When the bill arrives, the victim realizes it far exceeds his expectations. Protests are met with threats from the café staff or bouncers, leaving the victim with no choice but to pay.
Dating apps have become a popular way for people to meet potential partners, but they have also become a new tool for criminals to dupe unsuspecting victims. In a recent incident in Delhi, a civil service aspirant was duped out of Rs 1.2 lakhs in a Tinder scam orchestrated by an organized racket at a cafe in the city.
The Tinder Scam: How It Works
The scam unfolds when the victim matches with a woman on a dating app like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, or OKCupid. The woman quickly shares her WhatsApp number, and after some conversation, a date is planned. She insists on meeting in a particular locality with numerous cafés and pubs. The woman chooses the café for the date.
At the café, the woman places the order, often choosing items not listed on the menu. In some instances, she fakes an emergency and leaves abruptly. When the bill arrives, the victim realizes it far exceeds his expectations. Protests are met with threats from the café staff or bouncers, leaving the victim with no choice but to pay. The fear of exposing their dating app activities deters many from approaching the police.
The Delhi Incident
In the latest Delhi incident involving an IAS aspirant, a similar sequence of events unfolded as the victim reached the Black Mirror Café in East Delhi's Vikas Marg area to celebrate the birthday of Versha, a woman he had gotten to know on Tinder. Both ordered some snacks, two cakes, and four shots of a non-alcoholic beverage, but later, Versha rushed out of the 'date' citing a family emergency, leaving the man to finish the food and pay the bill which amounted to Rs 1,21,917.70 for items that would not normally cost so much.
The Organized Racket
Police investigation revealed that the café was owned by three men, who, along with a few table managers and a woman named Afshan Parveen (alias Versha), ran a full-fledged racket to dupe single men looking for a partner on dating apps. Each stakeholder had their own fixed share in the scam.
Targets Beyond Men
It's not just men who are becoming targets on dating apps. Earlier this month, Delhi Police arrested two men for befriending women on dating apps and allegedly robbing them at their homes. In November 2023, a 25-year-old Delhi man was charged ₹15,886 for drinks at a bar called The Race Lounge after being set up by a woman he met on Bumble.
Saving Yourself from Dating App Scams
To avoid falling victim to such scams, it's important to take precautions:
- Try to choose the place for initial dates of your choice.
- Avoid moving the conversation off the dating app or planning on meeting in person too quickly.
- Research the person online to verify their identity and background well. If there's no digital footprint, that's a red flag.
Dating apps can be a great way to meet new people, but it's crucial to be cautious and prioritize your safety. By being aware of the potential risks and taking necessary precautions, you can enjoy the benefits of these platforms while minimizing the chances of becoming a victim of a dating app scam.
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