PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland man, Cooper Nicolaysen, recently shared a shocking experience after what he thought would be a simple first date turned into a frightening ordeal. The date, planned through the Bumble dating app, took a dangerous turn when he realized he had been catfished and set up to be robbed.
Cooper, who hadn’t been on a date in a while, said he was excited when he matched with someone on Bumble. The person’s profile seemed genuine, and their interest in meeting up right away didn’t seem too unusual, even though it was a little out of the ordinary. The plan was to meet at Lincoln City Park on December 30, 2024, at around 3 p.m.
“They even mentioned bringing some money for food afterward,” Cooper said. “It sounded a little odd but not enough to raise any red flags at the time.”
When he arrived at the park, Cooper’s excitement quickly turned into unease. He noticed four men hanging out in the middle of the park, looking suspicious. Still, he texted his supposed date to confirm where to meet. She responded, directing him to the same spot where the men were standing.
Feeling wary, Cooper decided to wait, hoping the men would leave so he could feel safer. But as he walked back into the park, the men suddenly appeared and cornered him.
“I tried to run, but they caught up to me,” Cooper recounted. “One of them showed he had a gun and started yelling at me to hand over my wallet, keys, and other stuff. At that moment, I just let them take whatever they wanted. I didn’t want to risk my life.”
The incident left Cooper shaken and with over $1,000 in expenses to deal with—towing his car home, getting it rekeyed, and replacing his phone. He reported the incident to Bumble and the police and is still waiting for updates.
Since the robbery, friends have reached out to offer support, even suggesting they keep an eye on him during any future dates. Cooper appreciates their concern but also wants to raise awareness about online dating safety.
Meeting someone online can be exciting, but Cooper’s experience is a reminder to stay cautious. Safety tips like meeting in a public place, such as a coffee shop or a store, letting someone know where you’re going, and trusting your gut if something feels off can help prevent similar incidents.
The police are investigating the case but have noted that such catfishing schemes aren’t very common. For now, Cooper is focusing on processing what happened and sharing his story so others don’t go through the same.