A Mumbai man recently experienced a shocking scam, ending up paying Rs 61,000 for a disastrous dinner date at The Godfather Club in Andheri West. This incident has highlighted a broader scheme involving dating apps and upscale restaurants, leaving numerous men financially devastated and embarrassed.
Activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj brought this scam to light on social media platform X, revealing that men are lured by women they meet on dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and OKCupid. These women express interest in meeting at high-end venues such as The Godfather Club. Once at the location, they order expensive items, such as premium liquor or hookah, which are not listed on the menu. After placing the orders, they leave abruptly, claiming emergencies, leaving the men to foot the hefty bill.
"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 the same girl @MumbaiPolice," Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj posted.
The financial impact of these scams is significant, with reported bills ranging from Rs 23,000 to Rs 61,000. Ms. Bhardwaj shared photos of receipts showing these staggering amounts. Men who refuse to pay are allegedly intimidated by the club’s staff or bouncers, forcing them to settle the bill under duress.
Bhardwaj's post suggests that The Godfather Club is just one of many venues involved. She hints at a network of nightclubs in Mumbai that employ public relations personnel to recruit women for these scams. These women lure men into expensive and intimidating situations. Similar schemes have also been reported in other major cities, including Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
In a related incident in June, a civil service aspirant in Delhi was conned into paying Rs 1.2 lakh for a failed date at a popular venue in the capital.
These scams involve a combination of high-end venues, deceptive date setups, and coercion. Men, eager to impress and unaware of the trap, end up paying exorbitant costs. Local authorities are investigating these incidents and encouraging victims to come forward and report such cases.
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