Unfortunately, dating app scams have resurfaced in Mumbai almost a year after the media and authorities worked to bust them. The fraud is highly predatory and dangerous, and targets a unique segment of the urban population—the lonely urban male.
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How do The Dating App Scams Work
The dating app scam begins its dastardly first steps on dating apps, or even matrimonial ones, targeting young men who are looking for love. The modus operandi has the scammer set up a meeting with the man in some of the most expensive lounges, meet them, run up a bill running into five figures, and then escape. When the man finally gets wise to the trick, he has an unpaid bill in his hands and bouncers and waiters who are waiting to pounce on him.
Earlier, men did not report this fearing embarassment, but with several men now speaking out, the authorities swung into action and doing what they do best -shutting down crime.
Multiple people have reported the scam taking place at one particular restaurant in the Andheri area, and Mid-Day reported on it in 2024. The newspaper we all grew up on was thoroughly following the racket and made multiple reports on it. These dating scams are the latest that target men. Earlier, the men escort scam used to target them.
How to Avoid Dating App Scams
Of course, there are several ways to avoid these scammers, including being thoroughly sure about who you connect with on dating apps. Once that’s done, the best way to remain safe is to decide on a public place to meet and ensure that you do not budge from that location. It might seem too crowded, but the food court of a mall is usually a good starting point for a first date, one where you gauge whether the person is safe to spend time with.
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But, safety begins at home, and one of the first steps is to install a call log program, like Truecaller, so that you get the initial information about who you are interacting with. Of course, if the person declines the mobile calls and only agrees to interact on chat, there’s already something fishy there.
While dating app scams might be in the limelight now, several scammers are waiting for potential victims on the matrimonial sites of both genders, waiting for the opposite gender. One needs to tread very carefully on every step of online dating.
Covers the crime beat, spreading awareness about crimes, scams and everything dastardly.
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