A new scam involving dating apps has emerged in Mumbai, revealing a troubling trend targeting men. Victims are reportedly being hit with bills ranging from Rs 23,000 to Rs 61,000 at upscale nightclubs. The scam, brought to light by Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj on X (formerly Twitter), raised serious concerns about the safety of users on platforms like Tinder, Bumble, Happn, and QuackQuack.
According to a report by The Times of India, the scam begins when women match with men on these dating apps. They then invite the men to exclusive nightclubs, often under the pretense of a special meet-up. Once at the venue, the women order expensive items, sometimes not even on the menu. After racking up a hefty bill, the women abruptly leave, citing various excuses. The men are left to foot the enormous bill, and in some cases, have faced threats from the club staff when protesting.
Authorities are urging users to exercise caution and verify the intentions of their matches before agreeing to meet in person.
Deepika claimed the scam is widespread, with at least 10 men falling victim each day at a single club. The women involved reportedly receive a 15-20% commission on the bills, indicating an organised scheme that may involve the nightclub management. Despite numerous cyber complaints from victims, the scam persists across multiple locations in Mumbai.
The Godfather Club in Andheri West has been pinpointed as a major hub for these fraudulent activities, though other venues are also implicated. Many victims are reluctant to come forward due to concerns about personal exposure.
The Mumbai police have notified senior officials, and investigations are currently underway. Authorities suspect the involvement of an extensive network of nightclubs that employ PR personnel to recruit women who lure men through dating apps.
Similar incidents have been reported in major cities including Delhi, Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. In June, a man in Delhi was scammed and faced an exorbitant bill of Rs 1.2 lakh.
Comments
0 comment