New Delhi: In a bizarre incident, a Pune man fell victim to a dating app scam that left him with a hefty Rs 22,000 restaurant bill. The man, who shared his ordeal on the X platform (formerly Twitter), has now become the latest cautionary tale for online daters. The story began when the man found a match on the popular dating app, Bumble, on September 30th of this year.
The duo decided to meet at Gypsy Restro Bar in Bhugaon, Pune, in October. Little did he know that this seemingly ordinary date would turn into a costly affair. (Also Read: How to Reset/Change Your UPI PIN on Gpay, PhonePe, and Paytm App In Few Clicks? Check)
Upon their first meeting, the woman ordered wine and a hookah, catching the man off guard. “Actually at this point, I had no idea of the costs of the order, and the staff was too quick to get wine and hookah in a jiffy,” the man shared. (Also Read: Shine Bright This Diwali: Try THESE Tips And Tricks For Best Instagram Reels)
To his shock, he later discovered that the hookah cost Rs 10,000, the wine bottle Rs 15,000, and a single wine glass Rs 1,500. When the printed bill arrived, it totaled Rs 22,000.
The situation took a darker turn when the date insisted that he foot the bill to avoid potential harm to his property.
According to the victim, his date claimed, “This bill needs to be paid, or the restaurant guys can damage your car in the parking. They have your car number, and they can find your address through RTO contacts. They will connect double the amount at your home if you run away.” Fearing for his property, the man reluctantly paid the hefty sum.
As the victim’s story gained traction on social media, many X users speculated that the restaurant owner might have hired the girl to carry out the scam.
Take a look at the netizen’s reactions:
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
Hired by the bar management. This is a common strategy these days where the bar owner and management get young and attractive girls to match rich folks on Bumble and get them in their restaurant for dinner date and then loot them with exorbitant pricing, blackmail, etc.
— Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) November 11, 2023
I think the girl was hired by the bar itself. It’s an extremely common strategy. They hire girls to lure men and charge them huge amounts in the name of these activities
— Vikram Vetaal (@VarunDonBhai) November 11, 2023