NEW DELHI: In a rapidly evolving world, dating culture has kept pace, fuelled by technological advancements. The rise of online dating platforms has enabled connections beyond the immediate social circle. However, a darker side has also emerged: dating app scams, which have now become a common form of extortion in the capital.
Delhi Police has busted one such scam in the capital’s Eastern district based on a complaint from a UPSC applicant (civil servant) – who found a ‘match’ on a popular dating app with a profile named ‘Versha’. They met and he went out to celebrate her birthday at a cafe in Vikas Marg area. They had two pastries and snacks. The girl drank four glasses of fruit beer and then left the cafe in a hurry, citing a family emergency.
After she left, the cafe manager presented the boy with a bill of about Rs 120,000 (one hundred and twenty thousand). When he disputed the bill, he was threatened, detained and forced to pay, which he paid online. Later, he felt cheated and reported the matter to the local police, who subsequently registered a case under relevant sections.
Based on the complaint, the police formed a team which first questioned a person named Akshay (32), into whose account the said amount was transferred online. Akshay revealed that the cafe belonged to four other persons. He also revealed the real identity and details of the person named Versha – Afsan Parveen alias Aaysha alias Noor (25), a resident of Krishna Nagar.
With the help of technical surveillance, Afsan Parveen was arrested at another cafe where she was on a date with a boy from Mumbai whom she had met through a marriage-matching website.
During interrogation, Afsan Parveen revealed that she had communicated with the complainant under the fake name ‘Versha’. She shared her photo in one-view mode and invited him to Laxmi Nagar on June 23 to celebrate her birthday.
The bill in the cafe was divided in a fixed ratio: 15 percent for the girl, 45 percent for the table and cafe managers, and the remaining 40 percent for the owners. The police are on the hunt for more fraudsters.
According to police, several such fraudsters are active in major cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad to extort money from unsuspecting victims.
These scams involve collusion between cafe owners, managers and people who trap victims through dating apps. These people, known as “table managers,” create fake profiles on dating apps and lure victims into the cafe, where they overpay for food and drinks. If the victim refuses to pay, they are threatened, beaten or locked up until they give in. Social stigma often prevents victims from reporting such incidents to the police.
According to Manish, a computer science graduate who works at one of these popular apps, it’s important to take several precautions to avoid scams on dating apps. First, use reputable apps with positive reviews and safety features like profile verification. Be cautious about sharing personal information like your address or financial details. Watch for warning signs, including profiles with incomplete information or overly attractive photos, and be wary of people who quickly show deep feelings. Never send money or share financial information, regardless of the circumstances. Choose public places when you first meet someone and let a friend or family member know your plans. Trust your instincts—if you don’t like something, take precautions. Finally, use the app’s reporting features to flag suspicious or malicious profiles. By following these steps, you can enjoy a safer dating experience.
Although dating apps have implemented various measures to combat the problem of fake profiles, including a verification badge on the profile and reporting a fake profile, scammers don’t technically use fake profiles to scam; rather, they use pseudonymous profiles to lure victims. With such profiles, it becomes difficult for the apps to detect pseudonymous profiles. Also, since many people use dating apps anonymously, many such scams go unreported.
