Links to two stories:

Wanted Ore. Man Accused of Torturing Woman Is Still on Dating Apps (Benjamin Obadiah Foster)

Texas man who met woman on Bumble kidnapped and tortured her for 5 days, authorities say (Zachary Mills) .

News releases this past month featured two separate but horrific stories of women who met up with men they encountered on a dating site and were brutally tortured, held hostage and sexually assaulted. Both situations began with a romantic encounter online. Law Enforcement is warning the public that Foster may still be actively seeking online relationships through dating apps to help him evade police. If you believe you have encountered Benjamin Foster online, report immediately to : 1-541-237-5607

Foster had two prior offenses and should never have been cleared by a dating app to post and seek new online encounters. Foster was convicted for kidnapping a woman in 2019, holding her for two weeks including assaulting her. The victim had two black eyes, 7 broken ribs and was bound at the wrists and ankles with zip ties. This took place while he was awaiting trial for a 2018 domestic abuse charge.

Zachery Mills was charged with felony aggravated kidnapping where he allegedly held his victim captive for five days, beating her with his fist, attacking her with a screw driver.

Dating sites is the 21st Century way of meeting new people for both adults and teens. The reality is that when strangers meet online there is always a possibility of hooking up with a predator.

Here are some suggested tips to stay safe online.

Create a separate email address if you are using a dating site.

Never give out personal information such as location, workplace, phone numbers, financial information, children’s names or photos.

Trust Your Instincts – if it is too good to be true, it probably really is.

Use photos that will only appear on a specific dating site.

Investigate – Do a google search of the individual. drag and drop the individual’s photo on Google Images and look to see where else they appear online and if it is really their name. Predators often use other’s photos and fictious names.

Never – ever send money to someone you met online that you have not met in person, regardless of how believable their story is.

Do not be lured off the dating site to another app or private messaging or texting.

Never get in a car or be alone with someone you met online. If meeting them, meet in the morning in a public place, bring someone you know with you. Share the dating site photos and contact and personal data with those close to you. Tell others where you are meeting, the time leaving and expected return and keep the meeting very public.

Ask a lot of questions and verify the answers if possible.

Block anyone you are suspicious of and report them to the dating site.