Florida man picks up Hinge date. Then he starts driving her somewhere she didn’t agree to go: ‘Never let them take you to the second location’
If there’s one piece of online dating advice that we most often hear, it’s to never allow a stranger to pick you up from your home and take you somewhere else.
However, it’s important to remember it’s not a hard and fast rule. People online have techniques through which they can build enough trust to make you do things you otherwise wouldn’t.
According to one Florida woman, that can backfire.
In a now-deleted three-part TikTok video series that has garnered a combined 14,400 views, content creator Jones Jones (@shopapproved) shared a scary Hinge date story that, luckily, didn’t end in harm.
What Did the Hinge Date Do?
“I went on a first date from Hinge, and he started driving me somewhere that I did not [expletive] agree to,” she says.
Jones explains that she normally avoids being picked up on a first date, but this time, she made an exception.
“But for some reason, I was like, he seems normal,” she says.
The plan was to grab drinks somewhere nearby. “I love doing a first date with drinks because it’s super easy,” she says. “You can leave as quick as you want to. I can Uber home and be done with it.”
Then something concerning happens. “We literally drive by the place that we’re supposed to go to, and he doesn’t start trying to park,” she says. “I’m like, wait, where are we going?”
His response didn’t ease her concerns. “He’s like, ‘Oh, I have a better idea,’” she recalls.
At the time, she says she brushed it off reluctantly. “I was like, oh, cute. Like, he’s surprising me,” she explains.
The Situation Gets Scary Fast
Instead of heading to a bar, Jones says her Hinge date drove to a more isolated area.
“Where we went was kind of out in the hillside, so service isn’t that great,” she says. “There’s not really much around. It’s really dark and not well-lit.”
She says she wasn’t in the most ideal situation. “My phone has like 3%,” she says. “And I’ve turned my location off for my friend.”
At that point, she says she started to panic. “I realize I have no idea where he’s taking me, and no one knows where I am,” she says.
She quickly tried to fix that. “So I text all my friends like, ‘Hey, I’m with this person,’ send them a picture of him,” she says. “Like, if I don’t text you later updating you that I make it home, come look for me.”
Jones says she repeatedly asked where they were going, but didn’t get a clear answer. “That’s when I’m actually starting to panic,” she says.
She Finds a Way Out
Eventually, Jones says her Hinge date pulled into what she describes as an overlook parking lot.
“I’m like, we’re going to get drinks, so why are we in this parking lot?” she says.
He tried to explain it away. “He’s like, ‘This is my favorite spot of the city. I just wanted to show you it before we grab drinks,’” she recalls.
Then he told her to get out of the car. “He just looks at me and he’s like, ‘Get out,’” she says.
With no one else around, she says she felt stuck.
“I’m like, I don’t know if I should be getting out of the car,” she says. “But being locked in the car is even worse.”
At that point, she decided to come up with a way to leave. “So I text one of my friends, like, ‘Call me right now,’” she says.
When the phone rang, she used it as an excuse. “I start acting like something happened,” she says. “Like, ‘Oh my God, are you OK?’”
She told her date she needed to leave immediately. “I’m like, my friend needs me. I need you to drive me back,” she says.
But even that didn’t go smoothly. “I go to get in the car, and the car’s locked,” she says. “And I’m like, why the [expletive] did he lock his car?”
After she started making a scene, she says he finally agreed. “He drives me back, doesn’t say a word the entire time,” she says.
He dropped her off, and that was the last time she heard from him.
“And that’s why you never let them pick you up on a first date,” she wrote in the caption.
Commenters Urge Caution
In the comments section, viewers shared their reactions and advice.
“Never let them take you to the second location girllll,” one person wrote.
“As a friend who always checks all her friends’ locations, please never turn it off. Especially when you’re going on dates,” another said.
“I’m sorry this happened to you :( I’m glad you’re okay!!” a third added.
How to Stay Safe While Hinge Dating
According to police guidance, there are a number of safety precautions to keep in mind when dating online.
Early on, police enforcement recommends not sharing your full name and keeping personal information to a minimum. During the initial talking phase, it’s also a good idea to avoid sharing images you wouldn’t be comfortable having made public.
When it comes time to meet, experts recommend being clear about your expectations, meeting in public, and staying in public spaces. Let someone know where you’re going, and trust your instincts if something feels off.
@shopapproved And this is why I deleted hinge
♬ original sound – Shop Approved
The Mary Sue has reached out to Jones and Hinge via email for comment and additional information.
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