Alleged robberies have Pokémon GO players raising alarm over Campfire app

Pokémon GO trainers are worried about possible safety risks with the Campfire companion app, which has been allegedly been used to lure players into robberies.

Campfire is a separate social app introduced by Pokémon GO developer Niantic in 2022 to help trainers interact with others and help each other out and form local communities.

Raid locations can be shared with friends via DMs and group chats. They can also share catch cards and light up flares to let other players know you're in the area and will be starting a raid.

Before, the app was available only by invitation; however, with the recently announced alterations to remote raids, the app is now being rolled out globally to give all trainers the same access.

While all these seem like a great idea, certain individuals with ill intentions have been said to be using the app to lure players into unsafe situations.

Claims of robberies, sketchy conversations, and suspicious locations and timings popped up all over Twitter and Reddit, causing the topic to trend among trainers.

Some one-star reviews were also posted on the Play Store, alleging that the app had been used in their community for robbery.

According to one user on the app store, "We initially recommended our local community to use this app to help build up in-person raid groups," however, after a series of crimes and robberies, “they now advise everyone to uninstall it.”

Some Redditors, like topidhai, reminded everyone of how back in 2016, at the peak of the game, where “some robbers were putting up lures at Pokéstops to attract people”.

“Campfire is an innocent idea plagued with a terrible reality that Niantic refuses to acknowledge,” said another Redditor, alabastergrim.

Another user, Edugamer100, who said they lived in Latin America, said they “knew this would happen” and that the “app will be really dangerous where released here [Latin America].”

In another thread posted on Sunday (9 April), some users were sceptical, like azsheepdog saying that it sounded like “one of those urban myths” and UnlistedTest0 questioning if it actually happened.

However, users like richdelo, were more concerned for the kids, who were most likely to use the app instead of joining Discord and Facebook groups. “And, the point of those other apps isn't primarily to lure you out of your house to a specified location,” they said.

Tips from users, other platforms to consider

Many agree, however, with one thing: It’s best to be safe and use common sense.

Redditor hobbit_life posted a thread about “Stranger Danger in the Campfire App”, sharing tips to do so. “Don’t give rides to people you don’t know,” they said. They also had reminders for using flares, telling players to “be aware of [when] and where they [throw flares].”

Others pointed out that using old methods outside of the app, like Facebook Messenger and Discord might still be safer and that it’s best to raid and hunt in groups.

“I had Campfire before this mass rollout and have turned off notifications from it after I saw multiple creepy flares lit past midnight local time,” maninthewooodsdude said in response to the app.

“Just because this is Pokémon, a generally beloved IP, does not mean that every player is a good person or has your best interests at heart. Do not put your personal safety at risk for anything in the game,” hobbit_life reminded everyone in the thread.

User reviews on Google Play and the Apple Store had other complaints, however, saying that the tool is very buggy and needed a lot of work.

Many could not register or load the app, saying that it was another Niantic failure.

Anna is a freelance writer and photographer. She is a gamer who loves RPGs and platformers, and is a League of Legends geek. She's also a food enthusiast who loves a good cup of black coffee.

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