The next time you’re in Dallas, watch out for this dude.
Grindr user Michael Bellah has been accused of scamming men he meets on Grindr out of money. At least two guys claim he’s cheated them out of hundreds of dollars.
Robert Blake is a divorced father and retired member of the U.S. Air Force. He alleges he met Bellah on Grindr earlier this year.
“We chatted for a while and eventually we met and had dinner,” he told the Dallas Voice.
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When dinnertime rolled around, Bellah was late. Really late. He didn’t arrive until 10:30 p.m., claiming he had a flat tire. The two men went out to dinner anyway.
During the meal, Bellah lamented to Blake that he needed $100 to pay back the tire store manager by the next day. But not just that. He also said he was stressed out because he owed his ex-wife money for school supplies, and he was strapped for cash because the payroll department at his company was “messed up.”
Needless to say, “I paid for dinner,” Blake said.
Despite everything, Blake told the Dallas Voice that he and Bellah still hit it off, in part because Bellah claimed that he, too, had served in the Air Force.
“Being a divorced gay dad that lost everything when I came out, I knew what it was like to struggle to make ends meet,” Blake said. “I felt sorry for him, and gave him a check for $250 as a loan.”
When Blake followed up with Bellah about getting repaid, he claims the man always had an excuse for why he couldn’t get together.
“This was also a bad life lesson that I learned the hard way,” Blake told the Dallas Voice.
Weeks later, Blake was having lunch with his friend John (not his real name) from church. He recounted the story about Bellah.
“Interesting,” John replied. “I met him on Scruff about a year and a half ago.”
John went on to allege how Bellah had told him that his kids were having “medical issues” and that he asked him to do a Facebook fundraiser for him.
“I got six friends to donate a total of about $300,” John said.
In hindsight, he added, he should have known better when Bellah refused to advertise the fundraiser on his own Facebook page.
A few weeks later, Bellah once again hit up John for money. Being a good-hearted, church-going fella, John wrote him a check for $275. The money was intended to be a loan.
“That’s when problems started,” John said.
When John inquired about when Bellah might repay him, he claims Bellah got angry and said he never should have given him the money if he couldn’t afford it. Then he stopped answering John’s calls.
Rude.
Blake says he knows of at least one other person who Bellah allegedly tried scamming.
“I have another friend that lived in south Arlington that Michael approached and asked for $500,” he told the Dallas Voice. “My friend is a little brash and told him to f-off.”
The Dallas Voice says it contacted Bellah via Facebook for comment. In a Facebook message, he replied that he was “not discussing my personal business with someone I do not know. If you would like to present facts of these allegations I will be happy to discuss them with you.” He provided a phone number, however, but did not respond to messages.
Moral of the story: Don’t give money out to random people you meet on Grindr.
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NoCagada
REALLY?!? How incredibly stupid men are when it comes to getting a piece. Just plain IDIOTIC
avesraggiana
NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER of the GAY variety.
A shame, really. This guy was just like my narcissist ex-boyfriend. Handsome and charming, but a lying, stealing, cheating and manipulative low-life scoundrel.
Why do they have to be so captivating and so good looking?
avesraggiana
Just to clarify, my narcissist ex-boyfriend never stole any money from me, but he shared many other characteristics of this guy. Reading this article immediately reminded me of my ex, and I quite quickly fell nauseated.
walshwitch
Anyone giving cash away (in the hundreds?!?) to a hook-up or anyone known for so little amount of time deserves everything they get. And frankly, dear Queerty, why even give this lameness the time of day? #embarrassing
Ladbrook
@NoCagada: A bit harsh, but I see your point. It really is a bad idea to give money to people you don’t know, especially if you attach the word “loan” to it. It rarely gets repaid.
That being said, I’ve met a few con-men over the past 30 years, but I’ve never fallen for their scams. Perhaps that’s why they moved on so quickly.
