Mumbai: A disturbing trend of “scam dates” has come to light, where unsuspecting men are being lured into expensive and deceptive situations through dating apps. The latest incident involves The Godfather Club in Mumbai’s Andheri West, which is now under investigation following a viral social media post by activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj.
The scheme unfolds on popular dating platforms like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and OKCupid, where men are matched with women who express a keen interest in meeting up. The rendezvous is typically set at high-end venues like The Godfather Club. Once at the location, the women order costly items such as premium liquor or hookah—items that are not listed on the menu. After placing the orders, the women abruptly leave, citing an emergency, leaving the men to foot an exorbitant bill.
The bills, ranging from ₹ 23,000 to ₹ 61,000, have left many men shocked and embarrassed. When they protest or refuse to pay, the club’s staff or bouncers allegedly intimidate them into settling the amount. Ms. Bhardwaj’s post on X (formerly Twitter) includes photos of receipts from these incidents, highlighting the exploitative nature of the scam.
🚨 MUMBAI DATING SCAM EXPOSE 🚨
THE GODFATHER CLUB ANDHERI WEST
◾BRAZEN SCAMMING EVERYDAY
◾12 victims in touch
◾Trap laid through Tinder, Bumble
◾Bill amounts 23K- 61K
◾3 men trapped by same girl@MumbaiPolice @CPMumbaiPolice @mymalishka @CMOMaharashtra@zomato pic.twitter.com/qGOacFCE9f— Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) August 23, 2024
The Godfather Club is not the only establishment under scrutiny. Ms. Bhardwaj’s post suggests a broader network of nightclubs in Mumbai engaging in similar tactics. These venues reportedly employ PR personnel who recruit women to bait men on dating apps, leading them into these financially and emotionally distressing situations.
Similar scams have been reported in other major cities, including Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. In one notable case, a civil service aspirant in Delhi was scammed out of ₹ 1.2 lakh during a date at a popular venue.
As these incidents gain attention, there is growing concern about the safety and integrity of online dating, especially for men who may fall victim to such deceptive schemes. The ongoing investigation into The Godfather Club may shed more light on this alarming trend and possibly lead to stricter regulations to protect individuals from falling prey to such scams.