranjero) that assist foreign visitors.

7. Always file a report. Even if it feels uncomfortable — police can only detect patterns and stop serial offenders through reports. In Spain, sexual orientation is not grounds for discrimination by authorities. Those who feel uneasy can contact LGBTQ+ organisations such as FELGTBI+ or the local group Colectivo Gamá in Las Palmas.

The Bottom Line: It Is Not the Destination — It Is the Scheme

Gran Canaria is and remains one of the safest and most welcoming LGBTQ+ travel destinations in the world. Maspalomas has one of the most vibrant gay scenes in Europe, with an open atmosphere that is hard to match. The problem is not the islands — the problem is criminals who weaponise dating apps everywhere on the planet.

Anyone who keeps their eyes open, follows basic precautions and trusts their instincts can enjoy Gran Canaria safely. And if something feels wrong: do not stay silent — report it.