A 35-year-old Brazilian citizen, identified as Mattheus Leme Hirt, reported to the police in Ciudad del Este that he was the victim of a violent ambush after arranging a meeting through the Grindr app. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in the San Rafael neighborhood and has reignited warnings about the risks of meeting strangers through digital platforms in the border region.
According to the report filed at Subcomisaría 1ª, Hirt had been shopping at the New Zone Shopping Center before arranging the meeting. He got on a motorcycle driven by the supposed contact, who took him to an isolated location. At the meeting point, at least seven armed and hooded men immobilized him, stole his iPhone 17 Pro Max, and held him hostage for several hours, forcing him to make bank transfers via Pix totaling approximately 45,000 reais (about 60 million guaranis).
One of the main challenges for the investigation is that the victim was unable to precisely identify the location where he was held. Police officers conducted patrols in different areas of the neighborhood but obtained no positive results.
The case adds to a series of similar reports in border cities, where criminal organizations allegedly use dating apps to lure victims, especially foreigners visiting Ciudad del Este for tourism or shopping. Authorities warn of an increase in robberies, extortions, and ambushes linked to meetings arranged through social networks and digital platforms.