The internet is a two-way street. Yes, you can make yourself very vulnerable to men (and women) looking to fleece you, but as his victims proved, the internet can also be used to expose them quickly and effectively. Good job.
aliengod
These fools deserve exactly what they got. They’re so eager to get a piece of tail they’ll do anything, including “loaning” money to a total stranger. It looks like at their age they’d act a little more responsible.
Saint Law
Shitbags out in ‘force’ I see.
Robert Blake, if you’re reading this – your generosity reflects very well on you. I’m only sorry it was abused by this sociopath.
Stache99
@Ladbrook: Yeah, I need a loan..wink wink. Lol
asby
Are bottoms that desperate for the D?….I mean …..Why would u give money to someone u just met? I am a nice guy and all but u meet someone off of grindr and they ask for money?….Get up off of your seat and walk out the door
Daniel-Reader
Victims should check into putting a lean against his property for each unpaid debt.
Stache99
@Daniel-Reader: Loaning someone cash without a written agreement is the same as giving it to them as far as the law goes.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
Doesn’t sound like Bellah “scammed” them at all. There’s no such thing as legitimate hard times? Suddenly there’s no such thing as kids who have medical bills, and a divorce leaving men bone dry?
Blake and his buddy John did the right thing as best they could by helping him out where they could, but then they lamented about having paying for the dinner, and wanted their money back? Geez. Disgusting. Be a man you bunch of crybabies. Sounds like a bunch of queens who got mad, because they didn’t get to bottom that night. It’s very funny how “Indian Giver” isn’t in a white man’s vocabulary. Ha ha ha!
A real good question that I want to have answered is: And is there some reason why they didn’t continue seeing this handsome gentleman in the first place? Oh, right. But then we don’t want to get into a conversation about how gay men like these two were only sexual predators hoping to use a “down on his luck” straight man like Bellah for their “one night stand rituals”. Ooo. Sorry for breaking the code you bunch of self centered sociopaths.
To the gentlemen claiming they got scammed: You clearly had the money to spend. Funny how you have so much money that “down on his luck” sounds like a legitimate scam to you. Disgusting.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@NoCagada: Agreed!
@Ladbrook: Mad because the article does more to expose sexual predators like you asshole? Suffer in silence next time dirt bag. Nobody needs to hear it from the likes of you.
@Saint Law: Funny you continue to be the only “shitbag” I see. Jealous because you couldn’t have been the next in line to “fleece” Two-Face? Get a job bitch. I actually would buy you dinner as charity.
@Stache99: You need a loan wink wink? Atleast you’re being honest about what a creepy bastard you really are this time!
Saint Law
@I’m Black, and HIV-Positive.: Oh lookit – must be computer skillz day on the secure ward. Again.
curan
This is hardly shocking. We seem to venerate rent-boy twinks in multiple venues, and the slide from romantic interest to a john running a tab can be subtle.
If there is significant money requested in the first month of dating, you are dealing with a prostitute, and you should act accordingly.
buffnightwing
@I’m Black, and HIV-Positive.: Dear black and hiv positive, PLEASE get some mental therapy or get on some different drugs.
You are so way off base on your interpretation of reality.
Please stop attacking people personally in order to make your points, otherwise I will report you to queerty.
musctop
@I’m Black, and HIV-Positive.: Dude–READ the story. Who makes plans for dinner when they’re “stressed” because they owe their ex-wife money and payroll “screwed up?” That doesn’t smell right there for you? Having a Facebook fundraiser for your own child that you won’t put up on your own page? THAT doesn’t smell to you? Geez man. Not smart.
semtex
I filled out the Queerty survey this morning and afterwards felt perhaps I had been a little harsh with a couple of my opinions shared. Fortunately after survey I stumbled upon this article and now realize I should have said much more.
