Representative Image (Photo Credits: iStock/X/@DeepikaBhardwaj)
Journalist highlights how viral dating scam reached Mumbai, shares victims’ stories in ‘X’ post.
Until now, many are aware of the viral dating scam sweeping across India. In this cunning scheme, women befriend men and lure them to specific pubs and restaurants they are allegedly affiliated with, coercing them to splurge on pricey food and drinks. As the bill arrives, the women vanish on some pretext, leaving the men to face the music. The pub staff then strong-arm the men into paying the exorbitant bill, even resorting to violence if they refuse. Shockingly, after making waves in Delhi and Hyderabad, this scam has now surfaced in Mumbai.
Deepika Bhardwaj, a journalist and men’s rights activist, recently took to ‘X’ and highlighted six men who fell prey to this scheme in Mumbai. She shared compelling evidence, including bills and messages from the victims, showing a consistent pattern. One photo revealed a bill of around Rs. 32,000, while another message described a man’s ordeal of being trapped and forced to shell out Rs. 43,000. Despite paying the bill and asking the woman to stay a bit longer, she made an excuse to go to the restroom and never returned.
Also Read: Pune Man Forced By Bumble Partner to Pay Rs 23,000 at Cafe in ‘Viral’ Dating Scam
Another victim recounted being billed Rs. 24,000. In his words, “When I said I didn’t have enough money in my account to pay the bill, she said she’ll go out and call some friends and arrange the money. After which she left the building and messaged me saying that she was getting her periods, so she had to go home.” Left alone, the man faced threats from the waiter and had to settle the bill by any means necessary.
Furthermore, Bhardwaj highlighted the scam’s modus operandi through these screenshots, underscoring the deceptive tactics used.
Take a look:
MODUS OPERANDI :◾Meet via dating app◾Push for quick meet◾Story of she being make-up artist, just arrived in Mumbai◾Costliest drinks ordered◾Drinks are fake, she gulps many◾Guy isn’t shown menu card◾Bill in thousands within an hour◾She absconds & then blocks pic.twitter.com/XoFJbsqDjZ
—Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) July 18, 2024
In the midst of this, many have pointed fingers at Andheri-based ‘The Red Room’ pub, accusing it of being complicit in the viral scam.
Also Read: Delhi Man Scammed By Tinder Match Who Made Him Pay This Much at a Shady Cafe
However, Hema Chowdhary, a partner of the pub, refuted these claims, telling Mid-day, “The menu of my pub is expensive, for which we pay tax to the government. The price of every item is listed on the menu. Apart from the internal staff, PR teams also work for the pub, they bring in customers and take a commission on the bill. Allegations that girls from dating sites and pubs collude to dupe customers are baseless and false. The allegation of beating up a customer is false.”
