Tinder Swindler 2.0: Mumbai Man Falls Victim To 'Scam Date', Ends Up With Rs 61K Bill At Club
The disturbing trend of "scam dates" seems to be thriving in India. A fresh incident now has surfaced from Mumbai and is centered around The Godfather Club in Andheri West.
This exploitative scheme, which has ensnared numerous victims, typically starts with a match on a dating app, leading to an invitation to a high-end restaurant or club where an unsuspecting individual is left to foot an exorbitant bill.
Activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj recently brought this scam to light in a viral post on X.
According to Bhardwaj, the scam begins on popular dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and OKCupid.
Men connect with women who express keen interest in meeting up, often suggesting The Godfather Club or a similar establishment as the venue.
Once there, the women order pricey items like high-end liquor or hookah, which aren't listed on the menu. The men, eager to make a good impression, remain unaware of the financial trap they're walking into.
The scam escalates when, after placing their orders, the women abruptly leave, usually citing an emergency. The men are then confronted with an unexpectedly steep bill, with receipts ranging from Rs 23,000 to Rs 61,000, as shown in photos shared by Bhardwaj. When they protest or attempt to refuse payment, they are reportedly threatened by the club's staff or bouncers, compelling them to pay out of fear and embarrassment.
The Godfather Club isn't the only venue under investigation. Bhardwaj's post suggests that a network of nightclubs across Mumbai might be involved in similar scams.
These restaurants allegedly employ PR personnel who hire women to bait men on dating apps, drawing them into expensive and intimidating situations.
This scam isn't confined to Mumbai alone. Similar incidents have been reported in major cities like Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
In June, a civil service aspirant in Delhi fell victim to a similar scam, coughing up a bill of Rs 1.2 lakh after a disastrous date.
Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Sign in with Google