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12 men fall prey to Mumbai dating scam, one pays over ₹61,000: 'Trap laid through Tinder, Bumble'

The Mumbai dating scam victims met their scammers through various dating sites, including Tinder and Bumble. A post about it is going viral on X.

Published on: Aug 24, 2024, 11:56:18 IST
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Dating apps are a convenient way to meet new people with similar interests, opening up the potential gateway to finding a romantic partner. However, there is another scary side to that story - the dating scams. Lawyer and activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj recently shared about one such scam that has already claimed 12 victims.

The bill that one man covered who was affected by the Mumbai dating scam. (Unsplash/priscilladupreez, X/@DeepikaBhardwaj)
The bill that one man covered who was affected by the Mumbai dating scam. (Unsplash/priscilladupreez, X/@DeepikaBhardwaj)

MUMBAI DATING SCAM EXPOSE. THE GODFATHER CLUB ANDHERI WEST. BRAZEN SCAMMING EVERYDAY. 12 victims in touch. Trap laid through Tinder, Bumble. Bill amounts 23K- 61K. 3 men trapped by the same girl,” she wrote.

Also Read: Student internship nightmare: How a woman nearly fell for a scam by a ‘fake’ company

She posted a few bills that show how much some of these men paid, including an invoice of 61,743. The bill shows four items, including two cocktails priced at 5,000 each. She also added follow ups posts to talk more about the scam and the club where it is happening.

Take a look at the entire post here:

With over four million views, the share has gone viral on social media. It has also prompted people to post varied comments.

What did X users say about the Mumbai dating scam?

“How is this a scam? People are themselves paying to maybe impress the girl or what not. While she’s ordering the man has the choice to either clarify who will be paying or directly say - I can’t afford more than 2 drinks. But then that takes away the masculinity and chivalry. Person A meets Person B in the pursuit of getting something back. Person B taking advantage of their no rational thinking does this. People don’t make you a fool, you already are a fool, and people just take advantage of that,” wrote an X user.

Also Read: Pakistani YouTuber scammed by Indian man who changed his channel name to ‘Scumbag Begger'

“My friend also got scammed here. Hope police will take some action against the restaurant,” added another. A third joined, “I know a friend who got scammed.

Same way, maybe same place and I suppose same girl or some other. but this is happening all over Mumbai, pan-India.”

How does this scam work?

In a follow-up post, she also shared the scammers' “modus operandi. “Dating app connect. Push for quick meet. Meeting place Pizza Express or Metro. Then insists Godfather. Orders drink, hookah, and fire shot. The guy isn't shown a menu card. Bill in thousands within an hour. She absconds. Bouncers corner guy to beat if not paid.”

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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