In a cautionary tale that has resonated across social media, a man from Mumbai has become the latest victim of an online dating scam, losing a significant amount of money after a seemingly promising encounter turned sour. The incident, which he detailed on Reddit, highlights the growing prevalence of romance scams facilitated through dating applications.
The man recounted his experience after meeting a woman on the dating app Aisle. Their connection led to a spontaneous meeting near Upvan Lake in Thane. After a considerable wait, his date arrived and suggested they visit a nearby bar. Unsuspectingly, he agreed, entering what appeared to be a large hall with a bar.
At the bar, identified as Paablo Baar and Lounge, the woman began ordering expensive Blue Label whisky, ordering multiple rounds without his prior knowledge of the cost. While he opted for a beer and later a vodka, the escalating bill was a surprise he hadn’t anticipated.
Upon receiving the bill, which amounted to ₹24,000 plus ₹2,000 in service charges, he discovered the substantial cost of the whisky. With only about ₹2,000 of his own money available, he was pressured into paying ₹10,000, feeling intimidated by the staff. He also observed that others in the establishment seemed to be facing similar fraudulent situations.
Following the payment, the woman quickly made an excuse about feeling unsafe and left, cutting off all communication. The man shared blurred images of the woman and the bill on Reddit as a warning to others, emphasizing the costly lesson he learned about being cautious with online dating.
The post quickly gained traction online, with many users commiserating with his experience and sharing similar stories. Several comments highlighted that such scams have been prevalent for years on dating apps, with some users advising increased vigilance, especially when meeting someone in Thane bars. One user shared a similar encounter on Aisle where the woman persistently suggested meeting at a bar, indicating a pattern of targeting users for financial exploitation.