Tracy HallJul 3, 2026 – 5.00amThere is a particular kind of dread that comes not from the unknown, but from the all too familiar. In July 2025, I discovered a profile on Bumble that turned my blood cold. A profile with the image of Hamish McLaren – an incarcerated criminal – now presenting as “Steve, 53”. A verified profile accompanied by a Bumble tick of approval. A little symbol that implies in a big way “you can trust this person is who they say they are”.This profile picture was of a criminal with a history of financial harm, a history of using a false identity to access women, and a man whose pattern of behaviour had left devastation in its wake. He will be released on parole on July 10.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles