Andy Phippen, professor of social responsibility in IT at Plymouth University, said it was a "growing problem, particularly around sextortion-type activities".

He said: "If we are going to base the formation of a relationship on a photo and a few lines of text, how do we know that person is who they say they are and they have the right intentions?

"It is something we tell kids about – don't trust who people say they are online – but the adult population go merrily about their way thinking it is a good way of hooking up.”

Gay and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: "Closeted gay and bisexual men who use Grindr may be especially vulnerable to targeting because criminals know they will be less likely to report crimes to the police. I suspect these figures are just the tip of the iceberg."

An NSPCC spokesman said: “Dating apps are, by their very nature, not safe online spaces for children.”

A spokesman for Stonewall said the figures are "shocking" and Victim Support said people using the apps should tell a friend where they are going before meeting anyone.

The figures come from police reports where Tinder and Grindr has been used in the description of an allegation. This can refer to cases where they were allegedly used to commit a crime, where the victim and suspect met on the app, or where the app was mentioned but was not directly related to the crime – for example when a victim happened to be on Tinder when the crime was committed.