Delhi's dating app scam: Fake profiles, rigged bills, and a costly night out

A simple night out turned into a nightmare for many unsuspecting victims, who were allegedly duped by a gang of four men running an elaborate dating app scam in East Delhi. These fraudsters created fake profiles of women on popular dating apps, lured victims into meeting at a bar, and then trapped them with heavily inflated bills.

The Special Task Force of the Delhi Police uncovered the racket after receiving reports about a scam operating at Big Daddy Bar in Cross River Mall. Acting swiftly, they arrested four individuals identified as Rajender (30), Kuldeep (39), Ashish (21), and Deepak (24).

How the scam worked

The gang used Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Happn, Aisle, and Woo to create fake female profiles. Once a victim agreed to meet, they were invited to the bar, where real women were arranged by the scammers, who would join them to make the setup look authentic.

Unknowingly, the victims would place orders, only to be shocked later by exorbitant bills, rigged in collaboration with the bar’s management. Forced to pay the inflated amount, they had no choice but to comply.

For their role in the scheme, the fraudsters received Rs 3,000 per day from the bar, while the women posing as dates were also paid separately.

Police crackdown & ongoing investigation
During the raid, police seized four mobile phones containing substantial evidence of the fraudulent activities. Authorities are now investigating whether this gang was linked to other bars or individuals involved in similar scams.

(With inputs from TOI & NDTV)