Indeed I would like to change what I said about kickstarting a redesign of Queerty to a full, whole-hearted DO IT NOW!
stranded
I learned not to let people borrow money in middle school. At least all i lost was 20 bucks. I’m not going to be sympathetic, because these men should know better. I also find it kind of offensive the way “John” tries to blame his mistake on the fact that he’s a churchgoer. Generosity can be learned outside the church and honestly it’s more pure because there’s no promise of a heaven for your good deed.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@Saint Law: Lookit’s a word now bitch? Oh. Well, lookit! That means: and you can stop dragging us back into the trailer park you came from bitch thinking your consistently razist commentary is supposed to have a relational effect anywheres besides the secure ward you dwell. Even the ghetto shit’s on your face honey. But my advice to you would be to wear it with pride. The way I see it anything at this point could spruce you up!
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@buffnightwing: Bitch I’ve already reported your two faced bitch ass for repeatedly stalking and attacking me twice already, so I would highly suggest you stop putting on your high & mighty act whore, and shove your threats up right the fuck back up into your bleached fucking white asshole! I see those Anger Management classes you took did little good.
And you better seriously find someone else around here to threaten with your bullshit bully tactics too motherfucker while you’re stalking my shit around this website. And stop instigating fights too with your pretentious bitch ass, because I don’t look too kindly on your internet behavior here either asshole! I would additionally suggest you take those therapy sessions you keep emphatically speaking of quick fast in a hurry you delusional bitch, because your two faced hypocritical internet etiquette clearly is what would be in question at this point!
I suppose you think there should be different rules for the blacks in the gay community. Get a life, and stop draining it out of everyone else’s.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@musctop: Dude! Honestly. You need to try reading the story yourself. And put your thinking cap on this time. He said he was late for the dinner, because he had a flat tire, and then additionally talked about the other things he had going on in his life. Which sounds like selective memory to me given the story was being told by douche bag here who only wanted his money back from the dinner considering he couldn’t bottom for the night. Disgusting. Honestly, you must not go out to dinner much at all if that’s what could keep you away.
Sidenote: He took this guy out to dinner, and knew this little about him in the first place. He got what he deserved, and I don’t hear any scam here that could have legitimately “snagged” anyone else.
buffnightwing
@I’m Black, and HIV-Positive.: You are not even gay. WHY be on this website? Get some therapy from someplace else besides the bookstore and the street corner. Obviously you are not on your meds because you have so much anger for people you don’t even know.
YOU NEED MENTAL HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@buffnightwing: Ooo. Miss Thing has finally just flown her ass right over the fucking Cookoo’s Nest honey! Don’t have anger issues do you? You’re not projecting are you? Funny how all those caps, and explanation marks tell a completely different story you exposed, rasist, frail minded, hack job bitch! They tell the story of a desperate woman running from the pain she’s caused others, and hoping karma itself won’t catch up to her. Who’s not gay now hunty?
And denial? Ooo. Miss Thing Buffnightwing is in denial of even the wind & the rain at this point honey. Lol. Well thank you for proving me right then though bitch. Because see you either just proved me right that you are in fact an emphatic rasist, or you just proved me right that you have some serious mental dysfunctions that is what is leading to all of your delusions yourself here. Yeah. I’m sure you’re not angry. So sure.
Not to mention all of your insults are attempts at projection. It’s funny how you tried to say that you were just entering a fight that was already in progress in an attempt to mediate it, but I correctly called you out as covertly bullying, and trying to attack me in your own right. Mad that I was right when I exposed you, so now you’re going base with all of the insults that you meant to level in the first place dear? Steam flowing out the ears is it? Jumping up & down like a mad woman on a keyboard behind your computer screen are you? You’re like the wicked witch of Queerty. Only literally. It’s disturbing. “Get some therapy from someplace else besides the bookstore and the street corner.” ??? And pray tell was that a razial reference? You don’t think very highly of black people now do you honey?
You’re not even the one that’s gay bitch. You’re either Ku Klux Klan, or straight up Koo Koo Kooky! So ask yourself why be on this site yourself you rasist crackpot? And was that yet another attempt at projection? I think it was. Get yourself some mental therapy bitch. I’m tired of doing the work for you every night on this computer for free. You need the mental help, because you are a mental case! I merely like to swallow semen. And I have a wonderful sense of humor too. So get yourself some headcase meds, before it’s too late. Just some helpful advice from a friend.