Romance To Ransom: India Facing An Epidemic Of Online Dating Scams?

Looking for love online has become the new-age trend in our digitally connected world, but unfortunately, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There's a sinister ploy on the rise: online dating scams. What began as a hopeful journey to find love, companionship, or connection has turned into a dangerous game, with victims falling prey to heartless scammers. 

The Flip Side Of Dating Apps

In a recent case of online dating scam, a student of a Greater Noida university was duped of about thirty-eight thousand rupees after he was confined and made to pay the money through extortion. The incident took place at a local cafe in the city. As per reports, Arshlan Javed met a woman via an online dating app. Javed reported to the police that she claimed to be Shivi and called him to a cafe to meet up.  "There, we ordered some snacks, and I was given a bill of ₹38,035. This shocked me, and I told the staff that the bill was not proper and that I did not have enough money to pay the bill. Then, they threatened me and hurled verbal abuses before locking me up in a room,” Javed mentioned in his FIR. 

This isn't the only incident that has occurred lately. The sea of scams taking place through dating apps has taken the country by shock. 

Recent revelations from journalist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj shed light on the harrowing reality of dating app scams in India, bringing attention to cases that not only drain finances but also pose serious threats to one's physical and mental well-being.

The haunting story shared by Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, a seasoned journalist, during a conversation with Raj Shamani, serves as a stark reminder of the chilling reality that unfolds on dating apps. In the Gurgaon case, she investigated how a woman working in an MNC, alongside her male partner, duped men through online dating scams. The modus operandi involved spending a night with the survivors and filing rape accusations the next day. This manipulation of the legal system not only jeopardizes the lives of innocent men but also undermines the severity of real crimes. The fear instilled by such cases has led to a disturbing trend where individuals contemplate drastic measures due to the looming threat of false accusations.

In a recent case, Krishanu Acharyya was held by Chandigarh Police for being involved in a dating app scam. Acharyya was accused of sending messages to over 500 contacts via a bulk SMS machine. Reportedly, Acharyya had employed multiple women to lure people and keep them engaged in seductive talks. The women were paid money to lure the customers to get them to deposit money in accounts which were all owned by Acharyya.

Dark Web Of Online Dating Scams

The issue of false accusations made by women against men, particularly in the context of serious crimes like rape, is a matter of great concern. In some cases, accused women may misuse the legal system to falsely implicate men, tarnishing their reputations and causing irreparable harm to their lives. This not only undermines the integrity of the legal process but also perpetuates a climate of fear and mistrust between men and women. Therefore, it is imperative to adopt a nuanced approach towards gender-related crimes that prioritizes fair and just legal processes. The cases that have been highlighted in this regard demonstrate the need for greater sensitivity, awareness, and a nuanced approach to gender-related crimes, emphasizing the importance of fair and just legal processes.

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The Jaipur Tragedy

In another incident from 2018, a 28-year-old businessman fell victim to a ruthless trio he met on Tinder. The accused, led by Priya Seth, lured the victim into a trap, demanding a ransom from his family. When the ransom wasn't paid, they killed him, dismembered his body, and dumped it on a Delhi road.  Recently, the court sentenced three individuals under sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

The court's verdict, though just, cannot undo the trauma inflicted on the victim's family and raises questions about the safety of online connections.

Mumbai Yoga Teacher Scammed of ₹3.36 Lakh by Tinder Acquaintance

A 46-year-old yoga teacher residing in Mumbai fell victim to a financial scam orchestrated by an individual she encountered on the popular dating application Tinder. The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, reportedly lost a staggering sum of ₹3.36 lakh to the fraudster, identified as Amit Kumar, who purportedly posed as a doctor hailing from Manchester, England.

The sequence of events leading to the unfortunate incident commenced when the victim initiated communication with Amit Kumar through the Tinder platform. Seemingly genuine in his portrayal, Kumar successfully gained the trust of the unsuspecting yoga teacher, eventually transitioning their interaction to the messaging application WhatsApp. What began as a casual conversation soon evolved into a semblance of intimacy, fostering a false sense of familiarity between the two parties.

The yoga teacher started chatting with Amit on Tinder, and they later moved their conversation to WhatsApp. Amit, using clever tricks, convinced her he had sent her a gift. Then, a person claiming to be from a courier company in Delhi contacted her, asking for money to deliver the gift from Manchester. Believing it to be genuine, the teacher transferred ₹3.36 lakh to different bank accounts as instructed. It was only after the money was sent that the teacher realized she had been tricked. Feeling cheated, she reported the incident to the Marine Drive police, seeking help. The police have launched an investigation into the matter, using laws like the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

Tales Of Deception From Delhi To Pune

The heart of India, pulsating with the promise of romance, has become a breeding ground for a different kind of love story—one tainted by deceit and financial exploitation where unsuspecting individuals fall prey to a web of scams, leaving hearts broken and wallets lighter. A Twitter user shared his ordeal on X, revealing a "new scam" after a date with a girl from a dating app cost him over ₹15,000. His detailed posts exposed an inflated bill at a Delhi restaurant, unravelling a disturbing trend.

