Dating app scams on the rise: Young men targeted

In the age of online dating and casual meetups, a new wave of fraud has emerged, targeting young men through popular dating apps. Reports from Mumbai reveal that organized scam groups are luring men into expensive traps, leaving them with empty wallets.

One such hotspot for these scams is a restaurant in Mumbai, where unsuspecting victims are targeted. Young women connect with men on dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and OK Cupid and suggest meeting in person. Excited by the prospect, the men agree, often meeting at upscale locations such as The Godfather Club or similar high-end venues. Social activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj highlighted this issue on social media, warning that these men are being duped.

Once at the venue, the women order expensive food and alcohol. After spending some time together, the women concoct a reason to leave, leaving the men with hefty bills to pay. Victims have reported being charged between Rs 23,000 and Rs 61,000. Those who refuse to pay are reportedly threatened by hotel staff or bouncers.

This scam is not limited to Mumbai. Similar incidents have been reported in Delhi, Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. In one case, a civil service aspirant was scammed in June, forced to pay a staggering Rs 1.2 lakh.