Caught in a Love Scam: Hate Crime on a Dating App

A 24‑year‑old man from Campbell, New York, faces serious charges after police say he used a dating app to threaten and extort money from someone in Bath. The suspect, named Andrew Kidder, allegedly created fake profiles to lure victims and then demanded cash or gifts in exchange for keeping private details hidden. The state police began the probe after a Bath resident reported being harassed on an unnamed social media dating platform. The victim said that once they started chatting and sharing pictures, the attacker threatened to release sensitive information unless the victim complied with his demands.Investigators traced the scheme back to Kidder, who used multiple fraudulent accounts to carry out his plan. Digital evidence and subpoenas of social media sites helped confirm his identity and actions. Kidder was arrested on Tuesday and taken to the Steuben County Jail for arraignment. He now faces a charge of Attempted Grand Larceny in the third degree, classified as a hate crime. The court has not yet clarified why this case is labeled a hate crime, which usually involves bias against race, religion, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. The exact amount of money Kidder sought from the victim remains unknown. Both Bath and Campbell lie in Steuben County, less than 25 miles from Corning in New York’s Southern Tier.