Dating app scams are the new headache that is plaguing the youth who are out looking for love. These scams often involve individuals being tricked out of large sums of money by people they meet online. They are happening across major metro cities in India, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad.
In a recent case from East Delhi, an aspiring IAS candidate was scammed out of Rs 1.2 lakh by someone he met on Tinder, reported Moneycontrol.
The guy met a woman named Versha on Tinder, and they agreed to celebrate her birthday at the Black Mirror Cafe in Vikas Marg. When they arrived at the cafe, they ordered snacks, two cakes, and four non-alcoholic drinks. However, Versha suddenly left, saying she had a family emergency.
However, when the guy asked for the bill, he was shocked to find the sum – Rs 1,21,917.70 – which was far more than expected for a simple meal.
The victim questioned the exorbitant bill but was threatened and forced to pay. He transferred the money online to one of the cafe’s owners, Akshay Pahwa, who lives in Shahdara, East Delhi. Disturbed by the incident, the guy filed a complaint with the police the same day. The police quickly arrested Pahwa.
Their investigation revealed that Akshay Pahwa has studied till class 10. The cafe has three co-owners – Akshay Pahwa, Vansh Pahwa, and Ansh Grover. They also found that Aryan, a class 7 dropout working as a “table manager” at the cafe, had impersonated Versha using a one-time view photo feature to lure the victim to the cafe.
The whole scam was planned, including the fake family emergency. The money was divided among the team: 15% to the person posing as Versha, 45% to the table managers and cafe staff, and 40% to the owners.
People, please be aware of such scams. Always be cautious when meeting someone from a dating app for the first time. If something feels off, trust your gut and leave!