A 25-year-old Delhi man, ensnared by a woman on Bumble, faced a ₹15,886 bar bill due to alleged card machine issues. His shock deepened when the bill disappeared in the washroom break, accompanied by the woman's sudden vanishing act on Bumble, echoing a prevalent scam.

This is an incredible new scam running in New Delhi!

1. The Race Lounge and Bar in Rajouri hires young women to reel in young men over Tinder/Bumble
2. Woman insists on going to Race Lounge for the date
3. Orders 2-3drinks, the Race Lounge then charges them 15-20,000 rupees. https://t.co/RqlfjmuLtP

— Aditya Mani Jha (@aditya_mani_jha) November 11, 2023

A thread on X illuminated Delhi's scamming nexus, with users cautioning against specific bars in Rajouri Garden. Stories emerged of exorbitant bills, like a Pune resident's ₹22,000 ordeal, including a ₹10,000 hukkah, ₹15,000 wine bottle, and a ₹1,500 wine glass, ending in threats of violence.

PUNE : ISSUED IN PUBLIC INTEREST

Guy matches girl on @bumble
She asks to meet within 2 days
Chooses Gypsy Moto Pub specifically
Orders hukka wine immediately
Guy slapped with Rs. 23K bill
Girl threatens either he pays or be beaten up & his family involved @PuneCityPolice pic.twitter.com/d4dlLNYYb9

— Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) November 11, 2023

These stories of deception extend beyond cities. Bengaluru witnessed a woman losing ₹4.5 lakh to a Tinder acquaintance, while an Ahmedabad techie's plunge into Bitcoin at a woman's suggestion led to a ₹1 crore loss. 

Two Men in Delhi for Robbing Women They Befriended on Dating Apps

A 35-year-old woman lodged a complaint on May 31, 2024, stating that a man, who introduced himself as Jatin on a dating app, had robbed her in her home. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh, the woman had been in contact with Jatin, who was later revealed to be Vijay Kumar Kamal.  She also recounted that Jatin, accompanied by Rahul, visited her house on May 30, where they assaulted her, bound her hands, gagged her, and proceeded to rob her of gold ornaments, a mobile phone, and ₹5,000 in cash.  

The police scrutinized CCTV footage from the vicinity of the crime scene, which led to the identification of the suspects. Further investigation revealed that the suspects' mobile phones were stolen from another woman in Rohini, who had previously been robbed identically.

On June 18, the police successfully arrested Rahul, who, when interrogated, revealed Vijay Kumar Kamal's involvement. Kamal was later taken into custody, and both of them confessed to their crimes. The police found that the duo were responsible for at least four robberies, including those in Dabri, Dwarka North, South Rohini, and North Rohini.

The Terrifying Statistics

Online dating scams go beyond the boundaries of financial losses. The emotional toll on survivors is immeasurable, with stories of individuals who have lost faith in their quest for love.

Research indicates that a staggering 66% of Indian adults have fallen victim to online dating scams, with an average loss of Rs 7,966 per victim. Norton's findings reveal the financial toll on victims, but the emotional impact is equally profound. A whopping 76% of adults who used dating apps in India reported cutting short interactions due to unsettling discoveries about their potential partners, ranging from disturbing online pictures to lies about personal details.

The fear of being deceived by fraudsters has left many paralyzed, with 34% of respondents admitting to being afraid of using dating apps while 43% express a general lack of trust in people using these platforms. The human toll is evident in the reported loss of $1.3 billion to romance scams in the United States in 2022 alone. With 70,000 reported cases, the median loss of $4,400 emphasizes the scale of the issue.

The psychological trauma inflicted on those who have fallen victim to scams goes beyond monetary losses, affecting their ability to trust and engage in future relationships.

Law Enforcement Complicity: A Question Of Accountability

Perhaps even more alarming is the involvement of law enforcement in some of these scams, as revealed by the Gurugram case. The shock extends beyond the perpetrators, as instances of law enforcement involvement in these scams have come to light. This raises critical questions about both the accountability of those entrusted with upholding justice and the misuse of the digital realm.

How can the public trust a system when those within it become complicit in exploiting innocent individuals?  It is imperative to scrutinize and reform the systems in place to ensure that those responsible, irrespective of their gender, for maintaining order are held to the highest standards of integrity.

Views expressed are the author's own.